thank you for all this information... it turns out I figured out the action thing, and I was lowering it some, not raising it. so I don't think the stop bar needs adjusting. the nut fits the strings pretty well. I didn't think that such a slight gauge change would require a truss rod adjustment, but if you think it would need a quarter turn or something, would I need to turn it clockwise or counterclockwise?

otherwise, the guitar is playing much better now with my preferred GHS strings on it. it changed the tone some, for the better. they are easier too bend. I also decided to take into consideration some words that PRS_playa said in another thread, something about not babying a guitar, and actually enjoying it. so, I decided to lower the bridge pickup... and wow... what a difference! it's not as bassy anymore, which is good. it produces a much better tone now then it did before, though it's really not any higher output then my neck pickup, which is a bummer. but it's actually usable now. I was scared of altering my stock guitar, but, now I'm done babying it. and I'm glad, cause it's actually better now. lol.

OH! one last thing, do you think I'd still need that truss rod adjustment, despite the increased string gauge, if I'm tuned down a halfstep to Eb? which is what my whole band is tuned to, so my guitar stays in that tuning 95% of the time. right now I have it in E, but only cause I was trying to stretch the new strings, so I wanted as much tension as possible so they would stretch. but now that they are stretched, I will tune back down before band practice tomorrow night.

thanks so much for all your help 3fingeredblues, you're the best! though you probably find me pretty annoying with all my questions. lol