Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrs
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

You're welcome, and no you're not annoying....we have all been lacking in knowledge at one point or another. If you have a question I can answer, it's no biggie. Everybody should know at least the basics of there instrument, although not everybody has a talent for performong adjustments to their axe, it is still important to at least have some knowledge.


If you were tuning flat w/ the previous gauge strings, then it is a possibility. You are however only going heavier on the bass strings (ala Zakk Wylde) so you may not.
As for the truss rod adjustment, you need to check it to know if you need the adjustment. Turning the t-rod to the right tightens the truss rod, thereby counteracting the foward pulling string tension=straightens the neck
Turning the trus rod to the left loosens the truss rod allowing for more influence from the string tension=more releif, or foward bow

You shouldn't need a lot of releif, just a little.

To check the releif, you will press down w/ your L. hand index finger behind the first fret, and the press down just behind the twelth fret with your R. hand thumb. Now usining your index finger on your R. hand, tap the string at around the 6th fret. Your should hear a little clicking sound, and be able to see a little space. If you hear no clicking, and the string appears to lay on all of the frets, the you need to add relief by loosening the truss rod by turning left, 1/4 turn at a time, and then re-checking it. Conversly, if you can push down quite far on the string before it makes contact, and you can see a large gap between the strings and the top of the frets, then you need to tighten the truss rod by turning it to the right 1/4 turn at a time.

I go by feel on this, after years of doing it on a daily basis, but in general you would want about .010 clearance from the bottom of the strings to the top of the frets. However, since you are using a heavier gauge string, you may require just a hair more relief, like maybe .012. These measurements are for an electric, not a classical, or steel string acoustic. those measurements differ, but that's for another time.

Also, I have noticed that some conventional truss rods need some "settle" time. I like to check them after about 1/2 to 1 full hour after the adjustment to make sure that it hasn't "settled" any. Some do, and some don't.

If your guitar feels comfortable as it is right now, I wouldn't worry about it.

Cheers,
3FB