Slinky Electric
Changing from 9-42 string gauges to 11-54 (electric guitar)?
I usually play with light strings but i just bought these Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky strings just to see how it sounds and stuff.
Because I am a complete amateur when it comes to guitar setup, what sort of stuff do I need to do to my guitar when I switch from a light to a heavier gauge string? (like, do i need to adjust the truss rod and if so how do i do it..etc etc)
My guitar doesn't have a tremolo, it just has a fixed bridge...
First possible issue: the slots in the nut, where the strings cross at the head of the guitar, may have been cut for 9's if that's what came on the guitar originally. Putting thicker strings on will cause the strings to bind at the nut when you tune them, which will make getting the guitar in tune a pain. Also, if you bend the string while playing, it may slip and stick at the nut and be left out of tune while you're playing. When putting on heavier strings it's best to have the nut slots cut to the appropriate width for the strings you're using. Also, you should buy a tube of nut sauce (graphite paste) and put some in the slots on the nut whenever you change strings (don't use 3 in 1 oil like someone else suggested). This will help the strings slide smoothly through the nut slot when you tune.
Second, heavier strings will put more forward pressure on the neck of the guitar, causing it to bow more. You will likely have to tighten the truss rod to compensate for this. You only want to adjust it small amounts at a time though (about 1/4 turn) and wait a day or two for it to settle in before checking and adjusting it more. You don't want to bend the neck too suddenly by making a larger adjustment.
Third, I would not raise the bridge as some have suggested. Thicker strings don't necessarily require the bridge be raised, and setting the action higher with heavier strings will make playing a pain. It doesn't matter how thick the strings are, the bottom of them is still the same height off the fretboard and heavier strings will have more tension than lighter ones, so they should not buzz.
If you put those strings on and like the way they feel and sound though, it might be worth paying a good guitar tech $30 or $40 to have them set your guitar up perfectly for them. You could really mess things up if you don't know what you're doing.
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