Adjusting bridge spring to increase string gauge

[XLayaR]

Hey guys, I wanna increase my string gauge and need some advice on the spring.

Do I tighten or loosen the springs at the back? And how do I check if my trusrod needs to be adjusted? I wanna try myself and if cannot then I bring to shop and do.

Any CONSTRUCTIVE advice is welcomed.

 

[matthewchj]

Tighten. A higher string gauge has a higher tension, so to compensate the tension in the springs will need to be increased.

If the neck bows noticably or to the point where the strings are so high off the fretboard that it's hard to play, then you'd probably need to adjust the truss rod.

 

[Phil]

You would want to tighten the springs at the back to keep your bridge at a similar level as on the previous gauge.

If you up the gauge, the increased tension will cause the bridge to rear upwards more.

Another option is just to add more springs.

Truss-rod wise, usually when you increase the gauge you would need to adjust the truss-rod to compensate for the added tension.

I mean, the whole purpose of the truss-rod is to counteract the pull of the strings.

There are many ways to check if your neck is straight, assuming that a completely straight neck is what you are seeking. Sometimes I like my neck with a bit of relief, depends on your playing style really, but here we are starting to digress into another discussion.

I'd recommend for you to check out this article regarding the truss-rod and its related significances.
Read HERE.

As always, I recommend for you to bring it to a tech if you are not confident about doing it yourself.