What's up with my truss rod?

[whacker]

I've got an L2500 that I bought used a few months ago, and I'm a little picky to the point that I frequently check my neck's relief, using a capo at the first fret and a certain style guitar pick of known thickness as a feeler gauge at the eighth fret, pressing down the string being measured at the highest fret.

I've done this on every bass I've ever owned with no problems, but with this G&L I think the trussrod nut may be stuck, because all I can get is a "springy" response when I try to tighten it. You know, turn it and you don't feel the nut turn, the allen wrench just kind of moves back quickly to where you started.

I don't think the nut is stripped, but is it possible I'm at the limits of its travel, and I'm just twisting the rod? It also won't loosen ("springy" in that direction too). I've had experience with nuts on other basses that had bottomed out, and still needed more "pull" on the rod to give proper adjustment, so I was able to take the nut out, put some properly sized flat washers on the rod, re-start the nut, and have plenty of adjustment to do things right (in this case, the wood the nut rested on must have compressed and the washers restored the missing distance or depth of travel). But this nut doesn't seem to want to budge in either direction, so obviously I don't want to force it and cause harm and likely do damage.

Any advice, G&L aficianados? Penetrating lubricant, perhaps?

[dogbass]

You may want to try posting this in the Setup&Repair or Luthier forums as well. Someone's bound to have dealt with this (and fixed it !) before, whether on a G&L or other bass. Good luck anyway.

[flash99]

Your truss rod is either stuck or it's maxed out and you're just twisting the rod itself which is then springing back. Unfortunately, you may need a new neck because unless it's a newer bass without a bi-cut neck, there is no way to replace the truss rod. And G&L will not provide warranty service on a used instrument. You might try removing the truss rod bullet and adding a washer. This can sometimes get you more relief. Otherwise, I would contact the guy you bought it from and see if you can work something out.

[sunbeast]

If it won't tighten or loosen, then the nuts just stuck. Try carefully squirting a couple drops of WD-40 or some similar product down around the threads and give it a couple minutes to soak down, Then try to loosen it again. Try this a couple times, and if that doesn't work, bring it to a local luthier to try. Don't twist too hard on the rod though, and always make sure to pull the neck straight slightly (in the opposite direction as the force of the strings) while turning the truss nut, so as to not compress the wood underneath.

Karl

[whacker]

Thanks for all the replies.

I finally got the nut to loosen, and took it all the way out. No apparent damage to threads. I plan to put maybe a three thin washer stack over the rod threads and re-install the nut. It should do just the trick. My neck relief was very close to how I like it before, but I just want my range of adjustment to allow for measurable consistency, and get it right where I want it.

Now, on to the hardware store!

[whacker]

Update:

Went to a local hardware store where you can buy individual screws and washers, and after trying regular #6 size (outside diameter just a hair too big), went back and got S.A.E. #6, drilled out the centers just a hair, and put four of 'em over the rod threads. Put the nut back on, tightened it up, tuned up, measured, went back and forth, and got it right where I want it with no twisting of the rod. Total cost: ~$0.53.

[rok51]

Whee! I just love when that happens!

Congratulations!

Kim