6 string bass truss rod expectations

kimstevens · #1 05-31-2008, 08:31 AM

Hi,

I have a Peavey 6 with a neck that I can't get flat... it has upward bow with the truss rod fully tightened. Ideally, of course, we should be able to adjust necks from back bow, to flat, to up bow as desired, but with this bass, there is always relief in the neck... I have had this problem with every 6 I have owned. Am I expecting too much? Do 6 string basses just have too much tension on them to be easily adjusted?

Kim

Philbiker · #2 06-02-2008, 06:52 AM

I have not had to touch the truss rod in my Peavey Axcelerator 6, it's perfect. However, the Brice in my sig needed significant tweaking when I bought it. The truss rods in that neck acted more or less the same as any other bass I've owned. There's nothing special about a 6 string that makes it any different. Some have two truss rods like my Brice.

dbcandle · #3 06-03-2008, 10:15 AM

I have an Ibanez SR496 (6-string bass), 5-piece laminated with 2 truss-rods. It is incredibly stable, and has just the right amout of relief (easily adjustable). I have used this bass with Elixir rounds, TI Flats and LaBella Flats. The neck functioned flawlessly with all 3 (though truss-rod adjustment was needed).

Sadly the bridge & tuners are "junk", but the bass was "only" $600.

My Fender MIM Jazz, on the other hand, has a much more finicky non-laminated neck, and the fretwork is not as good. Still, the Fender too can be adjusted for proper neck relief, though the poor fretwork means higher action.