Adjusting a Heel Access Trussrod

halloweenfiend · #1 06-25-2009, 11:09 PM

Hey guys I have searched and ready many a set up turorial. Even have a good book that addresses set ups. But I have not seen a definitive answer to what I am wondering. Question is, I have a Fender Mustang RI bass and the trussrod access is at the heel of the neck (like old fenders). I am wondering what's the best way to adjust the trussrod effectively? I'm wondering it is better to take it completely off or if there is some way to go about it without removing the neck. Also, shouldnt there be some tension (guiding the trussrod) on the neck when, say, trying to tighten it? How would I do that with it off?

-Jon

JTE · #2 06-26-2009, 08:48 AM

It depends. My Precision's neck sits up high enough that I can get to the TR nut without having to remove the neck or the pickguard (sure, the screwdrivers have scarred the pickguard over the last 26 years, but that's not an issue to me at all). The Sting sits deeper, so I have to take the pickguard off to get to the rod, but I can still leave it on the body.

The thing is, you don't want the nut to do the work of MOVING the neck. It's easier wth the neck on and the strings tuned up because you can check your progress more easily. But the correct way to adjust a truss rod is to pull the neck back to about where you want it, and while it's there, tighten the truss rod nut to snug it up. That avoids the compressed wood at the nut that causes a lot of Fenders to have the rods bottomed out and needing to put in washers.

So, you don't want string tension guiding the neck at all. If you have to remove the neck to adjust the rod, then you'll just have to estimate how much to move the nut, put the neck back on, restring and tune to check it. It's a bit of a PIA, and that's why Fener went to the Bullet truss rod adjusting at the headstock.

jte

halloweenfiend · #3 06-26-2009, 11:00 AM

Thanks JTE. I guess I'll have to see about making a channel to get access to the TR nut so I don't have to take off the neck. I would imagine it would be a real PITA to try and bend the neck and adjust the TR nut while it's off. I had tried to tighten the nut with the neck off yesterday and it was soo hard to turn I didnt even get it to move more than an 1/8, I guess thats the pressure from the neck counteracting it.

halloweenfiend · #4 06-27-2009, 10:17 PM

Hey JTE (or neone else for that matter) do u think it would be a good idea to carve a slot to get to the trussrod nut, like drill a shallow divot? I'm just wondering if that would be worth the trouble... instead of having to take off the neck and create some jig for holding it or having someone else help bend it.

Mayb if someone has done this to a heel trussrod Fender they could share ne tips before I get at it with a drill???

Pilgrim · #5 06-27-2009, 10:56 PM

With many necks, you can't get a standard screwdriver to mesh with the nut, but you CAN use the angled tip of a paint can opener.

It works nicely on my '63 P. But it all depends on how deep the neck adjustment sits relative to the PG.

JTE · #6 06-28-2009, 03:26 PM

Well, I don't have a problem with getting wood out of the so I can access the truss rod, but then I pretty much look at my basses as tools before I see them as precious works of art.

But then again, it does affect the resale value. Since I've kept my P since 1983, resale ain't exactly very high on the list of things I consider either.

jte

scarekrow · #7 06-28-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

With many necks, you can't get a standard screwdriver to mesh with the nut, but you CAN use the angled tip of a paint can opener.

It works nicely on my '63 P. But it all depends on how deep the neck adjustment sits relative to the PG.

Hey Pilgrim, I like this! Thanx. My CS 55 SCPB thinks this will work w/o chunkin' out the paint n stuff. Good deal, bro.