Bad neck or do I just need to have setup more often?

jlt5x · #1 10-30-2009, 12:22 PM

I have a MIM Fender P. Plays great after I get it setup. However, after about 3 months post setup, I get a ton of fret noise. I had this problem in the spring, and had it setup in June. Attributed it to the humidity changes.

I get it that the wood can change with humidity, but should it be this sensitive? I keep it in my house with AC/Heat.

How often is too often for setups? OR - is this the benefit to having the American Pbass with the graphite reinforced neck?

I would prefer not to have to get it setup every few month....

thanks

sevenyearsdown · #2 10-30-2009, 12:25 PM

Hmm....even my cheap squiers don't require that much busy work. It may be that you just need to adjust the truss periodically to account for climate changes. Every three months seems excessive to me though.

kraigo · #3 10-30-2009, 12:58 PM

I had a bass that was a great barometer - the neck was very susceptible to humidity changes - I had to re do it every couple of weeks. I don't think it can be fixed. I haven't touched my P-Bass or 55-01 in a few years. It varies with the bass.

KO

FunkMetalBass · #4 10-30-2009, 01:07 PM

It's likely just a "bad" neck. I'd look into getting a new one, possibly the graphite reinforced neck.

I live in AZ, with almost no humidity change, so that kind of neck would be perfect out here, but probably not in your current area. Even inside your house, humidity changes.

rumblethump · #5 10-30-2009, 05:01 PM

I have a Carvin 5 string that needs at least 4 truss rod adjustments a year. Weather changes, humidity, even elevation can all contribute. Some necks are just this sensitive. My personal experience shows that the basses I have with laminated necks tend to be more stable, but I have a couple of one piece necks that never need any adjustment. Its no big deal. If you haven't learned how to do a setup yet, it sounds like this will be a great bass to practice on.

David1234 · #6 10-30-2009, 05:06 PM

+1 to learning to adjust the truss rod yourself.

I assume you're not changing strings very often? If I change brands I often have to adjust the truss rod and intonation.

One suggestion anyway: keep a record of which direction you have to adjust the rod in. If it's the same direction all the time, it's slippage in the thread. If it alternates directions with the seasons, then it's the weather.

Finally, do you keep it where it gets direct sunlight for parts of the day? That sort of local heating could be an issue, too.

groove pump · #7 10-30-2009, 05:28 PM

Typically you'll need to re-tweak your truss rod twice a year - once in the spring when the humidity goes up and then in the fall when everything cools down and dries out. It's just what wood does, even with graphite to reinforce it.

Your experience sounds like your neck is just moving in sync with the seasons and in the spring, it moved in the right direction. Expect it to bow in the fall as it dries out. Your action will get a bit higher and you'll need to tighten that truss rod just a nudge or two to get that optimum setup back. Once you know how to do it yourself, it will be easy for you to stay dialed in all year on your own. There's got to be some guidance in here somewhere...

lethargytartare · #8 10-31-2009, 04:25 PM

That was my experience with my MIM jazzer. By comparison, my MIA jazzer, which has graphite reinforcement rods, only needed significant adjustments every year or so. I DO endorse learning how to do it yourself -- often minor tweaks can give you big benefits, and being able to make those minor tweaks every few months (even if you just end up confirming that everything is fine) for free is nice.

That said, you still could invest in a MIA neck -- they crop up for sale on occasion, and would be cheaper than getting a whole new bass.