BIG Geddy Lee Jazz Neck Issue.... Bad Neck?

[Baird6869]

I have had my Geddy Lee Jazz for just under a year and it is my go to gigging bass. I love the neck profile, the super low action, the sound, etc. It is perfect for me.

Anyways, lately the action has become higher than usual. I adjusted the BAII bridge as much as possible before the first and last few frets started to buzz, but that didn't help much. I use EBMM Regular Slinkys so they are a bit heavier a gauge string than what is standard on a stock Geddy but nothing crazy heavy or enough to make much of a difference.

So as my bass is still within the 12 month warranty period and my retailer offers a free setup with each new bass within the first year... off to Long & McQuade (Canada's GC-type chain) I go.

I get there, my salesguy is suprised at how much of a bow there is in the neck, removes the neck (these guys at my local store know their stuff) and try to tighten the truss rod. No go. It won't budge. It is completely tightened (or seized which is not as likely).

He is having the head tech look at it but he figures it needs a new neck and Fender will likely replace the neck or the whole bass.

Sorry about the long-winded post......

But has anyone seen the same type of thing with a Geddy or other CIJ where the truss rod adjustment is done at the body end of the neck?

Help!

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I have had my Geddy Lee Jazz for just under a year and it is my go to gigging bass. I love the neck profile, the super low action, the sound, etc. It is perfect for me.

Anyways, lately the action has become higher than usual. I adjusted the BAII bridge as much as possible before the first and last few frets started to buzz, but that didn't help much. I use EBMM Regular Slinkys so they are a bit heavier a gauge string than what is standard on a stock Geddy but nothing crazy heavy or enough to make much of a difference.

So as my bass is still within the 12 month warranty period and my retailer offers a free setup with each new bass within the first year... off to Long & McQuade (Canada's GC-type chain) I go.

I get there, my salesguy is suprised at how much of a bow there is in the neck, removes the neck (these guys at my local store know their stuff) and try to tighten the truss rod. No go. It won't budge. It is completely tightened (or seized which is not as likely).

He is having the head tech look at it but he figures it needs a new neck and Fender will likely replace the neck or the whole bass.

Sorry about the long-winded post......

But has anyone seen the same type of thing with a Geddy or other CIJ where the truss rod adjustment is done at the body end of the neck?

Help!

hmmmm...a knowedgeable tech will always attempt to loosen the truss rod before ever attempting to tighten...

if the nut is indeed frozen, and the bow is indeed that bad...then some strong force should be applied to try to remove the nut...worst case is that the nut will strip...best case is that it will come off and you can get the threads on the rod cleaned up and a new (or reconditioned) nut put on with a spacer (to give you more thread to work with)...

either way, if you can't get the truss rod fixed, a new neck will be your best best (but not your only alternative, as you CAN get a new rod put it by a qualified luthier at a sizeable price)...

[Baird6869]

Should have mentioned that... he DID loosen it first and then tighten. No go. It loosened but wouldn't tighten any further than where we started.

Thanks for the great info BTW!

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

hmmmm...a knowedgeable tech will always attempt to loosen the truss rod before ever attempting to tighten...

if the nut is indeed frozen, and the bow is indeed that bad...then some strong force should be applied to try to remove the nut...worst case is that the nut will strip...best case is that it will come off and you can get the threads on the rod cleaned up and a new (or reconditioned) nut put on with a spacer (to give you more thread to work with)...

either way, if you can't get the truss rod fixed, a new neck will be your best best (but not your only alternative, as you CAN get a new rod put it by a qualified luthier at a sizeable price)...

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Should have mentioned that... he DID loosen it first and then tighten. No go. It loosened but wouldn't tighten any further than where we started.

Thanks for the great info BTW!

then you need to take the nut off and put in a washer..do a search, folks do this all the time.

also, a stubborn neck sometimes need some "cohersion"...this can be in the form of a clamp/bar and caul arrangement, or just the help of a friend ("Joe, you straighten the neck while I tighten")...

but if the threads are bottomed out (as it appears) definitely put the washer in first.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

then you need to take the nut off and put in a washer..do a search, folks do this all the time.

also, a stubborn neck sometimes need some "cohersion"...this can be in the form of a clamp/bar and caul arrangement, or just the help of a friend ("Joe, you straighten the neck while I tighten")...

but if the threads are bottomed out (as it appears) definitely put the washer in first.

Thanks for the help.

Since it is under warranty, I will make sure Fender deals with it.

[CapnSev]

Yup

Mine did the exact same thing. I maxed the truss, and couldn't get it to straighten any more. I put a Warmoth neck on it and used it for a little while longer, but it wasn't the same. I sold it shortly thereafter.

Sorry for the sad post, but you're not the only one.

However, I had never heard of this so-called "washer" thing.

[Pilgrim]

If I had a neck still under warranty and this happened, I think I'd personally prefer a new neck to adding washers.

My thinking: although it's not likely, there's no guarantee that the wood won't continue to crush down with the problem re-appearing.

But...according to the reports I've heard, washers do generally work.

[roflol]

straighten it with gravity

[jay800]

My GL neck is finicky as well. I need to adjust the rod more often than most.

As some others agree, the GL neck is the main reason why I purchased the GL - the amazing feel/playabilty of the neck.

I'd love to slap a GL neck on a Frank Bello Signature Jazz! Not sure if it would fit though...

[jgsbass]

I had a GL and one day was faced with the same problem. The action had gone up to about 1/2 inch of space over the neck. My truss rod did adjust but my love for the GL waned and soon it was sold ( or traded). When I bought it, I thought "how is this thin little neck gonna hold all the tension of a tuned bass". As it turned out, on mine, it couldn't.

[Ostinato]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

has anyone seen the same type of thing with a Geddy or other CIJ where the truss rod adjustment is done at the body end of the neck?

Help!

All the time. What happens is they get the bass shipped that way and try to fix the relief before putting on display. Usually a smart tech will tighten the nut as much as possible and leave a few turns left to give you the impression that you still have adjustment left. You DO, but it's a tiny amount.