can't get the concave out of the neck for relief

[IAmTheDood]

I bought new strings for my new (used) '98 fender mim ... first time I've upgraded the strings and in the meantime I wanted to set the thing up correctly ...

the action was ridiculously high on it .. about 16/64ths across each string at the 17th fret .. fender says it needs to be 6/64ths.

so, after removing the strings, I went to adjusting the truss rod .. tried turning clockwise .. tried the trick to flex the neck by hand to give it some "help" in getting back into position. tried even pounding the back of the neck around the 7th and 8th frets with a rubber mallet .. no go .. I pretty much cranked the truss rod a few turns each way ..

what gives? Anybody got any tips on getting the relief out of it?

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by IAmTheDood

I bought new strings for my new (used) '98 fender mim ... first time I've upgraded the strings and in the meantime I wanted to set the thing up correctly ...

the action was ridiculously high on it .. about 16/64ths across each string at the 17th fret .. fender says it needs to be 6/64ths.

so, after removing the strings, I went to adjusting the truss rod .. tried turning clockwise .. tried the trick to flex the neck by hand to give it some "help" in getting back into position. tried even pounding the back of the neck around the 7th and 8th frets with a rubber mallet .. no go .. I pretty much cranked the truss rod a few turns each way ..

what gives? Anybody got any tips on getting the relief out of it?

Get a bigger hammer?

[WillBuckingham]

Originally Posted by IAmTheDood

I bought new strings for my new (used) '98 fender mim ... first time I've upgraded the strings and in the meantime I wanted to set the thing up correctly ...

the action was ridiculously high on it .. about 16/64ths across each string at the 17th fret .. fender says it needs to be 6/64ths.

so, after removing the strings, I went to adjusting the truss rod .. tried turning clockwise .. tried the trick to flex the neck by hand to give it some "help" in getting back into position. tried even pounding the back of the neck around the 7th and 8th frets with a rubber mallet .. no go .. I pretty much cranked the truss rod a few turns each way ..

what gives? Anybody got any tips on getting the relief out of it?

You "cranked the trussrod a few turns each way"?

With the strings on and tuned to pitch, you should gently turn it clockwise (assuming this is tighter) 1/4 turn. Let it sit for a day and check the improvement, turn it another 1/4 turn, and let it sit for another day, etc.

EDIT: By the way please post a link to this thread if you ever try to sell this bass on TB.

[IAmTheDood]

I'm not sure if it was a full turns each way .. but I also did this with the neck off and no strings attached. checking every 1/4 turn to see if there were any improvements either way .. which there didn't seem to be.

I'll have to check when I get home tonight to see if there's any improvement .. I may just have to buy a new neck, or take it into a shop to get it setup right (although I'm doing this myself so I know how to do it.) .. .

[vtwo]

It's 1/4 turn per day in the direction you want - with the strings ON.

Clockwise = tighter = neck bending towards the back of the guitar

counter-clockwise = looser = neckbending towards the front of the guitar

[comet909]

I had a similar problem with a mim jazz V that I just bought at guitar center. While the threads in the truss rod were good and you could back it out and screw it in, the rod would turn within the neck before it would start to really tighten down and straighten out the neck. Since I'd bought it new, it was still under warranty, so its at my fender repair guy right now (they'll probably just replace the neck).

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by IAmTheDood

I'll have to check when I get home tonight to see if there's any improvement .. I may just have to buy a new neck, or take it into a shop to get it setup right.

If you're lucky the neck is salvagable by someone who really knows what they're doing.

But from what you're written, I'd plan on buying a new one and having it professionally installed if I were you. Five string Jazz neck is not going to be cheap.