Can't loosen the truss rod any further...

StuFordBass · #1 09-18-2010, 01:37 PM

I went to play my MM Sabre today, and found the neck way too straight. I loosened the truss rod 1/4th turn and had a little better of a situation, but the neck was still to straight. another turn, and i found the nut or whatever part you stick the allen wrench into to be loose. So i have the problem of not being able to loosen my truss rod anymore without the thing just coming off the truss rod. I wish i knew what that part was called.

Can someone explain to me how to remedy this?

JLS · #2 09-18-2010, 05:05 PM

Wait until tomorrow, take another look at it.

rojo412 · #3 09-21-2010, 07:11 AM

If waiting doesn't work, get heavier gauge strings.

Slowgypsy · #4 09-21-2010, 07:25 AM

Things I'd do, in this order are...

1 - Wait 1 day and see if the changes you made had any effect.

2 - If not, tighten up the strings already on the instrument, but tune each one up a whole step. Make sure the truss rod nut is loose.

3 - Wait 1 day and see if that put some relief into the neck. If it did, you might be good to go. If not...

4 - Either let the instrument sit with the up-tuned strings for another day, or take it to your local shop.

Putting on heavier gauge strings is definitely an option to help the process along, but... the slots in the nut might not be large enough to accommodate the larger gauge which means you might have to add opening the slots to the overall process.

**251** · #5 09-21-2010, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuFordBass

I went to play my MM Sabre today, and found the neck way too straight. I loosened the truss rod 1/4th turn and had a little better of a situation, but the neck was still to straight. another turn, and i found the nut or whatever part you stick the allen wrench into to be loose. So i have the problem of not being able to loosen my truss rod anymore without the thing just coming off the truss rod. I wish i knew what that part was called.

Can someone explain to me how to remedy this?

Switch to the next heavier gauge strings (for example, Light to Med Light) or same gauge strings with higher tension at pitch. The strings should be the same diameter as those being replaced. You will still need to do a setup with intonation.

There's a lot of useful info on string tension in this TB thread;
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...05#post9200905