Do I need a new truss rod?

[Chrisk-K]

On my Geddy Lee bass strung with 040-100 Hi-Beams, I cannot get the neck straight enough even when the truss rod is maxed. Current neck relief is about 0.6 mm. I want neck relief of 0.3 mm.

Would a new truss rod allow me to further flatten the neck?

[Caca de Kick]

If the nut is maxed, then you should be able to slip a 1/8" washer under the nut to get a hair more adjustment out of it.

[hdracer]

This will cure it. New from Stew Mac it costs $234.00. If a repair shop close to you doesn't have one you can rent one from Here

http://www.wammiworld.com/Truss%20Ro...scue%20Kit.php

[Chrisk-K]

I searched and found the "Washer Trick". I don't understand why adding a washer increases the adjustment range of the truss rod. Adding a washer descreases the thread length of the truss rod, right? So, why does decreased thread length increase the adjustment range???

[hdracer]

The nut is bottoming out. The washers give you more adjusting room.
I would call around to some of the better shops by you. They probably have that tool and can fix it cheap.

[alexgeddy]

The washer fix is actually something fender reccommends to it's dealers. I have a GL with the same problem...put some washers in there and it works fine..I think it has something to do with the truss rod pulling in the wood, effectivly lengthining the truss rod so it bottoms out. Also I put 40 - 95s on to take some of the pressure off the neck!

good luck

Just watched the video metioned above...that seems like a good alternative too...definitely worth the 50 bucks!!

[Caca de Kick]

It's because the wood gets compressed from the nut being cranked down. You end up running out of threads. The truss rods are not threaded all the way down.
Installing the washer under the nut, places the nut back out where the threads are.

[Diogenes]

...I think it has something to do with the truss rod pulling in the wood...
... It's because the wood gets compressed from the nut being cranked down.

Whoa hold on a sec! You mean Fender still uses antiquated compression truss rods on even it's Japanese basses?!! I've never taken the fingerboard off of a contemporary Fender but surely my $100 cheapies with adjustable Martin style and dual action truss rods don't trump the considerably more expensive big F models... do they?!

[walterw]

there's plenty of boutique guitar builders (suhr, mcinturff) who insist that the vintage-style rod has better tone than heavier modern truss rod systems.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Whoa hold on a sec! You mean Fender still uses antiquated compression truss rods on even it's Japanese basses?!! I've never taken the fingerboard off of a contemporary Fender but surely my $100 cheapies with adjustable Martin style and dual action truss rods don't trump the considerably more expensive big F models... do they?!

The truss rod isn't "antiquated", it's a proven design that works well, and has in millions of instruments.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by walterw

there's plenty of boutique guitar builders (suhr, mcinturff) who insist that the vintage-style rod has better tone than heavier modern truss rod systems.

Oh the tone argument. Yea, that usually is a definitive answer.

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

The truss rod isn't "antiquated", it's a proven design that works well, and has in millions of instruments.

Until the wood compresses and someone has to post about how to fix it. I've yet to come across any issues with more modern truss rod designs.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Until the wood compresses and someone has to post about how to fix it. I've yet to come across any issues with more modern truss rod designs.

The connotation I took from your post was that ALL truss rod designs are antiquated. In re-reading your post, I understand your meaning was that Fender uses an outdated truss rod design. My errror!