Extreme neck warp!

BenitoBassolini · #1 07-15-2008, 03:59 PM

I just bought a squire pbass. (maybe the p stands for project, I'm not sure.) Anyways, the neck has some pretty extreme bow. I'm not really an expert, but I tried adjusting the truss rod to work it out and the neck didn't really move. Does anyone have tips on working out the bow? I'll provide pictures for reference if anyone needs.

spaz21387 · #2 07-15-2008, 04:11 PM

Maybe the truss rod is broken. I had a friends guitar that had really bad neck bow and when I tryed to turn the truss rod it just spun and didnt change the shape of the neck. So I told him he could eather pay a shop to replace the truss rod or he would have to get a new guitar. He couldnt find a replacement neck since it was a fender copy and the holes didnt line up with a fender. This might be the case for you too. Or just a new neck.

troyus · #3 07-15-2008, 04:41 PM

If you get a new neck and the holes do not line up, it's not a big deal, you can fill in the old holes with some wood.. I have used bamboo sticks for shish kabobs before for that... which I bought at the supermarket. Set it up with wood glue, then tapped new holes in the new neck a day later. Works great.

BenitoBassolini · #4 07-15-2008, 05:19 PM

Thanks for the replies... but that doesn't really answer my question. I want to know how to get the warp out of the existing neck (I think the truss rod is still in good working order. It loosens and if I tighten it I can feel it get tight, it just doesn't really move the neck much.)

Would it be safe to use clamps and wood blocks to hyper extend it for a while until the bow is worked out?

Darkstrike · #5 07-15-2008, 05:28 PM

Try the Luthier's Forum.

Turnaround · #6 07-15-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenitoBassolini

Thanks for the replies... but that doesn't really answer my question. I want to know how to get the warp out of the existing neck (I think the truss rod is still in good working order. It loosens and if I tighten it I can feel it get tight, it just doesn't really move the neck much.)

Would it be safe to use clamps and wood blocks to hyper extend it for a while until the bow is worked out?

That's the right idea. Only, clamp it flat or with a slight backbow, then tighten the trussrod while it is in clamps. Leave it for a day or two then remove the clamps and see how it is. Repeat the process if necessary.

lowtide · #7 07-15-2008, 05:52 PM

Return it to where you bought it.

BenitoBassolini · #8 07-15-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowtide

Return it to where you bought it.

Seriously? Was there even a point to posting that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

That's the right idea. Only, clamp it flat or with a slight backbow, then tighten the trussrod while it is in clamps. Leave it for a day or two then remove the clamps and see how it is. Repeat the process if necessary.

Thanks for the input. I hadn't really thought of doing that. I can tell so far that the clamps have helped quit a bit but it's still iffy. Theres some terrible fret buzz on the open A string. The rest are fine but the action could be much lower, and the saddles are all the way down. I'll try your idea and post about how it went.

D.Don · #9 07-15-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenitoBassolini

I just bought a squire pbass. (maybe the p stands for project, I'm not sure.) Anyways, the neck has some pretty extreme bow. I'm not really an expert, but I tried adjusting the truss rod to work it out but the neck didn't really move. Does anyone have tips on working out the bow? I'll provide pictures for reference if anyone needs.

Or go get another neck..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Precision...QQcmdZViewItem

D.Don

BenitoBassolini · #10 07-16-2008, 01:08 AM

So I tried turnaround's suggestion of turning the truss while it's clamped down. That seemed to do a good job. I left it in the clamps for a while afterwards and when I pulled it off I could tell it had moved quite a bit. I'm going to leave it in clamp overnight to let it adjust and it should be nearly perfectly flat when I pull it out in the morning. I'm surprised it worked!

**Joshua** · #11 07-16-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenitoBassolini

So I tried turnaround's suggestion of turning the truss while it's clamped down. That seemed to do a good job. I left it in the clamps for a while afterwards and when I pulled it off I could tell it had moved quite a bit. I'm going to leave it in clamp overnight to let it adjust and it should be nearly perfectly flat when I pull it out in the morning. I'm surprised it worked!

While your surprise is most probably in regards to the instrument, I try to never miss an opportunity to praise Turnaround. His advice is always spot on, and we're lucky to have him around here.

BenitoBassolini · #12 07-16-2008, 02:30 PM

Amen to that, man!

machine gewehr · #13 07-17-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

His advice is always spot on, and we're lucky to have him around here.

That kinda goes for you too Joshua.

LarryO · #14 07-17-2008, 06:39 AM

I understand how bending theneck to desired shape, allowing to set and then adjusting the truss rod would work, but does the fact thatt he had to go to this extreme mean that the likelyhood of the neck rewarping to this is extreme is more so? do dual expanding truss rods eliminate some of this? how good are the steel stiffining bars in the warmoth necks? or the graphite bars in carvin necks? do they work. I owned a zon and the graphite neck was very stable but it effected the tone too much for me

**Joshua** · #15 07-17-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

That kinda goes for you too Joshua.

Your check is in the mail!

Skeletomania · #16 07-17-2008, 06:47 AM

I'm curious about the clamping technique. What kind of clamp do you use, and how do you approach in using it.

machine gewehr · #17 07-17-2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

Your check is in the mail!

Turnaround · #18 07-17-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

While your surprise is most probably in regards to the instrument, I try to never miss an opportunity to praise Turnaround. His advice is always spot on, and we're lucky to have him around here.

Your cheque is in the mail

Hellbastard · #19 07-17-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeletomania

I'm curious about the clamping technique. What kind of clamp do you use, and how do you approach in using it.

A common C clamp would do the trick.
To do this you need two blocks, a straight edge and a clamp.
Place the two blocks, one at each end of the fingerboard, on top of them place the straight edge, then procede to clamp the neck in the middle, tighten it enough to create an small amount of backbow. Then gradually adjust the TR.

Edit: Here you go, made by a pro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2HGn7c9_uo

**Joshua** · #20 07-18-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Your cheque is in the mail

Well played sir!