Fender truss rod won't tighten any more.

[grobe]

Do these actually max out? It's the vintage style with the "+" shape nut. Bass plays fine but I'm looking to sell it so it concerns me a little.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by grobe

Do these actually max out? It's the vintage style with the "+" shape nut. Bass plays fine but I'm looking to sell it so it concerns me a little.

Yeah, it happens sometimes - it's a simple matter to remove the nut, and put a washer in there to obtain more adjustment... Take all the tension off the strings, and you may have to loosen the neck bolts, remove the PG, and tilt the neck for complete removal of the nut...


- georgestrings

[gbazinet]

A simple matter indeed...

[grobe]

That's good news! Thanks.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by gbazinet

A simple matter indeed...

Sounds more involved than it actually is - it's no biggie...


- georgestrings

[gbazinet]

Is it easy to damage the truss rod by cranking on it to hard? I never adjusted one out of fear of ruining the neck.

[hover]

Originally Posted by gbazinet

Is it easy to damage the truss rod by cranking on it to hard? I never adjusted one out of fear of ruining the neck.

If you're cranking it, you're doing it wrong. It should be a free-rotating mechanism. If it's NOT, there's a real problem. You crank on that too hard and you will snap the rod. Then your problems multiply by a factor of GAWDDAMNIT.

To the OP, follow George's advice, it is sound. Remember to get a washer that slides over the trussrod's threads to both extremes: both freely over the thread, and slips in freely past the rout in the neckwood to accomodate it. A bind in either scenario and you could risk even more damage.

[xaxxat]

You need to give the truss rod some help by clamping the neck in a back bow. Dan Erlewine shows how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfAp6EYu9ow

[Bassamatic]

If you are maxed out, put at least a couple of washers in there to account for the future. There seem to be brass ones available that are the right size to fit in the hole and slide over the rod.