Geddy Lee neck & string tension?

Blues Junior · #1 06-29-2006, 06:15 AM

Hi there....
I recently got a Geddy Lee Jazz and just changed the strings from the stock Fender roundwounds, to some D'Addario Chromes .50-.105. The neck now has an upbow, and the action is kinda high. I tried to tweak the truss rod without any luck. I'm wondering if the flats have too much tension for this neck? Should I have gone to a lighter guage, or a softer tension string? Any other GL bass owners have this problem?

Thanks

jonsmith · #2 06-29-2006, 11:34 AM

The neck on those is fairly thin and thin necks, in my opinion, are more prone to reacting to string tension. I actually felt that the Fender strings supplied were exerting a little too much tension and swapped them for a lighter gauge (Rotosound standard lights). This, combined with a little truss rod tweak has given me a very nice action. When I tweaked the rod, I gave the neck gentle pressure in the direction I wanted it to move, to avoid compressing the wood.

You obviously weren't after the Geddy tone if you switched to flats

.

tulkas · #3 06-29-2006, 01:58 PM

Hey Blues man. I got that set on my Geddy Lee too... when i put them the neck had a slight upbow and obviously the action got higher.

Take of the neck carefuly and turn the truss rod 1/4 clockwise. As i know the woods require time to settle so, isn't recommended that you turn more than 1/4 a day. Re-strung the bass and tune up as you want it. You will see the diference...

Btw is there a limit when we need to turn clockwise the truss rod? How do we know when we reach that limit? Just don't wanna break the truss rod

Help appreciated.

Take care. João.

Lorenzini · #4 06-29-2006, 03:15 PM

No don't take off the neck.

Just apply slight pressure to the neck in the direction you want the neck to go, as you tighten the truss rod.

If that doesn't work, just put a different set of strings on it.

Blues Junior · #5 06-30-2006, 05:33 AM

Thanks, i'll tweak it and see how it goes.

jonsmith · #6 06-30-2006, 06:06 AM

I'll think you'll need to take the neck off to get at the truss rod screw, unless you've routed a hole in the body by it.

lug · #7 06-30-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonsmith

I'll think you'll need to take the neck off to get at the truss rod screw, unless you've routed a hole in the body by it.

I thought the trussrod adjustment on the Geddy was at the nut.

Wayauste · #8 06-30-2006, 12:15 PM

On the Geddy bass there is a dark tear shaped mark at the nut, either they filled the hole or they just want it to look like a trussrod adjustment hole for some reason.

To adjust the trussrod you need to remove the neck or route the body for access.

honeyboy · #9 06-30-2006, 03:21 PM

Just loosen the strings a bit, loosen the neck bolts about 1/4 inch and lift the neck away from the body, adjust, then reverse the process. You don't have to take the neck all the way off.