How long does it take a neck to settle - Fender American Deluxe 5 Content

[bassphreak]

I had run a few searches and havent' seen this specific question posted.....

How long should it take for a neck to settle (stop adjusting) to a new environment? I've had my new fender jazz deluxe V (2007) for a few weeks and the neck appears to still be settling/adjusting and straightening.

BACKGROUND:

I had picked up a new (NOS) Fender American Jazz Bass Deluxe V on clearance at my local GC. I am generally against buying new since I'm cheap, but after a long search and playing this bass many times I jumped at it when the price was dropped into my range.

I believe the bass was sitting in the shop (hanging high normally) for 3+ years. I have had it now for 2 weeks and constantly need to retune after it sits for a day. All strings go sharp meaning (to me) the neck is straightening and I'm losing relief. The strings started to buzz after the first week of settling as the neck was too straight. I added some relief and did a full setup. I'm still having the same issue.

This is the first time I have encountered....usually with a new bass you have to tighten the strings as they stretch....but this is unrelated to the strings as far as I can figure and appears to be the neck.

The neck appears to be straight. Feels great. There are no dead spots. I know there is sometimes a period of adjustment, but that should be days and not weeks. The difference in environment may be to extreme. My office/practice area is in my basement and cooler. I have dehumidifiers so humidity should not be an issue. Not sure what is.

The bass sounds and feels amazing. I am one of the few that likes the smaller jazz body on the older Jazz Deluxe Vs. It's still under the GC 30 day guarantee and obviously under warranty, but my question is simply: is this normal? Are there any issues or peculiarities with the old Jazz Deluxes?

[prokfrog]

Well we are entering spring, and the humidity has been nuts. My basses are starting to go through Springtime expansion as well. Usually with me, its May, and December when I find my necks need a little tweak. I would let your bass sit for another week then loosen the truss rod a bit. It's experiencing two changes right now. The weather, and your home. Good luck

[stflbn]

I love the smaller bodies on those Deluxes. And I won't buy a newer one because they have the full size jazz bodies.

No idea why it would be going sharp overnight other than just a difference between the Air Conditioning and humidity between GC and your environment.

Assuming it's not going out of tune by a lot.

[littlepope]

Let it sit for about a week without playing it. You are not the only one adjusting for Spring weather moisture changes. In Jumboville, TA. we are generally humid. So I have to make minor trussrod movements.

[bassphreak]

Thanks all. No, it's not going out of tune by a lot - but it's off each time I pick it up.

Yes - it's spring. I've had to adjust other basses in the past due to seasonal changes. But this has been a few weeks. Just wanted to make sure that it's not a sign of something I need to worry about.

[john grey]

You have gotten very good advice (IMO). However I do happen to know that some places........
Some places sell off what they can't move at a deep discount becasue of an inherent problem. The price MAY have been dropped into "your range" for a very special reason.

Occasionally a neck is either poorly sealed or has very porous wood in either of it's component sections. This porosity allows the neck to bend in very, very fast response to alterations in temperature, humidity, or binding force.
It is within the realm of possibility that you have a real issue on your hands and GC KNEW about it....... (Why was it there for 3 years and why did they drop the price?)
I would run - not walk - to take it back.
These things happen....to everyone. If a deal is TOO GOOD to be true.......well; you know.

[Marton]

I don't know if it's a common problem, but I have some problem with the neck on my 2007 Am. Deluxe Jazz. The truss rod is almost maxed with TI flats on it. Maybe the neck have some problems on these basses ?

[bassphreak]

Originally Posted by john grey

You have gotten very good advice (IMO). However I do happen to know that some places........
Some places sell off what they can't move at a deep discount becasue of an inherent problem. The price MAY have been dropped into "your range" for a very special reason.

Occasionally a neck is either poorly sealed or has very porous wood in either of it's component sections. This porosity allows the neck to bend in very, very fast response to alterations in temperature, humidity, or binding force.
It is within the realm of possibility that you have a real issue on your hands and GC KNEW about it....... (Why was it there for 3 years and why did they drop the price?)
I would run - not walk - to take it back.
These things happen....to everyone. If a deal is TOO GOOD to be true.......well; you know.

good points and I've considered.....but have played this bass many times over the past several months. The price was good, but not a steal. The original sticker was like $1400+ and they marked it down somewhat until recently when they finally marked down again. I don't think anyone would pay the same price for the older model Jazz Deluxe when Fender introduced the updated Jazz Deluxe in 2010 (really 2009)

The older jazz deluxes weren't well received by a lot of the fender faithful from what I read. The smaller body and active pre is not in the core Fender stable (IMHO). It was a special order item what what GC said (I'll take them at face value). It's the older light cherry stain and was strung with Black Beauties (my favorite but most dont like). I'm guessing the combo of the older style, strings and stain weren't for everyone. That's what I'm hoping.

I'll keep my eye on. GC has already offered to have their 'tech' take a look at it. I've heard he's pretty decent.

[Billy K]

Call Fender ask for service and a "call tag".They will get to the ....bottom....of it. I have had great service from them on a HWY ONE.They leveled some frets and got my neck playing real sweet.I have found them to be not as bad to work with as the popular perception about them.Worth a call anyway.

[bassphreak]

The issues seems to have gotten a little better. Still seems to be adjusting. I can't find anything wrong with the bass. The neck is otherwise great. There are no dead spots, it plays great, very comfortable and playable.

Stopped by GC over the weekend to pick up something and inquired more about the history of the bass from one of the guys I've worked with there and trust. He gave me the same story. The bass just sat. No issues identified, I pressed and got the feeling it did just sit. I think it sat for most of the time at the normal street price (like $1200+).

I think it sat for a few reasons:

- it's the older style with the smaller jazz body and older pups
- it's strung with black beauties
- it's expensive
- it's a 5er
- it has some striations or strange grain patterns in the wood for a USA bass

[bassphreak]

A couple of pics of the bass in question.... bad cell pics but you get the idea. You can (sorta) make out the strange grain patterns to the left of the pickguard and then on the top/lower portion of the body just up from the bridge pup.

[Bredian]

But its purdy.

Hanging in a GC, typically at arms length? That would put the neck at around 10' off the floor.

Stand on a ladder in a store full of turned on electronics and lights and more explaining may not be necessary. Likely very warm, but to combat it, GC may be running the AC compressor 24/7 which also drys out the air - below natural local humidity.

My guess is you're re humidifying the neck a pinch. Fender must have seen it a few times before.

[bassphreak]

Thanks....I like it too......

I think that's the case - I just haven't seen it take this long......more of a minor annoyance at this time.

Still have to call the good folks at Fender.

[testing1two]

Two things: first, you need to put new strings on the bass before you make any serious evaluations about tuning stability or just about anything else for that matter. For all you know those are 3 year old strings. Second, when you set the neck relief you should measure it with a feeler gauge. That way you can accurately identify changes using real numbers. Without measurements there's no way to understand the severity of the changes. If the change is only .003 then your action (and possibly neck angle) should be adjusted so that the bass doesn't buzz due to such small movements. If it's moving .030 then we know the neck is unstable or the truss rod isn't holding its adjustment.

Other considerations: are you sure the bass is going sharp between uses or is it going slightly sharp while you're playing but the change goes unnoticed until you re-tune at the beginning of your next practice session? There could be binding at the nut since the Black Beauties may be a different gauge than the nut was cut for.

FWIW I had a 2006 American Deluxe V and it was solid as a rock. But that bass lived its life in California so seasonal adjustments were minimal.

[darkstorm]

Agrees with the put new strings on it. If its same strings its sat with all those yrs they are well past being able to stay in tune well.

[bassphreak]

Good point about the strings. I'm very familiar with the bb's and these really had no wear, no flaking on the finish. But they are likely old and could be part of the problem.

What's a feeler gauge? I'm not familiar with them.

Thanks again guys.

[testing1two]

Feeler gauges are just thin pieces of shim stock in various thicknesses.

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