I just retightened the bolts on my bass

[Ostinato]

And the neck came out just as I wanted.

All I did was loosen the string tension and untighten the neck bolts slightly, and retightened the bolts, putting a bit more torque on the top bolts at first, then tightening the others less so. All are snug and there are six bolts in total.

My goal was to lower the neck angle and thus lower the action ...Now my action is better and I can feel the notes vibrate.

[funkybassplayer]

What kind of bass? Pics?

[perucci]

1. Careful not to overtighten the neck screws - than can cause the highest frets to bulge, over time, due to neck warpage.
2. I'd be careful that whatever you did does not leave a gap, and that the neck sits flat in the pocket in the body. If it was properly installed before and after your work, the neck angle should not have changed. Proper procedure to change neck angle is to use a shim (ideally, carefully crafted out of hardwood), but only if the saddle adjustments are "topped-out" or "bottomed-out".

[Ostinato]

Originally Posted by perucci

1. Careful not to overtighten the neck screws - than can cause the highest frets to bulge, over time, due to neck warpage.
2. I'd be careful that whatever you did does not leave a gap, and that the neck sits flat in the pocket in the body. If it was properly installed before and after your work, the neck angle should not have changed. Proper procedure to change neck angle is to use a shim (ideally, carefully crafted out of hardwood), but only if the saddle adjustments are "topped-out" or "bottomed-out".

I was careful...it was really a minor adjustment but I get where you're coming from

[202dy]

Originally Posted by perucci

1. Careful not to overtighten the neck screws - than can cause the highest frets to bulge, over time, due to neck warpage.
2. I'd be careful that whatever you did does not leave a gap, and that the neck sits flat in the pocket in the body. If it was properly installed before and after your work, the neck angle should not have changed. Proper procedure to change neck angle is to use a shim (ideally, carefully crafted out of hardwood), but only if the saddle adjustments are "topped-out" or "bottomed-out".

How will "overtightening" the neck bolts cause a fret to bulge?

[remo]

yes, I'd also like to know how they would buldge.

[GeoffByrne]

The screw or bolt penetrates too far through the neck and pushes against the fretboard, maybe pushing a fret up.