Jammed Truss Rod?

GazzBass · #1 12-05-2008, 03:18 AM

I played a beautiful fretless Seymour Duncan custom P Bass today in my local store. The price was a bit too good to be true so I asked the guy what was up with it. He said that the neck was OK at the moment but the Truss Rod was jammed and couldn't be adjusted. I fell in love with the bass but was put off by its little problem. Anyone know if it can be fixed? Or is a dead Truss Rod the end of the line for the neck?

Thanks

Gazz

Oric · #2 12-05-2008, 04:52 AM

I would not get a bass with a broken truss rod. If it is really broken, and the truss rod nut isn't just stripped, it can be replaced, although it's very expensive.

Vincent P · #3 12-05-2008, 05:17 AM

I would ask around and see what it would cost to resolve the issue, it plays fine now so you have some time put some cash aside for the repair later. Just an option.

GazzBass · #4 12-05-2008, 06:00 AM

I'm not sure how broken it is. The guy in the shop said it was just Jammed. I wouldn't be interested in a guitar with a broken Rod ether but it was such a nice instrument. I didn't know that Duncan made guitars!

therex · #5 12-07-2008, 10:49 AM

maybe the truss rod nut is stripped and as far as i know thats an easy thing to replace

guidum · #6 12-16-2008, 02:55 AM

I have same problem on my bass. Truss rod is jammed. Did you find out how to solve this?

Trevorus · #7 12-16-2008, 03:09 AM

Sometimes you get to the end of the threads of a truss rod on the tightening side, and you still need some adjustment. Often the nut can be removed and a small washer put on the bolt, and you have gained a bit more adjustment. This might be the case, so check that out. If the nut doesn't move either way, that could be bad. If it moves freely and does not adjust, that's seriously broken. If it's stripped, it usually can be extracted and replaced.

Nick Kay · #8 12-16-2008, 03:09 AM

There's three possibilities:

A) Stripped nut - remove with stripped hex removal bit, replace
B) Cross-threaded nut - remove with much grunting and sweating, replace
C) Frozen (poorly lubed) nut - 3-in-1 oil soaked in for 15 minutes, work it back and forth a few rotations to distribute evenly.

It would be really hard to interpret a broken rod as 'jammed' - the nut on a broken rod will turn all you want, it just won't DO much when it's turned.

EDIT: +1 to Trevorus. Didn't even occur to me that it could've just run out of adjustment range.

Jake of Bass · #9 12-16-2008, 04:25 AM

With that in mind, what can actually be done with the truss rod if it's gone as far as it can go, yet you need it to go a bit further to get a proper set up?

JLS · #10 12-16-2008, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake of Bass

With that in mind, what can actually be done with the truss rod if it's gone as far as it can go, yet you need it to go a bit further to get a proper set up?

You can backclamp the neck, this will usually give the trussrod just enough to adjust back into playability. This should be done in tandem with lubing the trussrod nut, and adding a washer (s)--these aren't optional, in this process.

That said, I don't care for the sound of an instrument with the trussrod completely jacked, like that.

Jake of Bass · #11 12-16-2008, 09:51 AM

That sounds like far too much can go wrong. I think if that ever happens I'll take it to a tech.

T-Bird · #12 12-17-2008, 05:14 AM

Hi.

How too good to be true?

And, single or dual acting rod?

Replacing a truss rod isn't all that difficult, but it's time and labour consuming process so it's not cheap.

Dual acting rods are a PITA, as the hex is sometimes one step smaller than on the single acting ones=strips easily. Either way, replacing dual action truss rod requires the removal of the fret/finger board. Like said not difficult, but expensive.

If the price difference is a new aftermarket unfinished neck or more, I'd say go for it, otherwise definately not.

I'd rather buy and repair an instrument with a broken headstock than one with broken truss rod. If both were the same price that is.

Regards
Sam

Zooberwerx · #13 12-17-2008, 10:14 AM

If the rod is single-action and the nut can be removed, you might be in business. The dual-action nuts are not removable, and as mentioned, the hex key size is 3mm in many cases...too small IMO and prone to "rounding off" if not cautious.

Riis

GazzBass · #14 12-18-2008, 04:14 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I got more info on the truss rod problem on the P Bass. Apparently the rod has been adjusted as far as it can go. As I said its fine at the moment but it will present problems in the future if/when the neck bends.

I'm not sure if I should get it or not. Its a VERY NICE custom made fretless P Bass built by Seymour Duncan with Duncan PJ pups , ebony fingerboard and a Badass II bridge. They're selling it for 200 pounds.

What do you think? Is it worth it? I have a Jaco Fender Jazz at the moment and I'd like another FL to play at home and jams so I'm not eating up my neck on my Jazz all the time. It wouldn't be my main bass.

gimmeagig · #15 12-18-2008, 09:26 AM

P basses fretless don't sound that good anyway I think.So if you have a Jaco Jazz, the P Bass won't sound anything like the bass you are used to. You might end up putting an additional Jazz bass pickup on the bass and combinded with the cost of the truss rod repair the bass might not be such a good deal after all.

GazzBass · #16 12-18-2008, 11:26 AM

It already has a jazz pickup. I was thinking if the neck was beyond repair I might just stick an allparts ebony jazz neck on it. I do like the sound of a P Bass pickup on a fretless and have been looking for a fretless PJ bass for a while. Thats why I was thinking of picking this bass up. Its a real shame the necks crapped out coz its a lovely instrument.

T-Bird · #17 12-21-2008, 07:19 AM

Hi.

Trevorus up there provided the answer to the remedy then. IF it's a single acting truss rod.

Is the bass worth it? That's up to You.

If I liked something that's "broken" and pricewise a 1 hour fix for a pro, and quite easy fix for a DIYer also, I'd jump for it.

Search for "truss rod washer" and You'll find at least a couple of discussion about the way to do it.

Regards
Sam

gimmeagig · #18 12-21-2008, 08:17 PM

Where can you buy the tool that can be used in a rounded off allen nut?

Turnaround · #19 12-21-2008, 08:41 PM

Good tool for the job here:-

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Wr...od_Wrench.html

Lesfunk · #20 12-21-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GazzBass

I played a beautiful fretless Seymour Duncan custom P Bass today in my local store. The price was a bit too good to be true so I asked the guy what was up with it. He said that the neck was OK at the moment but the Truss Rod was jammed and couldn't be adjusted. I fell in love with the bass but was put off by its little problem. Anyone know if it can be fixed? Or is a dead Truss Rod the end of the line for the neck?

Thanks

Gazz

My advice is to find Another bass to fall in love with. I consider a bad truss rod to be "a Little problem" along the lines of liking a woman who has genital herpes to be a "little problem"