Kramer Aluminum Neck Adjustments?

Timmay on bass · #1 11-17-2008, 05:47 PM

I recently aquired a 1981 Kramer XL 8 string bass, and it's a real cool instrument, but there is too much relief in the neck, and there doesn't appear to be a truss rod on this bass. Has anyone had any experience with setting up this kind of bass?

dannster · #2 11-17-2008, 05:57 PM

You are just going to have to bend it. Place between to stands and pull down with a vise of some kind in the middle to get desired flatness. That is why as cool as they are they are kind of junk. Mine would never stay in tune either.

JLS · #3 11-18-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannster

You are just going to have to bend it. Place between to stands and pull down with a vise of some kind in the middle to get desired flatness. That is why as cool as they are they are kind of junk. Mine would never stay in tune either.

Hence, no tuning stability.

I'd use a 2x4, shims, and a couple of C-clamps, to try to straighten that out.

Good luck!

Pilgrim · #4 11-18-2008, 10:14 AM

I'd do a LOT of homework before I tried to bend that neck. One mistake would be all it took to ruin it. the action might be high now, but unless it's unplayable I'd think twice before messing with it. There might even be a Kramer expert somewhere who could do it for you.

Timmay on bass · #5 11-18-2008, 10:48 AM

The bass is playable, but the intonation is not consistant up & down the neck, even with it being set properly at the 12th fret.

BigOldHarry · #6 11-18-2008, 11:00 AM

man, this sounds familiar...

As I recall, the fretboards on those are pretty thick... rather than try to adjust the metal part of the neck, it might be worth having a good luthier shave the fretboard and refret to compensate for the relief... I have to think that 8 strings creates a fair amount of tension and aluminum is not the strongest of metals...

dannster · #7 11-18-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

aluminum expands a LOT, w/heatHence, no tuning stability.

Man that neck (on mine) would move if you glanced at it incorrectly.

JLS · #8 11-18-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay on bass

The bass is playable, but the intonation is not consistant up & down the neck, even with it being set properly at the 12th fret.

8 string...does it have 8 separate saddles? If not, well, you're going to have to live with it.

Timmay on bass · #9 11-19-2008, 10:11 AM

It does have 8 sperate saddles, but even with that, when you have a dip that big, you can set it up so the 12th fret will be perfectly in tune with the harmonic, but the 6th or 7th fret will still be a little out of tune. If this was a normal 4 string bass, it wouldn't be a big deal, but with octave strings, intonation is more crucial.

JLS · #10 11-19-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmay on bass

It does have 8 sperate saddles, but even with that, when you have a dip that big, you can set it up so the 12th fret will be perfectly in tune with the harmonic, but the 6th or 7th fret will still be a little out of tune. If this was a normal 4 string bass, it wouldn't be a big deal, but with octave strings, intonation is more crucial.

Sounds bad--can you post a photo? What kind of relief are we talking at the 7th fret, capoed at the first fret?