Lakland neck issues

Axtman · #1 09-12-2010, 06:31 PM

I have a Lakland 55-01 bass that has some neck issues. I can't get the buzz out of the frets. I have loosened and tightened the truss rod but nothing seems to help. I am concerned that the neck might have the fatal "S" curve to it.

Rumblefisher · #2 09-12-2010, 06:48 PM

http://www.chicagobassdoctor.com/setup.html

Maybe something suggested here can help you?

**lowendfriend** · #3 09-12-2010, 07:12 PM

Thanks for the video links.....will add to my set up folder.

JazznFunk · #4 09-12-2010, 07:22 PM

You can tell pretty easily by sighting the neck if there is a bad curve. If you have another bass handy to compare it to, use it as a reference. The frets should look like a railroad track, all even and level as you're sighting the neck. Also take note of the headstock and whether or not it's straight in relation to the body. There are a lot of optical illusions that can mask a neck twist. If everything looks good then it's time to consider the setup at the bridge, string gauge (medium to heavy gauge strings buzz less in most cases than lights), and your playing technique. I prefer a low enough action that there is sometimes a very slight buzz when really digging in, but not if played with a light touch. If there's still an issue, and if the bass is under warranty, Lakland will replace the neck. I know from experience because my first 44-01 had a nasty neck twist and they took care of it right away. The new neck is rock solid, and it's the only neck issue I've ever had with my Laklands.

Axtman · #5 09-12-2010, 07:23 PM

Thanks for the video links. I have already looked at them and followed them.

Lesfunk · #6 09-12-2010, 07:25 PM

There may be a few raised frets. It happens even on nice basses. The wood expands and contracts and the frets can loosen and shift. Every bass I've ever owned has had them including Sadowskys, Warwicks, and yes, FENDERS

Axtman · #7 09-12-2010, 07:48 PM

So I loosened and removed the strings. I removed the neck from the body. I loosened and removed the truss rod nut. I want to see what the neck is like under NO tension from the truss rod or the strings. I put the long end of a 24 inch carpenter framing square on the frets. Well the neck has a pretty good bow in it. The gap is about .028 inch.

Is this normal? Should the neck be dead straight?

JazznFunk · #8 09-12-2010, 07:54 PM

Well, the neck will back-bow probably if you still have any tension on the truss rod. There is a possibility that if the neck was under extreme tension from strings or mis-adjustment that it permanently has relief in the neck, even with no turns on the truss-rod. It also may take at least a day for the neck to adjust to not having tension on it. Past that, I say get thee to a luthier, even a local one, for a professional opinion. It's hard for us to diagnose specifically without having the neck in hand.

walterw · #9 09-12-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

So I loosened and removed the strings. I removed the neck from the body. I loosened and removed the truss rod nut. I want to see what the neck is like under NO tension from the truss rod or the strings. I put the long end of a 24 inch carpenter framing square on the frets. Well the neck has a pretty good bow in it. The gap is about .028 inch.

Is this normal? Should the neck be dead straight?

you'll get no useful information without string tension like that.

string it back up and take it it to someone. if it indeed has the "bad" curve (back-bowed from 6 to the nut but up-bowed from 15 to the body end) then the only fix will involve at least a fret-level anyway, so not a home repair.

Axtman · #10 09-13-2010, 02:54 PM

I think that I have the neck bow issue solved. What I did was tighten the truss rod nut to get the neck dead level. Then I reinstalled the neck and installed strings. The string tension put just enough force to give me proper "forward" bow on the neck. The strings are now to high so I have to adjust the saddle height and intonate. Before I do that I want to see if the neck will stabilize.

I must say that I have never seen a neck, that was removed from a body and truss nut backed off, that had a front bow in it. Most of the necks I have seen or worked with go back to the way they were manufactured.......straight as an arrow.

joe5cent · #11 10-08-2010, 09:33 AM

I have a classic 55-94 that always needs adjustment in the spring and fall. It's gotten worse, I just talked to the factory and they say there was a period around the sn 5800's range where they had issues. I am sending it in for evaluation. I will find out if they say the neck needs replacing, but they weren't clear on a cost.

Anyone else had this issue?

bamabass · #12 10-08-2010, 09:38 AM

I have had a lot of laklands and never had this problem. The one thing I can say though, is that that if you contact Lakland, they will work with you and make it right! top notch customer service.

Mike Dimin · #13 10-08-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

I have a Lakland 55-01 bass that has some neck issues. I can't get the buzz out of the frets. I have loosened and tightened the truss rod but nothing seems to help. I am concerned that the neck might have the fatal "S" curve to it.

which frets buzzed? what is the fretboard wood?

frankie5string · #14 03-02-2011, 08:19 PM

Hey, for those of you who've taken the neck off your Lakland to look at the pocket... did you find that the four holes on your neck were filled in and re-drilled?

On mine it's very clear that four holes were drilled, filled and then redone right next to the filled ones... I have a fretless 55-02...

Looks like my 55-02 neck has gone wonky... It developed a serious backbow about 6 months ago... I've been loosening the truss rod gradually over the past three... and now the nut is about 2mm out of the hole... backbow is still there and the first 5 frets on every string are choked...

walterw · #15 03-02-2011, 09:47 PM

don't bother with the "gradually" nonsense, loosen it until the neck is where you want. if the nut comes lose before the neck gets out of back bow, then you have a (hopefully warranty) problem.

frankie5string · #16 03-04-2011, 09:51 AM

Well, I now have the nut sticking about 2mm out of the truss-rod hole and the neck is finally moving very slowly back to somewhat straight... It's still got a bit of a backbow to it but it's not flying forward so I'm going to keep an eye on it.

In the meantime, I've tried to contact both of the support contacts on Lakland's website and got zero response... is this typical Lakland support these days?

JazznFunk · #17 03-04-2011, 02:45 PM

Pick up the phone and CALL Lakland. The two contacts on the website are for sales and general inquiries. If you call the shop you'll be able to speak to someone right away. As with any company, expect at least 24 hours to get an email response. If you need immediate help, pick up the phone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

In the meantime, I've tried to contact both of the support contacts on Lakland's website and got zero response... is this typical Lakland support these days?

walterw · #18 03-04-2011, 06:51 PM

+1

it seems like smaller shops and individual builders don't have time for lots of computer stuff; they're usually way easier to just call.

AverageWhiteBassist · #19 03-04-2011, 08:13 PM

Lakland is the best I ever dealt with for customer service. No one else is close.