Moisture in the neck:(

JohnLovesRush · #1 03-18-2008, 12:17 PM

a few months ago I bought an 89 fender jap fretless for 480 euro.
When I bought it the action wasn't great.. not bad but not great..and there was some buzzing down the neck.

anyway last week I brought it into the local shop for a full set up..costing 50 quid!!.. and when they gave it back to me they said that moisture had gotten into the lower part of the neck and therefore something to do with the truss rod not turning properly and basically that the relief won't be as low as it should be.
so I payed the 50..thinking this was exactly as he said and I could live with that.

However when I got home and played around with it.. there's just buzzing all over the bass.. the A string seems to buzz all the way down. and the other strings do as well..in different places.

So basically.. I would like to get my money back for the bass (which will never happen as it was bought second hand) and my money back for the set up,, do you think there's a decent chance of that happening?

and finally.. any ideas of the best course of action to take with the bass now?.. like buy a new neck..or sell it on(which is dishonest really unless I mention the problem)..any help would be much appreciated

thanks!

kevin_lindsay · #2 03-18-2008, 12:21 PM

A set-up just sets the relief and action / intonation.

Sounds to me like the neck needs a re-shoot - would cost you around the 100 euro range to get it done and have the intonation re-set.

Unfortunately, these things happen with instrument - especially ones where the previous owner hasn't looked after it properly (or perhaps just didn't know any better?)

JohnLovesRush · #3 03-18-2008, 12:22 PM

ahh I see.. whats a re-shoot? *noob question probably*

GlennW · #4 03-18-2008, 12:46 PM

I think the shop might be full of BS, and using moisture as an excuse to cover up their lack of ability to set up your bass.

Moisture or no moisture, there's no reason at all for it to be worse than it was when you took it to them. If anyone owes you money, I think it's them.

JohnLovesRush · #5 03-18-2008, 01:08 PM

ahh yeah you could be right.. thing is the relief is closer.. but it just buzzes all the time.. like they made the action better..just.. consistent buzz

Templar · #6 03-18-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

and when they gave it back to me they said that moisture had gotten into the lower part of the neck and therefore something to do with the truss rod not turning properly and basically that the relief won't be as low as it should be.

They said this with a straight face? I guess thay had to tell you something.

Find someone who knows what they're doing. Good luck getting your 50 quids back from the guitar tech imposters.

JohnLovesRush · #7 03-18-2008, 02:03 PM

ahh right so it's total BS then?.. well I got this done in a shop.. I'll have to go back in but I don't really now how I'm going to say it to them

moomoocajoo · #8 03-18-2008, 02:14 PM

Get the neck looked at by another tech and if he can fix it, get a written appraisal or something of the sort and then you might have some leverage.

Doubt you'll get much though :/ I'd just hope to get your neck sorted

12stringbassist · #9 03-18-2008, 02:44 PM

I doubt that there is any way the seller will refund when the bass has been seriously adjusted elsewhere and is noticeably less playable than it was.

I'd take the bass into the shop that worked on it and ask them for a straight full refund, stating that the bass is not usable on stage due to their work on it.

If they refuse this, they should put the bass right.
If they can't do that, you may get a partial refund.

I'd then take the bass to another tech - tell him exactly what's happened and if he can't fix it, buy a new neck for the bass and make sure you get someone you can trust to set it up.

JohnLovesRush · #10 03-18-2008, 03:16 PM

yeah thats probably the best plan.. ahh this is a real pain in the arse..nearly a reason never to buy second hand.. out of interest do you have any idea how much a late 80s fretless japanese jazz would go for?.. if everything was in good nick

PocketGroove82 · #11 03-18-2008, 03:19 PM

John, does the buzz come through the amp?
Many people think a bass that buzzes unplugged is garbage, but honestly...with low action comes buzz, especially if it's a budget instrument with poor fretwork. The issues arise when the buzzing comes through the pickup, into your amp/board, ruins your tone, and basically sounds like crap.

I don't mind a little buzz, as long as it's not heard through the amp. But buzz all over is no fun.

JohnLovesRush · #12 03-18-2008, 03:25 PM

it's fretless and it's irritatingly high buzz .. and if my ear is right it's can come through on the amp aswell

PocketGroove82 · #13 03-18-2008, 03:28 PM

Sorry to hear that man. Your neck may be warped, which could be what your chums at the music shop were trying to articulate.

GlennW · #14 03-18-2008, 03:30 PM

I have a feeling that shimming the TR nut (so it'll straighten more if it's bottomed out now) and/or raising the saddles will fix it.

Your neck may be fine...just needs some love.

alexgeddy · #15 03-18-2008, 03:48 PM

Hi,
I have a fender with a truss rod that didn't work anymore... It was bottomed out. the official Fender fix is to take the truss rod nut off and shim it with washers till you can tweak the neck. I did this and it works good till you need to add another washer or two..My bass guy told me it's due to the end of the truss rod pulling down.

I did this on my Geddy lee and it has held for a year. If you need particulars feel free to PM me
good luck

Bill

GlennW · #16 03-18-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexgeddy

I did this and it works good till you need to add another washer or two..My bass guy told me it's due to the end of the truss rod pulling down.

What happens is the rod runs out of thread before the nut applies enough tension to straighten the neck enough. The nut goes as far as it can and stops turning because there's no more thread.

The washers act as spacers so the nut will tighten against them and have a couple more turns before running out of thread.

HTH

JohnLovesRush · #17 03-18-2008, 05:01 PM

ahh well that seems all a bit above my head, but I guess I'll have to talk to another tech

4Mal · #18 03-18-2008, 05:11 PM

This might also be a case where you need to shim the heelk of the neck and raise the saddles a bit. It really depends on how much relief is in the neck.

Given that it is fretless - the nut may be cut low as well...

In any event - if the shop gave it back where it's buzzing all over the neck, sounds like they or someone else has more work to do ...

**embellisher** · #19 03-18-2008, 09:02 PM

Let's give this thread another go 'round in Setup. While you got some good advice, maybe people who are regulars in the Setup forum can chime in too.

JohnLovesRush · #20 03-25-2008, 06:15 PM

ok well for those who are still interesting!. I doubt many lol.. I brought it back to the shop.. he basically put it back the way it was in the beginning and then agreed to give me a refund which is fair enough.. apparently the neck if warped a bit but may improve with the forthcoming summer... however if it doesn't I don't know what to do with regards to getting a new neck..any thoughts?