Neck bowing - truss rod as tight as it can go

[DJS]

I've been carefully experimenting with the setup on my Ibanez GSR 190, hoping to learn a few things, and also get rid of some fret buzz.

Last night I put a 24" framing square on the frets and found that several of them (around 8-13) had some gaps (worst in the middle, less so at the ends)

I loosened the strings slightly, tightened the truss rod a half turn, re-tuned, and checked. The gaps were smaller. I repeated this process once more and the truss rod reached the end. Unfortunately, while smaller, the gaps were still present, and so is the fret buzz.

Now my working assumption is that fret buzz comes from frets that aren't the same height - I'm new at this so correct if wrong.

The bass is strung with D'Addario medium nickel rounds, which are heavier than stock. Is it possible these strings are a bit too much for this fairly thin neck, and student-quality bass? Do heavier gauge strings = increased string tension? If so, should I try a lightweight set of strings and hope the bow goes away?


PS - The StewMac Comfort Grip tapered truss rod adjustor tool is first rate quality, as is their fast response, and shipping. It showed up in less than 48 hours with standard shipping.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Here's a bit of reading about the subject:

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

As for the amount of relief required for buzz-free operation, that's up to You, and your playing style. Does the buzz dissapear if You raise the saddles a bit?

Regards
Sam

[JLS]

is incorrect, in thinking that tightening the trussrod will cure fret buzzing.

Read the stickies.

[DJS]

Thanks for the input. I actually have spend a fair amount of time reading these. It look as if I'm trying to correct a back bow, and can't tighten the truss rod anymore.

Yes - lifting the saddles does help a little, but the higher they go, it quickly gets more clanky sounding as the E hits the frets while playing.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by DJS

Thanks for the input. I actually have spend a fair amount of time reading these. It look as if I'm trying to correct a back bow, and can't tighten the truss rod anymore.

Tightening the truss rod CREATES back bow.

If you're trying to correct a back bow -loosen the truss rod (thus allowing string tension to bend the neck out of a back bow).

Strings create a forward bow tension, and the truss rod creates a back bow to counteract that. If you've got too much back bow, you need to loosen the truss rod and let the string tension bow the neck forward more.

[DJS]

Oops. OK - re-reading the Stew Mac guide, I have an up-bow issue, not a back bow issue. Sorry, I misspoke. Working on it last night, loosening definitely made made it worse.

[darkstorm]

Loosen all the strings and very gently try to straighten then neck just a tiny amount with your hands in a light slow bouncing motion. No snapping movement, just light slow allmost like useing a trememlo bar to do up bend but via causing the neck to straighten a little rather then curve upward. Ibanez necks can tend to be little more moveable curve wise due to being thinner. They dont have a weak neck like carvins poived to have to me, but they dont hold straight as easy as some others and thus truss rod takes more load and starightening with heavy tension can be harder. Your bassically trying to help the truss rod adjust with the little manual assistance.

[Showdown]

If you run out of threads on the truss rod (you've tightened it as much as you can) you can add a small washer or two to give you a little more adjustment. Take the truss rod nut off, add the washer(s), then put the nut back on and tighten it. That should let you get the neck a little straighter.