Old Bass Restoration

[Mike Chini]

I was wondering what more experienced people have to say about a small project I've undertaken.

My friend is letting me have an older Ibanez Roadstar II RB630 (P-Bass). It is in sketchy shape. On the plus side, it sounds good, has a tree trunk of a neck, great fretwork (no wear) and has a nice p-bass tone. On the downside, the bridge is crap and and the electronics are scratchy. The biggest problem however is the neck. It has a decent amount of bow since the bass was left unplayed with the strings tightened for 7 or 8 years. Right now the action is VERY high in the middle of the neck because of this.

I will replace all of the hardware and add a new vintage pickup but what should I do about the neck? I've been making significant (1/2 turn) truss rod turns every other day (3 times now) but the neck still has a bow. Is it better to remove the strings at this point and let it flatten naturally or should I keep tightening?

Thanks!

[spudmaster34]

try this:
Remove the strings
Remove the neck (If it's a bolt one)
Use some clamps and clamp it to a table at both ends
leave it for a few days
Reatatch it to the bass

[62bass]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

try this:
Remove the strings
Remove the neck (If it's a bolt one)
Use some clamps and clamp it to a table at both ends
leave it for a few days
Reatatch it to the bass

That may work. You might also run out of adjustment room on the trussrod, to the point where the nut has bottomed out and won't turn further. If this happens, get some small washers that will fit in the hole, remove the nut, put 2 or 3 washers on the rod and reinstall the nut. That will give you some extra adjustment room. I've done this on a number of old basses and it works.

If the pickup sounds good, why replace it?

[Mike Chini]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions!

Well, the pickup sounds good but not great. Since it's not my main instrument, I figure why not try and make it sound as good as possible?! I have a killer sounding jazz bass so I was hoping to turn this into a great p-bass. I can always switch back if it doens't work out though.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by Mike Chini

Is it better to remove the strings at this point and let it flatten naturally or should I keep tightening?

Thanks!

Both. It sounds like the truss rod is working. Take the strings off and tighten the truss rod until it is snug. Leave it alone for a day or two if that makes you feel comfortable. String it to tension and measure the relief. The target is .012" give or take a couple of thousandths. (Around TB, most folks don't seem to have feeler gauges so a thin business card is about right.) If that doesn't do it then loosen the truss rod until it is slack and the neck can be clamped into a back bow. Retighten the rod until snug and let it set. It may take three or four attempts until the truss rod can compress the neck enough to hold it. Sometimes it happens on the first try.

62 is spot on about the washers. The bearing area underneath the truss rod nut may be compressed. A few washers will give the truss rod nut more room to do the work.

IIRC, the pickups in that bass sound decent. If there is a scratchy sound coming from it, in all probability the pots are the culprits. A thorough douching with Caig DeOxit should get rid of the problem. If a P-bass sound is the goal, the lightweight hardware will actually help it sound authentic.

[Mike Chini]

The truss rod is definitely working. I've gotten rid of most of the bow so far. It actually looks pretty flat when the strings are loosened. But it develops a slight bow when they are tightened. I suppose I'll do another 1/4 turn tonight with the strings loosened and hopefully that does it. If not, I will try clamping the neck into a back bow.

Thanks again to everyone.