P bass truss rod rattle - any suggestions?

**bassybill** · #1 08-04-2011, 05:57 AM

I just noticed what seems to be a very slight truss rod rattle in a neck that I'm using for a P bass project build. It's a 78 neck and has this sort of truss rod...

The rod currently turns VERY easily, which makes me think that it might not be tight, but there's almost no forward bow in the neck at all. Relief is pretty much perfect.

Can I have some expert opinion on possible options, please?

Maybe I could tighten up the string tension for a few days to see if I can get a bit of forward bow in the neck, so I can then tighten the rod once it's got more relief to "work on"?

Or how about this method involving "giving the rod a drink"? How would you do this with this type of truss rod?

FRETS.COM

Thanks for taking a look, would very much appreciate any advice.

202dy · #2 08-04-2011, 06:40 AM

Does the truss rod rattle when the neck is installed on the body and strung to tension?

The truss rod nut should be easy to turn when the neck is not subjected to string tension.

staindbass · #3 08-04-2011, 08:04 AM

i would tighten it just enough until it stops the rattle.

Slowgypsy · #4 08-04-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staindbass

i would tighten it just enough until it stops the rattle.

I actually think this is very sage, common sense advice. So I'll second this thought.

As for "giving the truss rod a drink"... Frank Ford is legendary in the business, so who am I to disagree? But I'd still just snug up the truss rod a bit and see if that does the trick.

**bassybill** · #5 08-04-2011, 02:30 PM

I'll give that a try when I'm doing the final setup on the finished project, Thanks people.

The project thread is here, by the way, if you'd like a look at it.

What should I do to this one? P bass project with pics

chunger · #6 08-10-2011, 03:33 AM

Don't know if his is completely irrelevant, but I recently thought I was chasing a truss rod rattle when the real problem was the A string not having enough break angle at the nut due to fret leveling and lowering the nut slots. . . causing clatter at the headstock that sounded/felt like something clacking away inside the neck.

pressing down slightly on the string between the nut and the tuner alleviated the problem, and a 3-string retainer fixed the issue permanently.