relief/setup in hot lights on stage

[loner9]

I have a fender jazz that has real low action. When I practice at my house, I notice that I have to play softly or i get fret buzz. This is the way I like it.

But I have a show coming up, big lights, hot on stage. Will my neck bow more or straighten out more under hot conditions while playing a 4 hour show?

Just wondering so I can set the truss rod accordingly for the show.

Thanks in advance.

[Pilgrim]

Won't make a difference. The warmth of your hands on the strings makes more difference than being on stage.

A truss rod is not something to tweak every 5 minutes.

[loner9]

ok, so will the warmth of my hands on the strings make more or less buzz?

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by loner9

ok, so will the warmth of my hands on the strings make more or less buzz?

Truss rods are not meant to be tweaked constantly. They're tweaked to compensate for seasonal changes, or if you put on a much lower or higher tension set of strings... that sort of thing.

Just set your truss rod/relief where you want it and play your heart out on stage

[loner9]

ok, I worded this wrong. Forget truss rod adjustments. Will my bass have more or less buzz in live stage conditions?

[pacojas]

adrenaline is all you should worry about. if you get carried away with the variables of a live performance, your attack will be varied and fret buzz will ensue. raise your action a tad to compensate, IME. otherwise, leave the action and adjust your mental.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by loner9

When I practice at my house, I notice that I have to play softly or i get fret buzz.
... I have a show coming up...

How's your bass/rig sound at rehearsal? Other gigs?

If you can, record yourself/band at rehearsal and go from there.

Depending on your e.q., fret buzz is sometimes lost in the mix.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by loner9

ok, I worded this wrong. Forget truss rod adjustments. Will my bass have more or less buzz in live stage conditions?

Probably the same. The reason is that you have a problem either with a fret or with the setup, neither of which will change on stage.

[darkstorm]

No reason for it to change unless you start playing diff. Which is likely since your worrying so much about it. Relax, have a brew, relax, play onstage as though your just playing at home. As best you can.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by loner9

I have a show coming up, big lights, hot on stage. Will my neck bow more or straighten out more under hot conditions while playing a 4 hour show?

Impossible to tell, but a normal, functioning neck will stay the same. That covers IME about 95% or so of the necks.

Unfortunately, IME again, there's about 5% that will be impossible to set, and are usually discarded if the operating conditions vary a lot.

Originally Posted by loner9

Just wondering so I can set the truss rod accordingly for the show.

You can, but you shouldn't.

Sometimes my instruments travel or are stored in sub-freezing temperatures and the rehearsals are in about 20C temp, and the shows around 30C. No problems, some won't even need to be re-tuned.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Just to set Your mid at ease, place a 500W halogen light close enough to heat the neck a bit when You play and observe if anything happens.

Regards
Sam

[loner9]

thanks for the advice everyone