Relieving all neck tension, beneficial?

[bthiemann80]

I have a Fender jazz bass consisting of an american std. body and 75' reissue neck. The neck is glossed and the fretboard is rosewood w/ the abalone block inlays. I've never quite got the action as low as i would like and i've seen a couple posts on here mentioning that relieving all neck tension for a certain amount of time may help to straighten the neck out and you may attain better action/intonation.

If its true, then how do you know when all tension is off the neck? Should i do this w/ the strings on or off? How long should i let it sit?

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by bthiemann80

I have a Fender jazz bass consisting of an american std. body and 75' reissue neck. The neck is glossed and the fretboard is rosewood w/ the abalone block inlays. I've never quite got the action as low as i would like and i've seen a couple posts on here mentioning that relieving all neck tension for a certain amount of time may help to straighten the neck out and you may attain better action/intonation.

If its true, then how do you know when all tension is off the neck? Should i do this w/ the strings on or off? How long should i let it sit?

Loosening the truss rod to relieve the tension will increase the bow in the neck unless you completely loosen the strings, and then it does nothing.

I suggest that you find out why your action is too high and then make the conventional adjustments to correct the problem. If you can't straighten the neck with normal adjustments, something is mechanically wrong with the bass. In which case, either fix the bass or you'll just have to live with it.

To answer your specific question, no, loosening the TR wont fix it.

[Poop-Loops]

If you just loosen the truss rod, the neck will snap. You'd need to take the strings off.

I wouldn't really do it. I don't see how it would go back to its original shape. Besides, when you made it playable again, it would just go back to where it was...

[bthiemann80]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I was just curious if one could make the neck a bit straighter by relieving all the tension. I just took the strings off and gave the rosewood a much needed oil treatment w/ no adjustments to the neck. I'll probably wait until the oil soaks in/dries, slap some new strings on it and go.

[mikezimmerman]

Have you tried simply tightening the truss rod a little bit? That's the normal way to straighten the neck out (aka have less relief) when the strings are on, and that is the goal, right?

Mike

[SGT. Pepper]

Originally Posted by bthiemann80

I have a Fender jazz bass consisting of an american std. body and 75' reissue neck. The neck is glossed and the fretboard is rosewood w/ the abalone block inlays. I've never quite got the action as low as i would like and i've seen a couple posts on here mentioning that relieving all neck tension for a certain amount of time may help to straighten the neck out and you may attain better action/intonation.

If its true, then how do you know when all tension is off the neck? Should i do this w/ the strings on or off? How long should i let it sit?

Do you have a BadAss Bridge on it?
Sometimes if you modify a Fender with one because of the bridge plate being much thicker, it inhibits the lower action you were able to aquire with the stock Fender bridge.
In my experience, you are better off modifying a Fender with an American series bridge from Fender. The saddles don't fall and they are grooved for optimum string placement over the pups.
There's a reason Fender uses the bridges they use. I had a Marcus Miller bass and I couldn't get the action as low as my American Standard at the time. Reason, BadAss Bridge.

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

If you just loosen the truss rod, the neck will snap...

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

LOL. I was wondering how soon someone was going to jump on that one.

[pyrohr]

It is possible the body pocket is not cut deep enough to allow super low action with a 75RI neck. You should try "shiming" the neck and see if that helps. You also stated the neck was a 75RI neck meaning thats a three bolt neck but your using a MIA standard body (4bolt pattern). are you using a three or four bolt setup? Your best bet is to use a shim. Of course this all depends on if the neck is straight to start with!