Saddle/Truss Q

[Chef FourString]

So, I've had to raise the saddles on the bridge to the max just to keep out the buzz. That being said, as noob as this question may be, do I need to loosen or tighten my truss? Counter or clockwise?

Thanks
William C.A.

[Chef FourString]

Bump

[Pilgrim]

Patience is your friend - but my guess is that the neck is too straight and could use some relief, which means loosening the truss rod a hair.

That would mean turning the nut counter-clockwise. Lefty loosey, righty tighty. I'd suggest no more than two increments of 1/4 turn, then letting the bass sit overnight before judging the results.

[erock0138]

I would check for a fret that has been "popped up" as they call it. Generally saddles shouldn't be to the highest point, and if so, there is something definetley in your neck. What kinda bass is it?

[erock0138]

+1 to pilgrim, that's how it's done. I generally give it a quarter turn, and try to feel if there's any pressure taken off as you turn it. give it a day or so, then judge.

[Chef FourString]

50s refurb mim. Bolt on. (i love it)
I've just been terrified of destroying it. I have no local luthier in my town and doing this myself kind of scares the crap out of me. You guys are really my only source to this type of info and none of my friends are bass players. I will have to remove the neck to do this and I think that is what freaks me out.

I'll try to loosen the nut and let it rest.

Much appreciated,
William C.A.

[Chef FourString]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Patience is your friend - but my guess is that the neck is too straight and could use some relief, which means loosening the truss rod a hair.

That would mean turning the nut counter-clockwise. Lefty loosey, righty tighty. I'd suggest no more than two increments of 1/4 turn, then letting the bass sit overnight before judging the results.

Thank you for the straight answer and not some conglomerate of techie speak.

[Chef FourString]

One more thing; should I loosen my strings before I tie them off and take off the neck? Should they be "loose" while the neck sets?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Chef FourString

One more thing; should I loosen my strings before I tie them off and take off the neck? Should they be "loose" while the neck sets?

May I assume you have to remove the neck to access the truss rod? If so, here's a few tips:

*How much relief do you have on board with the strings tuned to pitch?

*If you have a capo (a must in my tool box), loosen / de-tune the strings but use the capo to secure the strings against the fretboard so they're not floppin' around.

*Loosen or remove the neck screws and tilt the neck backwards until the truss rod nut becomes visible.

*Once you've adjusted the truss rod, tighten everything back up and re-tune to pitch.

Riis

[Chef FourString]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

May I assume you have to remove the neck to access the truss rod? If so, here's a few tips:

*How much relief do you have on board with the strings tuned to pitch?

*If you have a capo (a must in my tool box), loosen / de-tune the strings but use the capo to secure the strings against the fretboard so they're not floppin' around.

*Loosen or remove the neck screws and tilt the neck backwards until the truss rod nut becomes visible.

*Once you've adjusted the truss rod, tighten everything back up and re-tune to pitch.

Riis

Yeah, I have to remove the neck. The relief is good, I can bend pitch pretty easily. Don't have a capo but I have some surgical tubing to secure the strings. Thanks for being straight forward, sir.

William C.A.

[Chef FourString]

Thanks for all your inputs.

William C.A.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Chef FourString

Yeah, I have to remove the neck. The relief is good, I can bend pitch pretty easily. Don't have a capo but I have some surgical tubing to secure the strings. Thanks for being straight forward, sir.

William C.A.

I like the surgical tubing idea...consider it stolen for future use by your's truly! If your relief is good, why are you wanting to access the truss rod?

Riis

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Chef FourString

Yeah, I have to remove the neck. The relief is good, I can bend pitch pretty easily. Don't have a capo but I have some surgical tubing to secure the strings. Thanks for being straight forward, sir.

William C.A.

You didn't tell us that in your first post - and it's important.

If relief is really, truly OK, then you may not need to mess with the truss rod. Loosening it will increase the relief, moving the strings higher off the fretboard but allowing you to lower the saddles.

Listen to what 202dy tells you. He's way ahead of me!

[Chef FourString]

Maybe I'm just not understanding what you mean by "relief". If I were to lower my saddles any more the strings will lay flat on the neck and become un-playable. Sorry to not have mentioned it before hand.