Steaming Neck to Fix Action

[iceshaft07]

I have tried adjusting the truss rod on my P bass, and what ended up happening was that the first fret started buzzing when fretted. The action on the 12th fret was terribly high-- this is a bass I found left in cellar, and when asked to join a band, I grabbed it and started playing it. I can tell you that this was never maintained, but it works. It is my only bass, so I'd like to fix it.

I am thinking that the neck is warped if the truss rod is not fixing it. I would like to steam the neck, and then straighten it out, but I would like to know what it entails.

Here is the procedure that I am going to follow-- let me know if I am missing anything, or if I don't need to do something, or if there are any tips.

1) Remove the strings from the neck (I heard this can crack the neck-- is there a way to not do that?); Also, I assume the fretboard need not be sanded
2) Remove the neck
3) Sand the neck down to remove finish so the steam can get inside
4) Steam the neck (how long?)
5) Place the neck on a flat surface being gripped firmly by 2 vices
6) Wait for neck to dry
7) Place neck back on to bass
8) Put strings on bass
9) Test frets / Truss rod adjustment
10) When satisfied, refinish the neck

So, if there are any thing I have missed, please let me know. Any help is greatly appreciated. I am not going to jump into this without knowing 100% what to do.

Thanks!
-Rob

[Zooberwerx]

Have you had a tech look at it yet?

Riis

[202dy]

Steaming is typically used to remove necks from acoustic guitars in order to perform a neck set. Dry heat is used to correct some problems due to warping. However, this is a process that is only used in rather drastic cases when nothing else will work.

Before resorting to an extreme tactic it is prudent to exhaust other methods first. Check the sticky at the top on setup procedures. Take some measurements and work with that first. If you are not sure as to procedures post the findings here and someone will help.

[iceshaft07]

I can try the shim-- I haven't tried that yet. I have adjusted everything else though. Thanks for the feedback!

[pkr2]

Originally Posted by iceshaft07

I have tried adjusting the truss rod on my P bass, and what ended up happening was that the first fret started buzzing when fretted. The action on the 12th fret was terribly high-- this is a bass I found left in cellar, and when asked to join a band, I grabbed it and started playing it. I can tell you that this was never maintained, but it works. It is my only bass, so I'd like to fix it.

I am thinking that the neck is warped if the truss rod is not fixing it. I would like to steam the neck, and then straighten it out, but I would like to know what it entails.

Here is the procedure that I am going to follow-- let me know if I am missing anything, or if I don't need to do something, or if there are any tips.



1) Remove the strings from the neck (I heard this can crack the neck-- is there a way to not do that?); Also, I assume the fretboard need not be sanded
2) Remove the neck
3) Sand the neck down to remove finish so the steam can get inside
4) Steam the neck (how long?)
5) Place the neck on a flat surface being gripped firmly by 2 vices
6) Wait for neck to dry
7) Place neck back on to bass
8) Put strings on bass
9) Test frets / Truss rod adjustment
10) When satisfied, refinish the neck

So, if there are any thing I have missed, please let me know. Any help is greatly appreciated. I am not going to jump into this without knowing 100% what to do.

Thanks!
-Rob

I strongly suggest that you find a repair person to have a look at it.

If I understand your post correctly, the buzz wasn't there until you attempted to adjust the truss rod.

Logically, you wouldn't expect the neck to permanently warp from a simple TR adjustment.

It would be futile to try to talk you through a simple setup at this point because there may be something mechanically wrong with the bass that you're overlooking, or even a faulty adjustment method on your part.

Emphatically, forget the steaming idea. That's the wrong way to make a very improper repair. If you put enough steam to it to make the wood pliable enough to straighten, the neck will most likely dis-assemble itself as the glue joints start turning loose.

Good luck with your problem. Let us know how it turns out.