Straight Neck Question - Need some help

Johnny Alien · #1 02-14-2009, 04:00 PM

First off I do not plan on working on this neck I plan on getting it done professionally but I want to know what I am dealing with too.

I got a neck that had been defretted and the fretboard painted. Dolan inspected the pictures and said it would be no problem (judging by the photos) to sand the fretboard a it and refret. The truss rod nut is also pretty deep in even when it is loosened. Dolan said this was no big deal as some older basses just had deeper truss rod nuts and that he could do the basic spacer trick to bring it out a bit.

Here is my question though. I do not have pro level straightedges but I do have a carpenter square that is pretty decent. Using that and with the nut loosened all the way I noticed that the neck seems to have a small amount of relief. It is not perfectly straight. How much should that concern me. It does seem like turning the truss rod nut introduces some backbow (like it should) but it doesn't seem like an epic amount.

Any thoughts?

xgator4u · #2 02-14-2009, 04:28 PM

with the ron not loosened, and a little relief, are the strings tuned?

Johnny Alien · #3 02-14-2009, 04:35 PM

No strings. sorry I didn't mention that. It is off of the body.

xgator4u · #4 02-14-2009, 04:39 PM

well, you sound good to go then, remember the frets will ADD rigidity to the neck, when you get it back, slap in on and set it up, I would not fool with the rod at all till back on the bass. MHO

Johnny Alien · #5 02-14-2009, 04:41 PM

Hmmm....so without the frets a little bit of relief is OK?

xgator4u · #6 02-14-2009, 05:24 PM

well when the frets are put in, it will spread the face or fretboard, this will then be less relief, once you have the neck back on re strung, then see what you have and adjust the rod accordingly.