taking the neck off my bass for travel.

kynoch · #1 06-03-2010, 05:35 AM

I am taking a trip soon and I don´t have much baggage allowance (Especially not for a flight case with my bass) and I am thinking of taking my bass in my suitcase. I would do this by taking the neck off the bass...and packing both pieces in my suitcase....do any of you think this might work...or might damage my bass???.....has anyone every done this???

ricca · #2 06-03-2010, 05:47 AM

If made carefully, I don't think it will damage your instrument.
For travel I prefer using an Hohner b2 headless bass.
It's a compact instrument you can carry everywhere, it's not expensive and it has a good quality. And you are ready to gig as you touch the ground!

kynoch · #3 06-04-2010, 01:38 PM

its a nice bass...a 1993 Warwick Fortress....I think it will stand up to the trip!!!

Slowgypsy · #4 06-04-2010, 04:28 PM

Suggestion.... loosen the truss rod. Taking the neck off the body is fine to do, actually it was designed/made to do just that. But leaving the neck off for an extended time, with the truss rod fully engaged (tensioned) won't make the neck very happy. It's missing the counter tension of the strings. I've done what you're thinking of doing many times. I've used a capo to keep the strings on the tuners, and loosened the truss rod about 1 complete turn... Fender MIA Jazz. When I've arrived at my destination (hotel) I've reassembled everything, turned the truss rod the 1 turn I had loosened it, and I'm good to go. Be forwarned that you might have to tweak the truss rod a bit in a day or so. Theory says you shouldn't but reality is you might have to just a bit. Peace...

FritoBandito · #5 06-04-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

Suggestion.... loosen the truss rod. Taking the neck off the body is fine to do, actually it was designed/made to do just that. But leaving the neck off for an extended time, with the truss rod fully engaged (tensioned) won't make the neck very happy. It's missing the counter tension of the strings. I've done what you're thinking of doing many times. I've used a capo to keep the strings on the tuners, and loosened the truss rod about 1 complete turn... Fender MIA Jazz. When I've arrived at my destination (hotel) I've reassembled everything, turned the truss rod the 1 turn I had loosened it, and I'm good to go. Be forwarned that you might have to tweak the truss rod a bit in a day or so. Theory says you shouldn't but reality is you might have to just a bit. Peace...

What he said! ^

rodobass · #6 06-30-2010, 01:34 AM

I have done this in the past. Unfortunately I didn't loose the truss rod at that time, and I reassembled the bass 2 weeks after arriving to my destination...As a result, my bass (Japanese Ibanez SR 885) had a permanent twist in the neck. I sold it as junk...
So please LOOSE THE TRUSS ROD!!!
Cheers.