Truss Rod Won't Tighten

[keiser8339]

I recently bought a Peavey Millennium AC BXP 5-string. Everything about the bass is great, except for when I put new strings on it, and went to give the strings a little more tension, I put the allen-wrench in, and it won't tighten, nor loosen. I've got a warranty on it, but if it's a quick fix, I'd rather take it to a local music shop and get it fixed. I'm using the right sized wrench (the one they sent with the bass). Other than that, I'm freaking stumped. Thanks for anyone who took the time to read.

[drdunwoody]

If it is new take it to the shop where you bought and have them adjust it. If they break it, they will replace it. If you break it...

[JTE]

Yeah, because it's new and this is the first time the rod has been touched since it left the factory (most likely), take it to a good shop that's a Peavey dealer. It should move freely at least to loosen it. As drdunwoody says, if YOU break it, then the warranty issue COULD become a huge hassle.

John

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by JTE

Yeah, because it's new and this is the first time the rod has been touched since it left the factory (most likely), take it to a good shop that's a Peavey dealer. It should move freely at least to loosen it. As drdunwoody says, if YOU break it, then the warranty issue COULD become a huge hassle.

John

I bought it from Peavey.com, I've sent my Millennium 4 to them before to get the electronics fixed, and I only had to pay for shipping. I was just saying if it's something quick and easy, I'll take it to my local music store, but I agree with you, if I break it, I'm pretty much screwed. I'll e-mail Peavey.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by keiser8339

... when I put new strings on it, and went to give the strings a little more tension, I put the allen-wrench in, and it won't tighten, nor loosen...

I'm a little confused by this.

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by Diogenes

I'm a little confused by this.

Yeah, I'm with you... it's a odd choice of words. But the title of the post says everything for me... so I'm ignoring the whole string tension thing.

[DWBass]

I thought the Peaveys had the little wheel at the heel of the neck like the MusicMan Stingrays? I had the same bass some years ago and it had one.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by DWBass

I thought the Peaveys had the little wheel at the heel of the neck like the MusicMan Stingrays? I had the same bass some years ago and it had one.

The US Millennium models do. The BXP is an import so I'm guessing there were some design concessions.

Riis

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

Yeah, I'm with you... it's a odd choice of words. But the title of the post says everything for me... so I'm ignoring the whole string tension thing.

The strings are too floppy when I play, I want them tightened. Isn't tightening the truss rod, supposed to do that?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by keiser8339

The strings are too floppy when I play, I want them tightened. Isn't tightening the truss rod, supposed to do that?

No. The truss rod is designed to adjust relief / bow. How much relief do you have on board?

Riis

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

The US Millennium models do. The BXP is an import so I'm guessing there were some design concessions.

Riis

Mine was the import BXP AC 5 string model. It had the wheel.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by keiser8339

The strings are too floppy when I play, I want them tightened. Isn't tightening the truss rod, supposed to do that?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Mine was the import BXP AC 5 string model. It had the wheel.

Well, I guess the long arm of a hex key could fit thru the "spoke" holes. Thanks for the verification.

Riis

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

No. The truss rod is designed to adjust relief / bow. How much relief do you have on board?

Riis

With the new strings on it, the neck is straight. But I didn't do anything to it, to make it that way.

[JTE]

OK, this is a potential disaster. The function of the truss rod is simply to put the neck relief where it needs to be for the strings you're using and to a certain extent how you play. You need to string it to the pitch you're going to play at, and check to see how straight the neck is. An easy way that's reliable is to fret the E string at the first and last fret, and see how much clearance there is between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. Measure that with a decent steel machinist's ruler marked in 32nds of an inch (or 64ths if you can find one). I like mine with just a little relief, around 1/64", and much more than 1/32" is IMO too much. That's all the truss rod is for.

If the neck is too straight (that is, has less than the 1/64") then you need to relieve the truss rod by turning the nut counter-clockwise (standard threads on that one, and most other truss rods, Pedulla being one exception I've heard of- righty tighty, lefty loosey). If the relief is too much, then you need to tighten the rod by turning the nut clockwise. However, don't depend on the nut to move the wood. It's much better to pre-stress the neck and then snug the nut up. This prevents the wood from compressing at the nut.

The thing is, that based on what little I've read here, you don't have much experience. And, because you said the nut won't tighten nor loosen, that indicates a real problem with the nut and/or rod threads. It should move pretty easily at least loosening it. And if it doesn't I'd send it in for warranty because it could prove to be a real long-term problem in the future.

John

[251]

Originally Posted by keiser8339

The strings are too floppy when I play, I want them tightened. Isn't tightening the truss rod, supposed to do that?

You bought a new bass & changed the (new) strings? Please tell us that you use a tuner to bring the bass up to pitch.

Useful reading;
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.php/Setup
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass...tupmanual.html
http://www.fender.com/support/bass_g...etup_guide.php

[drdunwoody]

Yea, if you want more string tension then you need thicker strings. You adjust the truss rod if a) you know what your doing because you can ruin the neck if not, and b) you want to adjust the relief in the neck (which does indirectly slightly affect string tension). There is a method for measuring and adjusting the truss rod that is not super complicated but if you want to do it on your own I recommend finding someone who really knows how to do it and have them show you or read in detail about how to do it first. If you turn first, and then read, it could end badly. Words cannot describe...

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by JTE

OK, this is a potential disaster. The function of the truss rod is simply to put the neck relief where it needs to be for the strings you're using and to a certain extent how you play. You need to string it to the pitch you're going to play at, and check to see how straight the neck is. An easy way that's reliable is to fret the E string at the first and last fret, and see how much clearance there is between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. Measure that with a decent steel machinist's ruler marked in 32nds of an inch (or 64ths if you can find one). I like mine with just a little relief, around 1/64", and much more than 1/32" is IMO too much. That's all the truss rod is for.

If the neck is too straight (that is, has less than the 1/64") then you need to relieve the truss rod by turning the nut counter-clockwise (standard threads on that one, and most other truss rods, Pedulla being one exception I've heard of- righty tighty, lefty loosey). If the relief is too much, then you need to tighten the rod by turning the nut clockwise. However, don't depend on the nut to move the wood. It's much better to pre-stress the neck and then snug the nut up. This prevents the wood from compressing at the nut.

The thing is, that based on what little I've read here, you don't have much experience. And, because you said the nut won't tighten nor loosen, that indicates a real problem with the nut and/or rod threads. It should move pretty easily at least loosening it. And if it doesn't I'd send it in for warranty because it could prove to be a real long-term problem in the future.

John

I know the functions of the truss rod - relief issues, all that stuff - I was under the impression that tightening it as well made the strings tighter, apparently not. Whatever the case here, it - that being the truss rod - still doesn't do anything, so I'm sending it back. Anyways, if the strings aren't very tight for my liking, what do I do to fix it?

[keiser8339]

Originally Posted by drdunwoody

Yea, if you want more string tension then you need thicker strings. You adjust the truss rod if a) you know what your doing because you can ruin the neck if not, and b) you want to adjust the relief in the neck (which does indirectly slightly affect string tension). There is a method for measuring and adjusting the tross rod that is not super complicated but if you want to do it on your own I recommend finding someone who really knows how to do it and have them show you or read in detail about how to do it first. If you turn first, and then read, it could end badly. Words cannot describe...

Well damn, I'm already using Ernie Ball Power Slinky Bass strings (50-70-85-105-135)

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by keiser8339

Well damn, I'm already using Ernie Ball Power Slinky Bass strings (50-70-85-105-135)

And you want even more tension?