Trussrod adjusting; should strings be loosened up before?

[Euclides]

Or is it not necessary?
Used to know that.
Thanks.

[JMX]

I'd advise you to do that, especially if you want to straighten the neck. On most basses you have to loosen or remove the strings to access the truss-rod cavity, anyway.

[Hambone]

Since breaking the truss-rod is always in the back of your mind (or should be) I concur with JMX about loosening the strings. Why make the rod work that much harder pulling against the string tension?

[pkr2]

Originally posted by Hambone
Since breaking the truss-rod is always in the back of your mind (or should be) I concur with JMX about loosening the strings. Why make the rod work that much harder pulling against the string tension?

Thank you Hambone. When I suggested the same thing, I had several responses that pointed out several reasons why I was wrong to suggest that sometimes it's better safe than very, very sorry. (several posts ago) A truss rod breaking, or the truss rod nut stripping the threads doesn't do a lot to make your day.

By the way, Hambone, How about an update on the computer controlled bass project? Don't leave us hanging.

[Hambone]

Ah, don't listen to those guys. They are the ones that'll be on here looking for a source for a new neck or wonderin' how come their truss-rod is so loose.

Sure it'll take a bit longer but the results will be the same and since the rod is hidden you can't really tell how much adjustment is left in it. Like you said - Better safe than sorry"