Weird truss rod behavior

[solarplexus]

Hi,

was trying to fine tune the setup on my Yamaha BB1024X and the truss rod was always coming from tight - loose - tight - loose as I was trying to tight it. The neck did respond to the tightening, but I am worried if it is an indicator of a busted truss rod or a possibly faulty one? If yes, I can still return the bass so, please help!

Thanks,

Matt

[joeyl]

if the truss rod nut is feeling loose and tight alternately while you are tightening it, there is a good chance the nut was started crooked and it's skipping threads. Better to take it off completely if you can, and take a look at the threads.

[solarplexus]

Should I just return the bass or ask to order a new neck? I know how to do a setup, but I'm not comfortable to play with the truss rod like that.

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by solarplexus

Should I just return the bass or ask to order a new neck? I know how to do a setup, but I'm not comfortable to play with the truss rod like that.

If you have money back guarantee, return it.

[john grey]

I agree with Joey in that it appears that you are getting a skip of some sort. IF the bass is newly purchased I would unhesitatingly return it as defective! It all depends on how old it is. There are differing designs of truss-rods & it's POSSIBLE that there is another explanation; without really feeling what your feeling and examining it, it's a tough call. A Bass neck is under more pressure than a guitar neck. In certain circumstances it may have been OK to adjust it and leave it be (too wide a truss-rod hole causing that feel vs and actual cross thread issue) but if you can; I would certainly try to get the vendor to replace it. As eventually, you'll reach a point where the neck either can't be adjusted or worse, it will warp. If the tension is uneven (poor design or construction) via the truss-rod: at best you will find dead spots on the neck eventually.

[solarplexus]

That sucks, I really liked that bass. I find it so weird that the only bass I tried out of so many that did not have defects on it was a Squier CV P bass.

[solarplexus]

I got a message back from Yamaha. They said that the truss rod is a two-way truss rod and that, as per Yamaha "it’s normal for it to be loose when not engaged in either direction." Is this for real? I have never heard about a two-way truss rod, but apart from being able to do my own setups, I am not a luthier either...

Any input?

[4001]

How To Adjust Your Guitar's Truss Rod - By Gene Imbody - 5/1/2001

[solarplexus]

Thanks! Now I get how it works. So glad I don't have to bring the bass back!

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by solarplexus

I got a message back from Yamaha. They said that the truss rod is a two-way truss rod and that, as per Yamaha "it’s normal for it to be loose when not engaged in either direction." Is this for real? I have never heard about a two-way truss rod, but apart from being able to do my own setups, I am not a luthier either...

Any input?

I never heard of such a thing. It will be loose at the middle position if the neck is naturally straight and the rod has been laid in a straight trench. But your first post said that it was going tight loose tight alternately while trying to tighten the nut

I also saw that your model bass has a 5 piece neck, that should be quite strong and I think it would take more torque from a rod to straighten it

[solarplexus]

Ok I sent another e-mail to Yamaha concerning this, see what they say.

[joeyl]

I would have a qualified repair person look at it also just to make sure because some things could be lost in translation with those support emails.