Will this cause any damage to my bass?

lexxmexx · #1 07-09-2008, 06:06 AM

There was some fret buzz on the first fret of my fiver and I tried to adjust the truss rod to see if I could fix it. So I inserted the allen wrench gave it a 1/4 turn, it was very tight but I managed to turn it anyway but then I realized that I had tighten it instead! So I immediately gave it another 1/4 turn in the opposide direction to loosen it. But feeling that I might have created too much relief, I made another 1/8 turn to tighten it somehow.

Now after reading that I need to leave it alone for at least one day for the wood to settle before making further adjustments, I am feeling really worried now.

Will this damage my brand new bass in any way?

Phalex · #2 07-09-2008, 06:12 AM

If nothing went POP and suddenly the hex key moved freely in your hand, you're fine.

Evan_S._Brown · #3 07-09-2008, 06:17 AM

nah.... you'll be fine.

necks are pretty durable and can go through a lot. and a 1/4 turn isn't going to put heaps of relief in your neck if the neck is back bowed.
and it is pretty hard to break a truss rod however i have seen it happen before.
so you'll be fine. no damage done
i dont reckon you need to wait a day to not touch it. stop when the buzz has stopped and check in a day whether it has come back or not.

lexxmexx · #4 07-09-2008, 06:32 AM

Thanks for the assurance, guys

There was a snap sound when I was loosening it but it was probably due to the hex key disloging as it wasn't seated properly into the hole.

Just out of curiousity, what are the symptoms like if the truss rod happens to break?

Phalex · #5 07-09-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Just out of curiousity, what are the symptoms like if the truss rod happens to break?

The hex key will turn freely, the neck should have a whole lot of relief, and there will be a peculiar feeling in your abdomen, like you have to poop and throw up all at the same time.

Widdershins · #6 07-09-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Just out of curiousity, what are the symptoms like if the truss rod happens to break?

Anything from "the instrument wont stay in tune no matter what I do" to "it feels like every screw is loose and they all rattle at once".

wld3 · #7 07-09-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

...and there will be a peculiar feeling in your abdomen, like you have to poop and throw up all at the same time.

Sad but true.

technetium · #8 07-09-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

The hex key will turn freely, the neck should have a whole lot of relief, and there will be a peculiar feeling in your abdomen, like you have to poop and throw up all at the same time.

That was the laugh I needed this morning!

I've never broken one, but I'd imagine it's similar to what they say about breaking a bone: If you have to ask, it's probably not broken.

Oren Hudson · #9 07-09-2008, 08:13 AM

Sadly, I have broken a truss rod before and agree with all of the descriptions within this thread. You've not seen relief until you see a broken truss rod. Nearly a horseshoe with inches of relief! What you've done so far shouldn't be a problem. Just remember the stuff you've learned and take your time. For me, that's the hard part. I think we all want instant gratification.

lexxmexx · #10 07-09-2008, 10:33 AM

Woah! Can't image the neck to bend like the letter C...I hope that's not an exaggeration

Thanks to everyone for the assurance and helpful information!

lexxmexx · #11 07-09-2008, 09:21 PM

Just one more question, when I inserted the allen wrench (came with the bass) into the nut, the wrench was able to swivel left and right freely until I place it at either of the extreme sides where it locks. But when I tried to turn it, it will move about 1/8 of a turn and then kinda slipped off where it will wiggle freely until I move it into the next locking position.

Is this normal? Or is it some kind of "feature" to prevent over turning of the truss rod? I have a sick feeling that the nut could be stripped.

I am not a 'Home Improvement' kind of person and such things tend to freak me out!

Phalex · #12 07-10-2008, 06:34 AM

Well, the hex key should wiggle a bit, but not wobble like you describe. I would think that there may be .005" worth of clearance between the socket in the head of the bolt and the outside dimension of the hex key. Now, you have to understand that a hex key has five sides, so it will only fit into a hex hole in five different positions. It may just be the position of the hex hole in the bolt relative to the opening in the bass neck.

Once you get the hex key into the bolt, it should be toight like a tiger, but there are only five possible positions that the hex key will fit into the hole.

Oren Hudson · #13 07-10-2008, 07:27 AM

Sounds like someone has either been using the wrong size hex key/wrench, or not getting it completly inserted and has reemed out the one or the other, causing the angled limited use of the adjustment. You gotta have a tight fit to move properly. If not, the adjustment rod end could be stripped of its holding power in the neck and you'll be limited to the adjustment area that you're currently at. I've had a rod stripped like that. Not nearly as bad as a broken truss, but limited use. The only way that I know of to fix is to replace. Maybe some others will have ideas, but I went through this a couple of years ago and this is the only answer that I came up with. Good luck.

JustOpenYourMind · #14 07-11-2008, 09:09 AM

doing small adjustments and waiting a day for the neck to settle is a myth. You adjust your truss rod to get the releif you need then, you look again the next day to see if the neck has moved, it is the correct way to do it.

Widdershins · #15 07-11-2008, 09:21 AM

Paraphrasing:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustOpenYourMind

waiting a day for the neck to settle is a myth... you look again the next day to see if the neck has moved... it is the correct way to do it.

Wait, what?

edit: Sorry, multiple small adjustments rather than one big one... my bad. Yeah, it's a myth until someone posts here that they noticed that their fret-board looks as if it's separating from the neck.

Incredibly rare? Absolutely.

It depends on the age/quality of the neck and how much of a change they made. You are right though, most adjustments don't require a big change
and therefore doing it in increments is a waste of time. Necks that DO need huge adjustments will 'probably' be fine.

lowdowndad · #16 07-12-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Well, the hex key should wiggle a bit, but not wobble like you describe. I would think that there may be .005" worth of clearance between the socket in the head of the bolt and the outside dimension of the hex key. Now, you have to understand that a hex key has five sides, so it will only fit into a hex hole in five different positions. It may just be the position of the hex hole in the bolt relative to the opening in the bass neck.

Once you get the hex key into the bolt, it should be toight like a tiger, but there are only five possible positions that the hex key will fit into the hole.

Excuse me, but if I'm not mistaken, hex means SIX (6). Penta means FIVE (5). The hex key should be a snug-to-tight fit in the socket head. If you have the amount of play you describe, the key is too small and will strip the truss rod nut socket. Just to clear this up.

LowDownDad.

mr-mungo · #17 07-13-2008, 08:32 AM

Snapping the truss rod sounds oddly satisfying

lexxmexx · #18 07-13-2008, 08:55 PM

It does feels like the hex key is a notch too small for the nut but this key came with the bass and straight out of the box. Can the manufacturers (Yammy in this case) make such mistakes?

lowtide · #19 07-15-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

The hex key will turn freely, the neck should have a whole lot of relief, and there will be a peculiar feeling in your abdomen, like you have to poop and throw up all at the same time.

Bob the bassist · #20 07-15-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

It does feels like the hex key is a notch too small for the nut but this key came with the bass and straight out of the box. Can the manufacturers (Yammy in this case) make such mistakes?

Just the one key came with it? Some mfrs. include 2-3 keys (truss rod, bridge adjustment, any # of things) so, I just wanted to suggest it might be for something else.