It worked! Washer under truss rod nut

[Busker]

I have a Squier P Bass Special (P/J pups), that I thought would make a good backup bass. I couldn't get the neck adjusted just right. A little too much relief that the truss rod wouldn't take out. Well, I put a washer under the truss rod nut, and lo and behold, the neck is adjusted perfectly now.

I had to hand-make the washer out of a regular nut that was just about the right size. Had to drill the hole larger (removing the threads of course), and also file the corners off the nut, making it round so it would fit. It was approximately 3/32 to 1/8 inch thick, which evidently was just right.

I also rolled the edges of the fretboard a bit, to take off some of that too "angular" feel.

All I need is a Jazz bridge pickup, new strings and final bridge adjustment. Not saying it'll take the place of my USA P, but it'll be a good backup!

[John Wentzien]

Works like a charm!

[GlennW]

I prefer to reshape nuts as well - much easier to work with.

[Busker]

In my case, it was the only choice I had, to fashion one from a small hex nut. I had no washer the right size, and I'm wondering if you could ever find one exactly the right size. I thought one of those washers from a drum tension rod would work, but it wasn't really close.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by Busker

In my case, it was the only choice I had, to fashion one from a small hex nut. I had no washer the right size, and I'm wondering if you could ever find one exactly the right size. I thought one of those washers from a drum tension rod would work, but it wasn't really close.

Can't beat ingenuity. I had to do the same once when I didn't have any appropriate washers handy. A bit of work but it turned out fine.

It's amazing how many people don't know about the washer trick for truss rods that have run out of adjustment room.

[jrfrond]

Yep, it DOES work, which is why Fender issued this as a Technical Service Bulletin many years ago, so this is actually a factory-authorized repair.

[Rumblin' Man]

I just un-twist a few split lock washers with a couple of pliers and use one or two on the trussrod. Way easier than drilling and filing your nuts.

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by Busker

I have a Squier P Bass Special (P/J pups), that I thought would make a good backup bass. I couldn't get the neck adjusted just right. A little too much relief that the truss rod wouldn't take out. Well, I put a washer under the truss rod nut, and lo and behold, the neck is adjusted perfectly now.

You're not going to friggen' believe this but I had to do the exact same thing to my Squier P Bass Special just a few weeks ago. I just couldn't adjust it enough without the washer.

Great minds think alike.

[cofibreyk]

...sure wish i've read and tried this out first.

[GeoffByrne]

I'm just about to do this on a *really* bent neck, once I can source a new truss-rod nut over here.

It's good to hear that many have made it work successfully.

[billbass1]

This trick, in this case I used more then one washer, saved a vintage Guild for me.
The neck was seriously bowed forward.
Dan Erlwine recomends helping the neck along,
if it is seriously bowed, by manualy applying pressure
to the neck while tighting the nut.
I used both of the methods on the same Guild
about a year ago and it has been just fine, knock on wood,
ever since.

[firebass6]

im trying to picture this one in my head? how does this work? any pics?

[flewis]

The washer behind the truss rod nut has been performed on three of my basses......works like a charm!

[loend68]

I had a Squier P neck that wouldn't straighten out. I used the split washer method, applied liberal amounts of physical 'assistance' while tightening the truss rod, but to no avail. I had 6 split washers in there......guess it was a junk neck....

Glad your's worked out!

[OxJohnson]

Originally Posted by Rumblin' Man

Way easier than drilling and filing your nuts.

[Insert joke here]

Ox.

[seanm]

The washer trick works great. firebass6, the washer works because the wood behind the nut gets compressed. The washer does two things: it spreads out the load and adds some thickness to compensate for the compression.

Personally, I think it is a design flaw that Fender doesn't just add more threads to the truss rod. It obviously needs it.

Here is how I did it: http://seanm.ca/bass/washers.html

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by loend68

I had a Squier P neck that wouldn't straighten out. I used the split washer method, applied liberal amounts of physical 'assistance' while tightening the truss rod, but to no avail. I had 6 split washers in there......guess it was a junk neck....

Glad your's worked out!

6 washers...sounds like a broken rod or a broken anchor point...

yep, sounds like a failed neck.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

I'm just about to do this on a *really* bent neck, once I can source a new truss-rod nut over here.

It's good to hear that many have made it work successfully.

Shim on the fingerboard @ 1st/15th frets, 2x4 (or whatever's stiff enough) on top of them, couple of clamps, to force the neck into a backbow, THEN do your trussrod adjustments, with the added washers.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Rumblin' Man

I just un-twist a few split lock washers with a couple of pliers and use one or two on the trussrod.

Sounds like a good idea. Lock washers are often a much small outer diameter than standard washers. I'd think they would compress nicely when the truss rod nut was tightened.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Sounds like a good idea. Lock washers are often a much small outer diameter than standard washers. I'd think they would compress nicely when the truss rod nut was tightened.

You can find washers that will fit easily if you look for them. I was just prowling through the hardware department at Home Depot yesterday and they had some. But lock washers will work.