My neck isnt staright and my strings are very high.

[billybo]

i borrowed my friends old bass a 4 string all black ibanze soundgear...i dont use it but i need it as a back up...and the strings are very high off the fretbord..i already tried messon with the things on the bridge but they are still high..im starting to think it is somethin with the neck...i noticed a long silver thing in the middle of the neck but what is that for..i have a screw thingy to turn it with but before i go messin with it i would like to know what is is for...the long pipe inside the neck that goes all the way down..any help wouild be helpfull

[Zon Bass]

That is the truss rod. It is used for adjusting the bow in the neck, and it sounds like that is your problem. If you have to ask this question, you probably aren't qualified to adjust it yourself. I would suggest taking it to a local guitar shop and having it setup. Trussrods are very tricky to get just right, and if you don't know what you are doing, you can really mess up your bass.