Truss rod fun

[curbowkid]

So I wanna lower the action on my 6 string bass but I have never toyed with a double truss rod neck. Does anybody know how I can safely do this without warping the neck or any of that nonsense?

[enricogaletta]

The rule is almoste the sam, clockwite the action getting lower counter clockwise the action become higher, but just try a quarter turn of the truss rod and never more than that for a day.
Cheers. Enrico
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[251]

I have a 4 string with dual truss rods. I adjust 1/8th turn at a time to optimize the E string & the G string, checking each after adjusting the other. I will tweak with 1/16th turn if I have time & feel patient. If it were a 6 string I would do the same for the B string & the C string.

Just in case it isn't handy; Setup - TalkBass Wiki

When I got the bass, it had a back bow & 1 rod was tightened to the end of the threads. That was in the Fall. It was 9 months before the bass settled down. Now it really does respond to 1/16th turns of the truss nut.

Fair warning setting up for lowest action requires the most maintenance. This is no less true in New England. I tend to adjust the string height to minimize fret rattle, in fall & spring. Once the Summer & Winter weather patterns are dependable I adjust the truss rods. This year that was in early in May.

Last, learn to set up the bass with it on your shoulder strap or your knee. Resting the neck or the head on a workbench will be a frustrating experience.

[JTE]

A. Why in the theory forum instead of "Hardware, setup, and repair"?
B. Truss rods are NOT for adjusting action. Action by definition is the height of the strings above the frets, and that's properly adjusted using the height adjustments in the saddles. While adjusting the neck relief with the rod(s) has a side effect of lowering the action, that's NOT the primary way one should go about it.
C. The function of the truss rod is to set the relief of the neck- the amount of bow intentionally set in the neck to allow the strings room to vibrate without hitting the frets. The "proper" amount of bow is very subjective and dependent on (as 251 says) how often you want to tinker with the rods, and how hard you attack the strings.

Read the stickies on the "Hardware, Setup, and Repair" forum for proper set-up process. But don't just start tweaking the truss rod to lower the action if you haven't done a complete analysis of where the neck is, the neck/body angle, and the saddles.

John

[curbowkid]

Well I know it's not for adjusting action. It has a bit of a forward curve and it makes the higher frets past the 12 hard to play. The saddles are set perfect right now in relation to the neck. But if I could straighten it out a little bit I could give it a lower action than it has, it's my personal preference. I might just have a professional do it. I can set single truss rods just fine but I'm in uncharted waters with the dual.