Acquired a neck for a project- truss question.

GreggBummer · #1 10-05-2010, 12:42 PM

I have build/rehab that I am putting together. This is my first time doing anything like this... so be gentle.

I have acquired a neck for this project. It is a mid 1990's Fender MIM Squier series P Bass neck. I have a P body that I want to install it on. I got the neck cheep ($10!).

The neck has some bow in it. The truss rod is tightened (clockwise) down pretty far. The question is...

Should the neck have some forward bow in it when it is not installed and has no strings on it? I think it should have a slight back bow...

Once the neck is under tension, it will probably front bow some more, right?

G

Musiclogic · #2 10-05-2010, 09:50 PM

With no truss rod tension, the neck should be pretty close to flat. No bow either way, with tension on the rod as you stated, the neck should be bowing back. Loosen the truss rod and see where the neck goes after a day or two, this will reveal any major bowing problem.

dmusic148 · #3 10-05-2010, 09:57 PM

+1 to Musiclogic's post. Your neck may have the 'Fender Truss Rod Problem,' namely that the wood under the truss rod nut has compressed to the point that the nut has run out of threads, and bottomed out. This is quite easily fixed by removing the nut and placing one or more small washers on the rod, then reinstalling the nut, thus giving the nut some of it's adjustment range back. The only difficulty is finding washers of the appropriate size.

GreggBummer · #4 10-05-2010, 10:19 PM

Thank you gentleman for your advice.

I have been googling this for the past day or so... I am going to try the washer trick.

I removed the truss rod adjusting nut and it appears to be a 10/32" thread. I am going to see if I can find a washer that will fit over that thread at the hardware store.

I have another project bass that I am working on that needs a truss rod adjusting nut... it is a 1970 something Hondo II. I measured the threads on the truss rod and they appear to be 6mm. The adjusting nut was badly stripped. Stew Mac and All Parts don't seem to carry metric parts... any idea where I can acquire a 6mm bass truss rod adjusting nut?

It is an odd story how I ended up with two project basses... but I did.

dmusic148 · #5 10-05-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreggBummer

... any idea where I can acquire a 6mm bass truss rod adjusting nut?

I gather it's the adjustment end that's stripped, not the threads. A fairly common trick is to saw a slot into the end so it can be adjusted with a flatblade screwdriver. Or you may be able to substitute an ordinary hex nut if the hole's big enough. Or get a local machinist to make one for you. Beyond that I don't know.

GreggBummer · #6 10-05-2010, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

A fairly common trick is to saw a slot into the end so it can be adjusted with a flatblade screwdriver.

The adjustment nut is of pretty poor quality so this would not be the preferred method. However, if I can't find the appropriate replacement... I may be forced to do it. Because the adjustment is at the heel of the neck, I would like to be able to use a tool that can reach it.

I may have found something on ebay...

By the way, this is sort of fun. I'm learning a lot about how truss rods work.

GreggBummer · #7 10-08-2010, 01:45 PM

Just put two lock washers on the truss rod... wow. It really made a difference. Thank you...

For what it is worth... here is some before (and current) pics of my $10 thrift store find.

http://picasaweb.google.com/greggbum...eat=directlink

Not sure how it is going to work out. I don't know if I should dump the rusty hardware or keep it for mojo. I may start another thread one I decide what I am going to do. The good news is... the neck relief can now be adjusted. So I feel better about putting time and money into this project.

Defret?

THORRR · #8 10-08-2010, 01:57 PM

That bass has more than enough mojo for two basses

But considering you got it nearly for free, it's a great deal
- Congrats!-

If it were mine I'd probably take it from "beast to beauty"
It'd be a fun project and you'll have a nice bass when you're done.

Or - if you like that kind of mojo, just slap some really good pickups and electronics in it, as is, and wow your friends with it's sound! Once the neck is straight and the frets levelled it would be that kind of thing that when you show up with it people will snicker at the "ugly duckling" until you start playing and it turns into a swan!

Either way - You WIN!

GreggBummer · #9 10-08-2010, 02:10 PM

Beast to beauty... hmm... maybe. I'm not sure. There is something about this bass being an all beat up thrift store find that I sort of like. However, the idea of hot rodding this thing is appealing.

One thing- I'm not really a P-bass guy... but I guess I am now.

I have another project bass, a 1970's era Hondo II.

pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/greggbum...eat=directlink

The truss rod nut was destroyed, but I removed it and ordered another. Someone drilled a hole in the headstock during a failed conversion to a five string. The tuners are shot. More than TLC, it needs major surgery. This is probably my candidate for a defret and complete refinish.

Thanks for everyone's help. Look for Thrift Store PBass thread in the near future... once I really get going I'll start the thread.