I have trouble with a neck give me some input

[vene-nemesis]

Well i have this vigier bass i love but the neck relief is too much for me, its got no truss rod so at the moment it cant be helped.

But i thought about getting it a truss-rod i know it is no easy task but anyway i was wondering:
1)is it possible to unglue the fingerboard (by means of steam)without damaging the neck????, cos i was told that using steam could screw the laminates (5 layers of maple and 2 of carbon fibre)????
2) once that is done i could ask a luthier i know to rout me the truss rod cavity put a truss rod re-glue the fingerboard dress the frets and voila ready to play, How does it sound to you???

[ZolkoW]

ungluing the fingerboard is harder with a laminated neck :-|
but must be possible, somehow... a hot iron can help.
I would avoid steam and hot air. or use hot air at moderate temperature... I once burned a fingerboard with a heatgun (how's it in English?), but as it was already totally damaged, it didn't matter..

If the FB comes off easily, the following sounds good!

good luck!

[vene-nemesis]

oh thx!

I wanted to ad that the fingerboard is phenonwood and the bass is neckthrough.

[spudmaster34]

it will not be easy, and you would be better off asking your luthier to do it all

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

it will not be easy, and you would be better off asking your luthier to do it all

he wont unglue the fingerboard hed rather cut it in smal pices and taer it apart with heat he claims it is safer for the neck... and my main concern is to keep it because it is phenonwood and there isnt anyone doing this kind of wood treatment in Spain...

[spudmaster34]

you might be better off getting a new fret board.

The glue used to hold the laminetes together is probably the same glue used to put on the fretboard. That means that the laminetes will seperate at the same temp/humidity as the board comes off. By applying heat dirrectly to the board you increse the likelyhood that it will seperate first, but there is still a good chance of the neck getting damaged in some way.

[eleonn]

What about using lighter strings??? those would put less tension over the neck helping the cf bars to keep the neck straight.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by eleonn

What about using lighter strings??? those would put less tension over the neck helping the cf bars to keep the neck straight.

Good thought. How much does one of these basses cost? Seems to me that adding a truss rod would be quite expensive, and risky.

[Jazz Ad]

Vigier basses have no trussrod because they don't need them. It would have to be an unusually strong rod, too.
Neck is so tight relief doesn't change, whatever jauge you put on.
It's factory set to perfectly match the body of vibrating strings. I don't know why you'd want more or less, unless you like fret buzz all other.
Vigier allows freaking low action the way they are.

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Good thought. How much does one of these basses cost? Seems to me that adding a truss rod would be quite expensive, and risky.

It already has light tension strings i always use 40-100 or lower.

New this basses run for 3500-4000€ depending on the options, i got mine for 990€ cos the finish was in very bad shape... The tone is to die for, is the only active bass i have ever seen (heard) that sounds like a passive bass when using fxs. Ive been told that doing what im asking is going to cost 300-400€ (that implies new fingerboard radiused and fretted) i wouldnt mind spending that much if i would get a phenonwood fingerboard.

Vigier basses will just replace the fingerboard (no truss rod thingy or anything ) for 600€ but for me this is not a definitive solution patrice claims that it wont bend again but if it already did once im no way putting money on a plausible basket case...

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Vigier basses have no trussrod because they don't need them. It would have to be an unusually strong rod, too.
Neck is so tight relief doesn't change, whatever jauge you put on.
It's factory set to perfectly match the body of vibrating strings. I don't know why you'd want more or less, unless you like fret buzz all other.
Vigier allows freaking low action the way they are.

Sure all that stuff sounds nice but i have a top of the line vigier bass with a bent (not wrapped) neck.

[Jazz Ad]

Then you want to contact Patrice Vigier.
A bent 90/10 neck will be news to him.

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Then you want to contact Patrice Vigier.
A bent 90/10 neck will be news to him.

I have contacted him but he was like "like if id care kid..." it was really unpleasant and unhelpful...

[Jazz Ad]

Ouch.
I understand the unpleasant part. Especially for a 4000 € bass.
It doesn't sound very nice. He's usually supportive of his customers.
Depending on how big the problem is, recrowning or even refretting might be your best options.