72 Fender PBass Truss Rod Question

[Wood and Wire]

It is definitely a screw in joint for the truss rod The captured nut is a small rectangular nut that has 8-32 threads and it is under the first fret. It is hard to screw in the rod to the nut because the rod must slightly bend to act as a single action truss rod. You need to see the rod go into the nut-ergo the removed finger board.

I've thankfully never needed to do this with a truss rod, but I've certainly had to deal with more than my fair share of inaccessible bolts, and screws.

What often works is if you bring the male, and female connections (nut & bolt) together, with a small amount of pressure ; but instead of attempting to tighten the thread (righty tighty), you first loosen it (lefty loosey) backing it off until you feel / hear a click, it brings the threads into perfect alignment, and you can proceed to tighten without danger of cross-threading.

I'd certainly give that a go, before having to resort to chopping a window into the fretboard.

Also, @PapaBearBass it's a good idea to manually flex the neck into the position you want it, and then tighten the truss rod to keep it in place, rather than just crank away on the nut, expecting the truss rod to bend the neck into position.

Perhaps add a couple of washers, and try assisting the neck before tightening the truss rod.

Whilst it's most likely the case that your truss rod has become detached, and isn't actually doing anything - it's possible that you did successfully re-insert it, but over the decades the bolt has bitten into the wood, and is no longer able to keep the rod in position (which the washers should remedy).

 

[Marc DLarosa]

Your "repair guy" made a "recommendation" that YOU should TRY? He's STILL your "repair guy""

 

[PapaBearBass]

I suggest you consider doing a heat press before going to all that trouble. It has worked for me like a charm in the past.
Good luck!

What would that entail? I don’t know what that process is.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

l could pull the nut and the truss rod itself out

Your truss rod problem has been properly diagnosed. It can be remedied by a qualified luthier.

Whether or not the neck is actually "warped" to the point where it cannot achieve proper relief with a properly functioning truss rod cannot be known at this time, and is purely conjecture.

One step at a time.
A neck needs a working truss rod to function properly over time. That is absolutely step #1.

Where are you located? You'll likely get some good recommendations here for a reputable luthier who can to the truss rod repair.

 

[PapaBearBass]

Your truss rod problem has been properly diagnosed. It can be remedied by a qualified luthier.

Whether or not the neck is actually "warped" to the point where it cannot achieve proper relief with a properly functioning truss rod cannot be known at this time, and is purely conjecture.

One step at a time.
A neck needs a working truss rod to function properly over time. That is absolutely step #1.

Where are you located? You'll likely get some good recommendations here for a reputable luthier who can to the truss rod repair.

I live in Maryland. So cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore and DC are within reach. Anyone know a good luthier in that area?

 

[bcbassman]

I went through all of this with my bass and I can tell everyone that no amount of reverse threading, heat treating or washers inserted behind the rod nut will do anything in this situation. The Truss rod has become detached from its anchor. You have to do neck surgery to fix this problem. If you have the original rod and the threads are good at both ends- you can save the neck, but it is a lot of work to do it correctly. There are some YouTube videos on repairng Precision bass necks that show this operation.

 

[funkifiedsoul]

What would that entail? I don’t know what that process is.

You may want to search more yourself. In the meantime here is a video showing the basics of a heat press.

 

[funkifiedsoul]

I went through all of this with my bass and I can tell everyone that no amount of reverse threading, heat treating or washers inserted behind the rod nut will do anything in this situation. The Truss rod has become detached from its anchor. You have to do neck surgery to fix this problem. If you have the original rod and the threads are good at both ends- you can save the neck, but it is a lot of work to do it correctly. There are some YouTube videos on repairng Precision bass necks that show this operation.

Never say never. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, and a heat press may not always last, but I did a heat press on a neck-thru JayDee, and it worked like a charm. That was 35 years ago! Bass is still fine.

 

[PapaBearBass]

You may want to search more yourself. In the meantime here is a video showing the basics of a heat press.

Thank you! I’ll definitely check that out. Much appreciated

 

[bcbassman]

I too have used heat to fix a warped neck, but the difference is those necks had intact truss rods.
When the rod is detached from its anchor, you may be able to press it straight under no tension, but it will bow up and be unusable when strings are installed and tuned to pitch.

 

[bobdabilder]

If you can get the tr reanchored, warpedneck.com can straighten it.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

While I can't speak for Warpedneck, I can safely guess that they could help out on getting the TR back in place as well as straightening the neck.
It's a safe bet that they have run into this before.
Contact them and see what they say.
In the mean time look at prices of vintage necks.
Once you have done that, whatever they want to charge to fix it will seem wonderful in comparison.

 

[PapaBearBass]

While I can't speak for Warpedneck, I can safely guess that they could help out on getting the TR back in place as well as straightening the neck.
It's a safe bet that they have run into this before.
Contact them and see what they say.
In the mean time look at prices of vintage necks.
Once you have done that, whatever they want to charge to fix it will seem wonderful in comparison.

Thank you I really your help! I’ve been meditating for a while on what to do.

 

[ClassicJazz]

I just went threw something similar with my '72 Jazz. The original truss rod nut would not turn at all no less tighten. What I ended up doing is put a little PB Blast on the nut. Within a few hours it loosened up where I could remove it. Than I bought a new Fender replacement nut and washers. Put in the new washers and before putting the nut back on put some assembly grease on the inside threads as well as covering the outside of and bottom edge of the nut with Vaseline. Once together I adjusted the neck while off of the body with a slight back bow. Once assembled and strung up, the string tension pretty much pulled the neck to where it should be in regards to bow.

 

[PapaBearBass]

I just went threw something similar with my '72 Jazz. The original truss rod nut would not turn at all no less tighten. What I ended up doing is put a little PB Blast on the nut. Within a few hours it loosened up where I could remove it. Than I bought a new Fender replacement nut and washers. Put in the new washers and before putting the nut back on put some assembly grease on the inside threads as well as covering the outside of and bottom edge of the nut with Vaseline. Once together I adjusted the neck while off of the body with a slight back bow. Once assembled and strung up, the string tension pretty much pulled the neck to where it should be in regards to bow.

View attachment 5268736 View attachment 5268737 View attachment 5268738

Wow man that’s really beautiful!!! Ok those are the correct washers. Thank you very much!!!