75RI first block inlay gap

[nemo]

Hi, I have recently acquired a nice 2004 Fender Jazz Bass AVRI 75 FSR with pearloid inlays. I have noticed the first inlay has a gap by the upper edge (see pics). There is also very tiny bulge looking from the side. The action was set just fine, comfortably low at the moment, I would just want to go slightly lower.

I want to prevent developing an infamous bullet trussrod fingerboard crack (I used to have a vintage 1976 with the actual crack which looked much worse).
I think about dropping a tiny amount of CA glue into this gap. Removing the bullet beforehand and lubing the rod threads to prevent any potential problems with CA glue. Am I on the right track? Would it strengthen the area and help prevent any worsening?

Also one more question, there was a washer under the bullet, but a spring washer type, which surprised me. I thought you should always use flat shims there?

 

[MikeBass]

It's an accurate representation of the quality that Fender was putting out in the 70's

 

[nemo]

Jokes aside, any recomendations would be appreciated

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I have 90's era MIM P that had the same truss rod "hump" and split at the first fret. I was able to glue the split with CA and shave down the hump, but the neck also had a bad case of Fender Ski Jump, so crappy QC wasn't unique to the 70's. When I see people waxing poetic about "vintage" 70's Fenders, I'm perplexed. The ones I member from the 70's were mostly mediocre to crap level instruments. If you want the best Fender, buy a brand new one.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

What I did was to loosen the truss rod slack, wick some water thin CA into the crack, and then clamp down on the hump, pretty hard, with a padded C clamp. That got out about 90% of the hump, the rest I had to shave off with a card scraper, sand, etc. I don't know if that was the "right" repair, but it worked. Trussrod still works, and the neck is fine up to about the 14th fret, above that the ski jump makes it nearly unplayable.

 

[nemo]

Thanks @Gilmourisgod, thats what I am planning to do. The bass is otherwise fine, straight neck no ski jump at higher frets, 9 lb weight.

What about that spring washer?
It occurred to me that this might have been the culprit as it most likely expands its diameter when pressed down, thus pushing to the walls of the bullet cavity. I will make sure to use flat one instead of this one put there by previous owner (or by factory? I doubt that).

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, that spring washer is not original. You should be able to get correct Fender washers online. From what I read at the time, the "hump" is caused by over tightening the rod, but I never knew for sure. I'm planning on building a new Jazz style neck for it just for fun, bound and blocked like yours, but rosewood. It's too bad, the original board is a nice dark rosewood, but it needs heat treatment at a minimum, and the P neck is too chunky for my taste anyway.