Adjust truss rod now or wait for weather to change?

You can safely adjust the rod as often as you want. Why not have a great playing bass every day?

 

I adjust truss rods often here in the NorthEast.
Weather constanly changing.

 

Absolutely!

 

Why the neck has less relief than when you bought it might be due to it finally having adjusted to it's new home.

Also you might as well set the proper relief now, it might not change significantly when the weather change after all, or it might, but if so all you need to do is make another adjustment, really not that complicated a procedure.

Some necks will be more stable than others, and it has little to do with weather the bass is a budget bass or a high end bass, even if I'd say budget basses would probably be more prone to being equipped with more unstable necks, due to lesser quality control.

Though I got a really cheap budget bass that has a really stable neck that I almost never have to adjust, so guess I have been lucky there.

No reason to get upset if the neck on your bass is not that stable, it's perfectly normal, and adjusting it is no big deal really.

It's wood, different pieces of wood just acts differently and it can be hard to predict how a specific piece of wood will react on the long term.

 

There is a reason they are adjustable. It is so they can always be in proper adjustment regardless of the weather. There is absolutely no reason not to adjust now and readjust when need be.

 

Just go slow. I do 1/8-1/2(at most) of a turn and then check it again after a few hours. Usually, it takes a couple of days for the wood to settle on major adjustments.

 

It's there to be used, just like tuning pegs. All it takes is a slight turn to compensate for weather. It's not like you have to crank the rod every time.

 

I adjust only if it needs it. In the dry Desert air, that's not too often.

 

to almost every post above:
p l u s
o n e

 

If the strings haven't changed, the adjustment should be a pretty minor one - 1/4 turn or so will usually do it.

 

It's a hunk of wood with a steel rod through it. It is NOT fragile in any way. Adjust to your hearts content.

 

I adjust when the seasons change. Here in Texas, when we have a spell of a few consecutive nights at or below freezing the air obviously gets very dry and has a big impact on my basses. However, I don’t adjust for those as I know the impact will pass in a week, if not sooner. If I need to, I’ll adjust one bass if I need a gigable bass during that period.

 

Also south Texas, indoor and outdoor shows, all sorts of temperature changes.
The only time I adjust is if I have major fret buzz or too much relief. If it happens without warning at a gig, I'll adjust the saddle(s) to eliminate buzz OR just deal with it(too much relief). A sheet of paper rides in every bass case and I'll make a note the date and "issue". Fix it on break or later at home. Normally 2 or more basses go to gigs so it's not a big problem.

The worst one was taking a small private jet(1 bass only due to space) to Mexico to a gig and finding the next had picked up a LOT of relief due to climate and pressure(?) changes. Found out during soundcheck the day before the gig so it got about 1/2 turn on the truss rod in the hotel room that night to fix things. That experience also prompted me to change from "standard gauge" Rotosounds to very light gauge strings on basses with thin necks(it was a Greco LP clone). The next time we did such a trip, an old Peavey with light strings and a VERY stable neck went. Like the one below except with a maple fretboard.

 

it would have taken less time to adjust the neck than it took to write that post.

if it needs adjustment again in two weeks, adjust it in two weeks.

really not a big thing

 

I leave mine like they are until the weather rolls back around. Less than two months to go now for Summer.

<that was sarcasm>

 

Yeah, I'll second this. Here in Vegas, this isn't something I do much at all - barring a radical string change. But, if you're somewhere with actual seasons - and humidity? Yeah, that's what the truss rod's for. At least, you'll always know it works. Come to think of it; I wonder if all my truss rod nuts still move...? However, if truss rod tweaking becomes a PITA? you could always get one of these...

 

You ever play one of those? I have. Heavier than a small car and that neck gets cold. Hot too I have been told but only played one a couple of times in colder weather.

 

I would just tweak the truss rod as needed, regardless of the situation - before I'd adjust the saddles... I have tweaked a truss rod at a gig before - it was no big deal...