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Can't stop obsessing...

Hi all

I seem to have a bit of an unhealthy fixation/obsession with neck relief.

My Fender P (USA) has very little relief, around 0.2-0.3mm, and the action at the 12th fret is 1.2mm. Which is really quite a good set up in all honesty. But I can't stop checking the relief (multiple times a day) and it kind of winds me up that there's even a little bit!

I think my main issue is that I've had so many basses with frozen or maxed truss rods that I can't be satisfied until I have no neck relief at all. I'm really nervous because I adjusted the rod on my Fender and it was all fine, but then I tried to adjust it more and it wouldn't go any further. So I'm kinda cacking myself that the rod on this one is maxed too.

It's probably not - I think this because I sold one bass a while back because I thought the rod was maxed (don't worry, the buyer knew the issues) and the buyer told me that it worked fine for him, so it's probably just me being too afraid to put any sort of elbow grease into it.

My Squier CV P has no relief at all, totally flat, and I haven't touched the rod on that one.

You're supposed to have a bit of relief. It will buzz if you have low action and no relief, at all.
 
Boy!

I just love folks like you, and I just love
the obsessed folks on the other end of
the scale also.

For $90, I got a custom made bass with
a neck problem. It had a $120 case. It has
a solid figured curly maple body and a 5
piece neck through construction with EMG
pickups. It didn't cost me any money to fix
it.

12-16-1.jpg


I also got a Long Necker bass I have been
wanting for a very long time that had neck
problems for $150.

12-28-2-2.jpg


You guys just keep on obsessing and turnin
yur truss rod because old Tabbie is waitin in
tha wings,

Tabdog
 
You're supposed to have a bit of relief. It will buzz if you have low action and no relief, at all.

Mostly but not always. My squier has 1.2mm action with no relief and no buzz. Same with my old ibanez. But I see your point.

And your question is :confused:

Does there need to be one? ;)

You identified the problem. You're obsessing. Stop obsessing - problem solved!

If it were that easy eh?

Boy!

I just love folks like you, and I just love
the obsessed folks on the other end of
the scale also...

Tabdog

Unfortunately we're not all good at fixing things! I wish I was...

Buy yourself a parakeet, or some tropical fish.

I have five pet rats, does that count? I don't like parrots and fish are boring.
 
I know it's hard to do but throw away that ruler and go by feel alone. If it "feels" right it is right.

This. You didn't have a "problem" until you measured it. When you were just playing the dang thing it felt great. Keep playing it and put the tools down! If it starts to FEEL like there's a problem, come back and check with us.
 

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