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Daily truss adjustment

RSmith

RSmith

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2003
1,015
965
Ocala Florida
#1
I have a brand new Ball Family Reserve Stingray 5 string that needs about 1/8 tightening of the truss rod each day to maintain the same set up. By comparison my Jazz and P basses have not needed any adjustments during the three weeks since I have been doing this. Seems odd, is it cause for concern? Bass has a maple neck and board (not roasted). It is still within the window to return it, and for this price point I just want to be sure.
 
#2
Based on my limited understanding: Well, at that rate you'll hit the end of the rod before too long. Something's probably wrong for that to be needed, and you'll run out of adjustment or try to go past the available adjustment and break something one of these days. 3 weeks at 1/8 turn per day is a bit more than 2.5 turns... typical seasonal adjustments are 1/2 turn or less and stay put for several months at a time until the weather changes.

I expect wiser heads will advise returning it unless you want to get into repairs on it, but let's let them speak for themselves.
 
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#3
Definitely not normal.

I have a faulty B-stock Squier neck that I can get adjusted perfectly, yet a few days later there's a dip in it. Slight, but noticeable. And, as time goes on, the truss rod is getting very tight. Eventually it will snap or cease to straigthen the neck.

In contrast, I have a 1978 Precision and a 1990 Rick that haven't needed any adjustment whatsoever since the last millenium.
 
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#6
My 78' Ric 4001 had some fairly serious neck issues, but I had to adjust it more like once a month. Daily is completely off the chart unless you live some place with wild temperature and humidity changes, like the surface of Mercury maybe? You got a lemon, return it while you can.
 
#7
Gilmourisgod said:
My 78' Ric 4001 had some fairly serious neck issues, but I had to adjust it more like once a month. Daily is completely off the chart unless you live some place with wild temperature and humidity changes, like the surface of Mercury maybe? You got a lemon, return it while you can.
Click to expand...

I live in NE Ohio. We have had a blizzard and thunderstorm the same day. Many times.
I cant even rember when I have adjusted the truss rod on any of my basses.

1/8 turn everyday? That is not normal anywhere, even Mercury.

Do we have all the info?
 
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#13
It’s going back today. Like I mentioned in op my two other basses have stayed as is throughout. This guy has a banana neck every morning. Meaning if I sight from bridge to nut you can see a clear forward bow. A small turn and it’s back to where it should be. Then the next morning same. No vents by it. Climate controlled room.

thanks for the feedback you guys!
 
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#15
RSmith said:
Seems odd, is it cause for concern?
Click to expand...
Yes, and how many days has this adjustment been done?

You’d be bottomed-out on adjustment in 2 weeks or less if you started with the rod completely loose.

If the rod is adjusting the neck to your liking when you turn it 1/8 turn, the rod is working, but the neck is continuing to overcome the tension of the rod. My guess is the neck would settle down if you’ve only done this two or three times but if you’ve done it more than three times, you’ve got a problem.
 
#16
T_Bone_TL said:
Based on my limited understanding: Well, at that rate you'll hit the end of the rod before too long. Something's probably wrong for that to be needed, and you'll run out of adjustment or try to go past the available adjustment and break something one of these days. 3 weeks at 1/8 turn per day is a bit more than 2.5 turns... typical seasonal adjustments are 1/2 turn or less and stay put for several months at a time until the weather changes.
Click to expand...
My guess is that he isn't adjusting it an additional 1/8 turn every day; instead, I suspect the adjustments aren't holding and he's just making the same re-adjustment every day. Definitely needs to be sent back.
 
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#17
Lobster11 said:
My guess is that he isn't adjusting it an additional 1/8 turn every day; instead, I suspect the adjustments aren't holding and he's just making the same re-adjustment every day. Definitely needs to be sent back.
Click to expand...

this is what I suspect as well. It has been going on for 3 weeks. Initially I thought it would settle in. But that is not the case. No worries. Glad return is an option.
 
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#18
RSmith said:
this is what I suspect as well. It has been going on for 3 weeks. Initially I thought it would settle in. But that is not the case. No worries. Glad return is an option.
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21 days would be over 2 5/8" of adjustment so far - I'm guessing that isn't really the case? How many times have you had to adjust it so far, and has it really been daily? Was there a string change before this occurred? Got any pics of the neck? I'd like to see the grain orientation myself - there's not much to one of those necks, and hence not much to go wrong either unless the wood is problematic. I'm not challenging you, I'm genuinely trying to figure it out. :thumbsup:
 

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