Daily truss adjustment

[T_Bone_TL]

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.

I can't imagine it's turning itself backwards overnight, nor is loosening it ever mentioned, so I assume something is crushing or otherwise moving in the system requring the additional tightening.

21 days would be over 2 5/8" of adjustment so far - I'm guessing that isn't really the case?

What I read (OP feel free to clarify) is tightening it 1/8 of a turn each day. So 2-5/8 turns, not 2-5/8 inches.

Which adds up to huge problem, AIUI, and sending it back since it's new.

 

[Beej]

I can't imagine it's turning itself backwards overnight, nor is loosening it ever mentioned, so I assume something is crushing or otherwise moving in the system requring the additional tightening.

What I read (OP feel free to clarify) is tightening it 1/8 of a turn each day. So 2-5/8 turns, not 2-5/8 inches.

Which adds up to huge problem, AIUI, and sending it back since it's new.

Excellent point, no wonder my math didn't math.

 

[bucephylus]

Ah, Spring; when a young man’s thoughts turn to love.

And

Bass players’ thoughts turn to adjusting their truss rods, because the RH increase is causing the necks to swell.

Something not right in this particular thread. Truss rods need to be LOOSENED this time of the year. Just sayin.

 

[ThomasTronics]

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!

I have a lakland unfinished neck. I love in Ontario and the neck is unfinished. I adjust it weekly. Not 1/8th but little micro tightens or loosens. The more i play it the more the neck doesn't need to be touched.

The wood is just receptive to the weather and i live with it. Not a huge problem for me since the bass is awesome

 

[skycruiser]

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.

Unless the truss rod is backing itself out every day and he's just putting it back in place. Could mark it with a sticker or something and see if it is moving.

 

[RSmith]

I appreciate all the responses. In setting up the return the well meaning sales guy explained "this is a likely a result of not letting it sit in the case for 24-48 hours upon receipt from Fed Ex to acclimate to the climate". I responded that in my experience one minor set up may be initially needed and possibly a minor tweak soon after, on a well made instrument that should be about it. He was unconvinced..

 

[Jeff Scott]

I live in NE Ohio. We have had a blizzard and thunderstorm the same day. Many times.

Got to love it around here!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I appreciate all the responses. In setting up the return the well meaning sales guy explained "this is a likely a result of not letting it sit in the case for 24-48 hours upon receipt from Fed Ex to acclimate to the climate". I responded that in my experience one minor set up may be initially needed and possibly a minor tweak soon after, on a well made instrument that should be about it. He was unconvinced..

Where did you buy the bass?

 

[RSmith]

Sweetwater. But they have always treated me very well, so no negative feedback for them whatsoever.

 

[JuanB]

I appreciate all the responses. In setting up the return the well meaning sales guy explained "this is a likely a result of not letting it sit in the case for 24-48 hours upon receipt from Fed Ex to acclimate to the climate". I responded that in my experience one minor set up may be initially needed and possibly a minor tweak soon after, on a well made instrument that should be about it. He was unconvinced..

Yeah, that’s total bull. The 24-48 hr thing is mostly a finish concern. Glad you can return it.

 

[MVE]

Sounds more like the truss is not actually moving. Doubt it is soft wood.

Or it is slipping......no way it has 2.5 turns in the nut.

The OP did say, his adjustments do work to flatten the neck but then the next day the relief returns.
So it sounds like it’s moving, but then slipping back somehow. But who knows?

 

[Swerve]

This time of year can be especially fraught with neck movement. We have 30+ degree temp swings here daily in my corner of the PNW. My US Fender P, even with the graphite reinforcement, still likes to move. But it's always very subtle amounts and takes only a few seconds to adjust back to where I like it.

I've only owned one bass where the neck seemed to move almost daily, that was a second hand SR300. But those have super skinny necks to begin with and are inexpensive basses. No way I'd tolerate that on a EBMM.

 

[bass12]

I appreciate all the responses. In setting up the return the well meaning sales guy explained "this is a likely a result of not letting it sit in the case for 24-48 hours upon receipt from Fed Ex to acclimate to the climate". I responded that in my experience one minor set up may be initially needed and possibly a minor tweak soon after, on a well made instrument that should be about it. He was unconvinced..

That sales guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[MVE]

That sales guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Not a “sales guy”. It’s Sweetwater, its a sales “engineer”.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

So, if the truss rod is actually taking the relief out of the neck, that would mean the threads of the anchor-end are turning in the end block. If the threads aren’t turning, the truss rod is twisting, which means the neck wouldn’t flatten out, and the rod would likely break on day 2 or 3, unless the twist is springing back. I’ve felt several truss rods twist & spring back while I was adjusting them. The neck relief doesn’t change in that circumstance.

If the thought is the rod is twisting and staying under relatively high torsion / tension, then slipping back into an untwisted state overnight, I suppose that’s possible, but I’d say it it’s unlikely, and I’d also say it wouldn’t be changing the neck relief.

If the suggestion is the truss rod is working normally, it turns and applies back-bow pressure to the neck and changes the neck relief, then, the entire truss rod, threads and all, turns in the opposite direction overnight, I’d say that’s the least likely of all, unless the bass is stored downstairs from a jackhammer manufacturing & testing facility..

 

[DaveParker39]

Contact EBMM ASAP.

 

[tindrum]

I appreciate all the responses. In setting up the return the well meaning sales guy explained "this is a likely a result of not letting it sit in the case for 24-48 hours upon receipt from Fed Ex to acclimate to the climate". I responded that in my experience one minor set up may be initially needed and possibly a minor tweak soon after, on a well made instrument that should be about it. He was unconvinced..

That “letting it acclimate for 24-48 hours” is such BS it’s comically mythical at this point. That only matters if a guitar has a nitro finish as checking can happen with extreme temperature swings. Basses are not gentle flowers. They are metal and wood, both of which are STRONG materials. Their temperamental vulnerabilities are WAY exaggerated by many. In conclusion your “sales engineer” is talking out of his rear. Glad you were able to return it!

 

[Geri O]

Not a “sales guy”. It’s Sweetwater, its a sales “engineer”.

If whatever the hell he is won't cooperate with returning or swapping the bass, It's time to cut to the chase and talk to EBMM customer service.

EDIT: Sorry, now I see where the OP was able to return the bass.

I've had a Special 5H since last June. I've tweaked the relief exactly once in the time I've had it. Last December, to be exact.

 

[Turnaround]

I have a lakland unfinished neck. I love in Ontario and the neck is unfinished.

Did you take the finish off the Lakland neck? They don't come unfinished.

 

[ThomasTronics]

Did you take the finish off the Lakland neck? They don't come unfinished.

I guess technically it is finished. I couldn't tell you what they used to seal oil wise. Feels like a Musicman neck. But its a very small neck also which probably doesn't help.