Horrible, just horrible. I bet he turns the truss rod more than a quarter turn at a time too and doesn't wait 2 to 3 weeks in between turns to let it "settle." People have been adjusting Fenders this way for 70 years, get over it people!
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no doubt - and makes reattaching your neck in exactly the same position as before a bit of a guessing game!Sure smooths things out in there after a while...
What on earth was that?!?
The Fender vintage truss rod access is a joke anyway.
Ugh... tend to agree. I love my USA Geddy, but...
... guess where the truss rod adjustment is...
... and, out of all my basses, guess which one requires adjustment, most frequently?
yea, the geddy could stand to have that one improvement... not like it would affect tone or playability, although you have to live with a truss rod exposed or a little cover or plug
The sound your bass makes when it gets sent to God's waiting room, I think.
I'd have to assume that this video is issued by Fender themselves that they endorse this method for adjustment of that style neck. I'm not a fan of doing this with wood screws . . . . .
FMIC could easily remedy this situation by leaving a rout next to the adjustment screw in the body where an appropriate tool would then have access with everything in place and tuned up to pitch. Yamaha and others have done this for years and it simplifies everything for so very little increase in cost in production. You can leave it under the pickguard to not disturb that vintage look, removing the pickguard is WAY easier than a neck.
Personally, Fender blindly sticking to that layout and its difficulties are aggravating while there are several ways available to keep the look of it and end the unnecessary work it requires to adjust your own instrument. I could sorta justify those choices back in the 50's, but in 2020 there are few answers that are as satisfactory 70 years later.
Even if you don't want to see a truss rod slot at the heel, you can always put one in under the pickguard. Then remove the pickguard, rather than the neck.
If I'm understanding you, the adjustment screw at the heel is pretty much dead even with the body. By the time I got through routing an access cavity for the TR adjustment, I'd have a chambered piece of crap... Lol! I'll keep removing both the strings and screws...

ikr? translate to - the guy with him in the video is like, "erm, seriously dude, you don't loosen strings????", then has to clench hard not to freak out when the dude wrenches on the neck and actually claims that he likes to manhandle it, or whatever term he used.Call me thankful that all of my bass guitars have exposed truss rod nuts, or a nut in the headstock. >.<
Him - "Now what I like to is this" *snap crackle pop*
Me -![]()
I wonder if Leo, if he were around, would endorse that method? Maybe it's his own idea? Destructive though it seems to us..... the man knew his stuff
And that's probably why they are the worst playing bassesHorrible, just horrible. I bet he turns the truss rod more than a quarter turn at a time too and doesn't wait 2 to 3 weeks in between turns to let it "settle." People have been adjusting Fenders this way for 70 years, get over it people!
I was thinking you'd use a router and a guide/template/jig to rout a very simple and clean slot to the neck pocket. I have no idea how to turn that into a chambered piece of...If I'm understanding you, the adjustment screw at the heel is pretty much dead even with the body. By the time I got through routing an access cavity for the TR adjustment, I'd have a chambered piece of crap... Lol! I'll keep removing both the strings and screws...