Fretless Warmoth Neck problem

[zon6c-f]

Hey all. I was hoping Some kind soul could could make some suggestions.

I currently own a Warmoth fretless that I never use. It is gorgeous with a Madagascar Ebony fingerboard to match the Walnut body and head stock. The problem is I live in Pennsylvania where it gets cold and the bass is unplayable in the Winter. The neck will flatten the strings against the fingerboard and when I raise the strings, the board is fine in the money positions but too tall in the upper registers. I could adjust the truss rod back and forth but this seems both tedious and not especially healthy for the truss rod or the bass generally. The setup was done by my friend J Thomas Davis who is extremely good at setup and I have used him for years. I however cannot use him now since he is retired.

I know it is hard to diagnose based on a post, but does this problem sound familiar to anyone? Does Madagascar ebony have issues that would cause it to swell or contract far more (or more likely far less) than other woods? Does it sound like the board needs to be resurfaced? Does the neck sound like it is just really unstable? I have never owned an electric bass that needed special summer and winter re-adjustments of the truss rod. It seems like that would indicate some kind of problem.

What do you think? Feel free to ask more questions if it helps with diagnosis, or at least a better guess without actually seeing the bass.

By the way - any suggestion that I move to a warmer climate will go to the head of the line and be treated with the utmost respect.

Life long in metro Atlanta

We have a short Winter with mostly mild days and a few extremely cold nights followed by a short beautiful Spring to rival any followed by a long hot n humid Summer lasting until October

A few snow flakes and roads are shut down Thunderstorms possible year round

Generally nice people if you’ve lived here long enough Blowing your horn tells everyone that you ain’t lived here long

We have a lot of great musicians and skilled luthiers and repair folks

Sorry about your bass as it seems like my version of a dream build

 

[Engle]

Some necks move, some don’t. Be happy you have a functional truss rod!

 

[thmsjordan]

Is it a maple neck? Does it have a finish on it?

Yes good question and I understand why you are asking. Yes, the neck was ordered finished. It is a very nice curly maple with a Madagascar unlined fretless board. It just moves a lot more than my other basses ever have with weather changes.

 

[thmsjordan]

If you think it's tedious than I would say the problem lies with you. Seriously.

As for the neck: It's wood. Think about it. Trees aren't static. They bend. They twist. They turn. They expand. They contract. They spend their whole lives in motion.

As per the truss rod: The amount of adjustment can't be more than a quarter turn at best - the truss rod can handle it - trust me.

For the record: In the past couple of months I've probably adjusted the neck relief and tweaked the action on my bass 2 - 3 times a month. I would do it every day if I had to.

Well, as I mentioned I snapped a Fender truss once but Fender determined it was defective when installed. THey replaced the neck but the bass was never the same.

The tedium comes form the fact that this truss rod requires a lot of digging to get to. The neck pocket was really deep for some reason and my luthier just went with it. I usually need to loosen the neck, & get it out of the pocket to adjust it. SO yes, a little tedious for someone who is really busy with a medical practice.

I do realize necks are made of wood but thanks for pointing that out...lol. I am a doublebassist primarily, and have about 48 years experience with playing and repairing my own doublebasses, so I know how much variation you can get in a piece of wood in different seasonal conditions. Thank God for ebony adjusters and good Hyde glue when You play Doublebass.

I just have really bad memories of snappng that one Fender truss and so it is a little traumatic to work on my electrics, I usually have someone else do it. I also have never seen this much movement in an electric bass neck before. That was why I posted.

 

[thmsjordan]

Life long in metro Atlanta

We have a short Winter with mostly mild days and a few extremely cold nights followed by a short beautiful Spring to rival any followed by a long hot n humid Summer lasting until October

A few snow flakes and roads are shut down Thunderstorms possible year round

Generally nice people if you’ve lived here long enough Blowing your horn tells everyone that you ain’t lived here long

We have a lot of great musicians and skilled luthiers and repair folks

Sorry about your bass as it seems like my version of a dream build

Yes I have heard wonderful things about the music scene in Atlanta. I would move there.

 

[thmsjordan]

I hate to break it to you but I live in Florida and have to adjust my neck all the time; humidity changes you know.

And I bet you snapped that previous truss rod because it had never been "exercised", meaning twisted every once in a while. They rust up and seize some times.

Actually that neck was new when it happened. I sent it back to Fender and they determined it was defective when the bass was put together. That was in 78.

 

[zon6c-f]

Yes I have heard wonderful things about the music scene in Atlanta. I would move there.

OK but I failed to mention we have 3rd worst traffic in USA behind LA and NYNY

Lots of venues
Great Symphony
A few museums
Tons of eateries of any sort

 

[bdplaid]

Well, as I mentioned I snapped a Fender truss once but Fender determined it was defective when installed. THey replaced the neck but the bass was never the same.

The tedium comes form the fact that this truss rod requires a lot of digging to get to. The neck pocket was really deep for some reason and my luthier just went with it. I usually need to loosen the neck, & get it out of the pocket to adjust it. SO yes, a little tedious for someone who is really busy with a medical practice.

I do realize necks are made of wood but thanks for pointing that out...lol. I am a doublebassist primarily, and have about 48 years experience with playing and repairing my own doublebasses, so I know how much variation you can get in a piece of wood in different seasonal conditions. Thank God for ebony adjusters and good Hyde glue when You play Doublebass.

I just have really bad memories of snappng that one Fender truss and so it is a little traumatic to work on my electrics, I usually have someone else do it. I also have never seen this much movement in an electric bass neck before. That was why I posted.

It sounds to me like the fingerboard is absorbing and releasing humidity causing the neck to go back and forth against the sealed neck body. I might try oiling the fingerboard in an attempt to seal it.

As for that deep pocket... I'd never tolerate that and would modify the body to be able to get at the adjustment. They can be a real pain sometimes though and I usually use hex wrenches with a ball end, that allow adjustment with the wrench in the hole at an angle.

 

[thmsjordan]

It sounds to me like the fingerboard is absorbing and releasing humidity causing the neck to go back and forth against the sealed neck body. I might try oiling the fingerboard in an attempt to seal it.

As for that deep pocket... I'd never tolerate that and would modify the body to be able to get at the adjustment. They can be a real pain sometimes though and I usually use hex wrenches with a ball end, that allow adjustment with the wrench in the hole at an angle.

Both of these are good ideas, and thank you. I have been thinking of perhaps sealing the fingerboard both to enhance the looks but more importantly to cut down on what seems to be really extreme movement (worse than I have ever seen) in the neck itself. In the end, it may just be a case of the wood being really sensitive to humidity and/or temperature, in which case it is time to get out the wrenches. I may end up replacing the body with another one that is only a walnut veneer on the front. This walnut body is very heavy, and I am not getting any younger. Perhaps I could find a neck pocket that is not so deep.

 

[bdplaid]

Both of these are good ideas, and thank you. I have been thinking of perhaps sealing the fingerboard both to enhance the looks but more importantly to cut down on what seems to be really extreme movement (worse than I have ever seen) in the neck itself. In the end, it may just be a case of the wood being really sensitive to humidity and/or temperature, in which case it is time to get out the wrenches. I may end up replacing the body with another one that is only a walnut veneer on the front. This walnut body is very heavy, and I am not getting any younger. Perhaps I could find a neck pocket that is not so deep.

You're welcome!
And why not get a body from Warmoth? It should have the proper depth and they are notched for the truss rod.

 

[thmsjordan]

OK but I failed to mention we have 3rd worst traffic in USA behind LA and NYNY

Lots of venues
Great Symphony
A few museums
Tons of eateries of any sort

You're welcome!
And why not get a body from Warmoth? It should have the proper depth and they are notched for the truss rod.

Indeed.

 

[sissy kathy]

Hey all. I was hoping Some kind soul could could make some suggestions.

I currently own a Warmoth fretless that I never use. It is gorgeous with a Madagascar Ebony fingerboard to match the Walnut body and head stock. The problem is I live in Pennsylvania where it gets cold and the bass is unplayable in the Winter. The neck will flatten the strings against the fingerboard and when I raise the strings, the board is fine in the money positions but too tall in the upper registers. I could adjust the truss rod back and forth but this seems both tedious and not especially healthy for the truss rod or the bass generally. The setup was done by my friend J Thomas Davis who is extremely good at setup and I have used him for years. I however cannot use him now since he is retired.

I know it is hard to diagnose based on a post, but does this problem sound familiar to anyone? Does Madagascar ebony have issues that would cause it to swell or contract far more (or more likely far less) than other woods? Does it sound like the board needs to be resurfaced? Does the neck sound like it is just really unstable? I have never owned an electric bass that needed special summer and winter re-adjustments of the truss rod. It seems like that would indicate some kind of problem.

What do you think? Feel free to ask more questions if it helps with diagnosis, or at least a better guess without actually seeing the bass.

By the way - any suggestion that I move to a warmer climate will go to the head of the line and be treated with the utmost respect.

A Jazz neck with carbon fiber stiffeners? Yeah, it's normal (just think you paid an extra $60 dollars for that.) Go ahead and tweak the rod; that's what it's there for. You won't hurt a thing. Even if you snap the rod it's an easy replacement. They come out like a double acting rod. A relocation to Phoenix might help.

 

[thmsjordan]

A Jazz neck with carbon fiber stiffeners? Yeah, it's normal (just think you paid an extra $60 dollars for that.) Go ahead and tweak the rod; that's what it's there for. You won't hurt a thing. Even if you snap the rod it's an easy replacement. They come out like a double acting rod. A relocation to Phoenix might help.

All wonderful advice. Thanks for the info everyone!!
Phoenix sound nice several dear friends moved out there years ago and so I have connections!!

 

[claudel]

I live in Central PA and need to adjust the truss rod on my older Warmoth maple/ebony neck a few times a year.

It's really not that big of a deal once you've done it a few times. Only takes a few seconds once you get the hang of it.

The truss rod nut on this mine is slotted and at the body end of the neck.

I bought the right size screwdriver ( fits the slot in the TR nut and is long enough to reach it thru the strings ) and keep it with the bass.

I touch it up whenever it seems to need it.

Just don't overdo it any you should be fine.