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Help with neck problem on my cheapo Ibanez lefty

alaskaleftybass

alaskaleftybass

Will Hanbury, Jr.
In Memoriam
Mar 21, 2012
9,920
22,352
Sitka, Alaska
#1
Moderators, please move this to luthier thread if this is not the correct thread.

Hi TB'ers. I hope you can help me.

I can't seem to be able to get my cheapo Ibanez neck correct. I was going to sell it but after using it with my GK MB200 and my Audiokinesis cab, it sounds awesome!

Here's the problem. I feel like I've almost reached the end of turning the truss because it's very difficult move after some cranking. Before I turned it the neck was very bowed. It's bowed much less now but still around 7-9th frets the strings still seem a bit high. Also, if I'm able to turn the truss a little more, the strings are too low to the frets by the 3-5th frets. It's a real puzzle!

In the past I've been able to get Ibanez bass necks very close to the neck, this guy is giving me problems. I just can't get it right.

It's only an inexpensive bass but it sounds so excellent with my GK and AK cab. And I love that it's passive. It's kind of a like a poor man's MusicMan. I'm including a pic of the bass type.

Thanks guys for any suggestions you have.... have a great Sunday.

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#2
Some cheaper basses will have a little bow in the neck. The goal is to get it playable without fret buzz. You can use a combination of the truss rod and bridge saddles to compensate slightly. In order to do it correctly, you should loosen the strings, make small truss rod adjustments, then retighten the strings. Keeping the bass in playing position, rather than laying it back down will also help. The Gio necks are still relatively thin and very easy to manipulate with slight pressure, which isn't ideal during adjustments. You shouldn't be turning the truss rod through its full range. The neck will take some time to settle in, and may need a slight adjustment after a day or two even once you think you have it set. There's some pretty good videos on YouTube to help.
 
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#3
blubass said:
Some cheaper basses will have a little bow in the neck. The goal is to get it playable without fret buzz. You can use a combination of the truss rod and bridge saddles to compensate slightly. In order to do it correctly, you should loosen the strings, make small truss rod adjustments, then retighten the strings. Keeping the bass in playing position, rather than laying it back down will also help. The Gio necks are still relatively thin and very easy to manipulate with slight pressure, which isn't ideal during adjustments. You shouldn't be turning the truss rod through its full range. The neck will take some time to settle in, and may need a slight adjustment after a day or two even once you think you have it set. There's some pretty good videos on YouTube to help.
Click to expand...

Hi blubass. Thank you so much. I'll try that out and go check for Youtube vids.
 

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