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How to determine if a neck is straight

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by billiam5billion, Jul 18, 2013.

  1. Jul 18, 2013 #1
    billiam5billion

    billiam5billion

    May 18, 2009
    Houston, TX
    I got a new Mighty Mite Jazz neck in the mail today and I don't really trust my eye just looking down the fretboard to determine straightness. Is there a simple trick or tool that will assure the neck is totally straight?
     
  2. Jul 18, 2013 #2
    neo 7

    neo 7 The bass player doesn't get a sandwich Supporting Member

    Aug 22, 2011
    Erie, PA
    I don't know if this is the answer you're looking for but....with the neck on the body press down on the E string at the first fret and last fret, and use the string as a guide to see how much relief the neck has.
     
  3. Jul 18, 2013 #3
    billiam5billion

    billiam5billion

    May 18, 2009
    Houston, TX
    I was thinking more along the lines of making sure it's straight before I mount it. I don't even have the body yet, I'd have to remove the neck from my current bass to do that. I just want a quick check to make sure I don't need to return it.
     
  4. Jul 18, 2013 #4
    tabdog

    tabdog

    Feb 9, 2011
    Adjust the truss rod until it is strait while
    it is off the body.

    Use a strait edge to test it.

    You can check for humps, dips and twist
    with the strait edge. See if all the frets
    come up to the strait edge without holding
    it up higher.

    If you can get the neck strait like that, it
    should be good once it is adjusted on the
    bass.

    Use a shorter strait edge to check individual
    fret height,

    Tabdog
     
  5. Jul 18, 2013 #5
    Floyd Eye

    Floyd Eye Inactive

    Feb 21, 2010
    St. Louis
    Straight edge
     
  6. Jul 18, 2013 #6
    Phendyr_Loon

    Phendyr_Loon

    Sep 4, 2010
    It could appear to be straight as a arrow without tension but once it is on the body and strung, it may be a different story. IME slightly twisted necks will work themselves out with string tension.
    Also you should clarify what you mean by "straight", because technically stringed instruments should never have a straight neck in the sense where the neck is parallel to the strings.
    Once the bass is strung and the relief is set, you'll most likely have some fretwork to do to rectify high frets and frets that protrude out the edge of the board.