Huh?! P-Bass Neck Adjustment?

[bassplayerwanab]

I'm new to the world of basses and have a dumb question.
I have a P-Bass that has the truss rod adjustment under the pickguard.
Do I have to take the neck completely off to tighten the truss rod or can I simply take off the pickguard and adjust it? Again, dumb question so thanks in advance!

 

[OnederTone]

depends, sometimes there is a channel that you can access under the pick guard, but for older P basses or ones modeled after them, you have to remove the neck... or if you're good at it- loosen the neck screws just enough and tilt the heal up to access the truss rod.

 

[bassplayerwanab]

depends, sometimes there is a channel that you can access under the pickguard, but for older P basses or ones modeled after them, you have to remove the neck... or if you're good at it- loosen the neck screws just enough and tilt the heal up to access the truss rod.

Thanks. I should have mentioned this is a new Nash PB63 which is their take on a vintage '63 P-Bass. The truss rod adjustment screw is peaking out from the pickguard so I was hoping I could just remove the pickguard.

 

[Killing Floor]

Yes. What @OnederTone said. It varies by model. If you share more about the actual bass or post a pic...

 

[bassplayerwanab]

Yes. What @OnederTone said. It varies by model. If you share more about the actual bass or post a pic...

Picture attached!

 

[JKos]

I guess your about to find out if Nash puts a channel under the pickguard.

Btw, a Nash as your first bass... Nice!

 

[SiSoldier]

I always remove the neck for neck adjustments on my p bass. Detune strings and use some painters tape at the nut to keep strings together and remove all 4 screws.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Picture attached!

Almost 100% positive that removing the pickguard should allow you to adjust the trussrod of the neck with an angled hex/allen wrench.

And if this actually is the case, and if you don't mind it and am comfortable with doing it, cutting a small hole in the pickguard, just big enough for allowing you to prod in the wrench, would allow you to not even having to remove the pickguard in the future when adjusting the trussrod.

But for this first time first remove the pickguard and check, and if it, contrary to my assumptions and best guess, turns out that the trussrod hole is partly covered by the end of the neck pocket/body of the bass then that would unfortunately mean you would have to take off the neck to adjust it in all future to come, and all you can do to ease the troubles that would cause is to hope that your bass got a really stable neck or pay a luthier to route a small channel where the neck pocket meets the body for easier trussrod access.

 

[Killing Floor]

Sorry, I have no experience with the Nash except that I have been really wanting a 55 in Daphne!
It's painless to unscrew the pick guard so try that first. Good luck.

My "guess" is that Nash thought this out and carved a groove for the wrench. I'd expect that. But we'll wait for your reply.

 

[bassplayerwanab]

Almost 100% positive that removing the pickguard should allow you to adjust the trussrod of the neck with an angled hex/allen wrench.

And if this actually is the case, and if you don't mind it and am comfortable with doing it, cutting a small hole in the pickguard, just big enough for allowing you to prod in the wrench, would allow you to not even having to remove the pickguard in the future when adjusting the trussrod.

But for this first time first remove the pickguard and check, and if it, contrary to my assumptions and best guess, turns out that the trussrod hole is partly covered by the end of the neck pocket/body of the bass then that would unfortunately mean you would have to take off the neck to adjust it in all future to come, and all you can do to ease the troubles that would cause is to hope that your bass got a really stable neck or pay a luthier to route a small channel where the neck pocket meets the body for easier trussrod access.

Thanks for the response. I assume removing the pickguard is preferable to removing the neck?
I'd prefer to not remove the neck so I'll give it a try and report on the results.

 

[P. Aaron]

Thanks for the response. I assume removing the pickguard is preferable to removing the neck?
I'd prefer to not remove the neck so I'll give it a try and report on the results.

Usually this is the case as removing the neck means strings come off, any shims or adjustments may be altered slightly. Removing the PG may have electronics attached...a patient but easier challenge. Take your time, take a few pics before you start and as you progress to track what you’re doing and if in doubt, use the pics to properly re-do.

 

[N4860]

If you find that you do have to remove the neck, I would do a little mod to the body while the neck is off. I'm sure many will disagree and modding the body but if you really like the bass and intend to keep it for a while, it will be worth it. Besides it would be covered by the pickguard so no one would ever know.

I would just use a dremel to remove enough of a channel to fit a tool in to the truss rod adjustment without having to remove the neck. So just start carving out the channel and then put the neck back against it to see if it will give you enough clearance and then just go from there. I did this with a jazz bass build I had done but I had already stained the body prior to thinking of this. I cut the pickguard to accommodate the new channel so that the pg wouldn't have to be removed but then I painted the wood in the channel black so that it didn't stick out. For your bass, I'd probably just keep the pickguard stock and deal with having to remove it to make trusswod adjustments.

 

[Dluxe]

Removing the pickguard on mine is sufficient.

 

[SLPimp]

I'm new to the world of basses and have a dumb question.
I have a P-Bass that has the truss rod adjustment under the pickguard.
Do I have to take the neck completely off to tighten the truss rod or can I simply take off the pickguard and adjust it? Again, dumb question so thanks in advance!

If there isn't a channel for adjusting, take off the neck and use a round file to make one.

You'll have to make sure you have a pickguard that allows for it. I've also said screw it and just adjusted it, tearing up the wood of the body. All gets covered by the PG.

 

[aprod]

I just went through this with my Strat '59 reissue. I thought I could remove the picguard but no, there is no channel to allow for screwdriver access. Off came the neck.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

As the others have said, take the pickguard off and see if you have room to access the truss rod nut.

Otherwise, loosen the neck screws and tilt the neck up. I've heard these work too.

 

[Whale]

I always remove the neck for neck adjustments on my p bass. Detune strings and use some painters tape at the nut to keep strings together and remove all 4 screws.

Instead of painters tape to hold the strings in place while removing/loosening the neck, I simply use a capo. It is made for pressing down on strings, is easy to use, and doesn't leave any sticky residue.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Whenever I got a bass like that, I have simply made my luthier carve a gap to the body so I can access the truss rod easily.

 

[Kendescending]

Stewmac makes a few different tools for this.

Search Results for fender truss rod | stewmac.com

 

[baileyboy]

I have a '74 Precision and have never removed the pick guard (or neck) to make a truss rod adjustment. There is enough of the nut showing for me to insert a flat top screwdriver to give small turns. The pick guard has never been compromised either, not a scratch. If you are nervous about damaging the guard, simply take it off, do the adjustment and put it back on.