Issues with 1986 Ibanez Roadstar II, RB851

[Possum Willy]

First, I do all my own work on my guitars.

Have above listed guitar, which I really enjoy playing except:
1) Never can seem to get correct relief on the neck, nor does it seem to stay in adjustment. I'm afraid I know what this means.
2) Any ideas on where to place the bottom strap mounting point?
Sure, it's used and has road rash (character) just saves me from freaking out! The first huge dings are already there LOL.

Devoted to Ibanez, so don't go there, excellent instruments. IF I get a standard sized 5 string, probably will be a Yamaha, very lightweight.

 

[blastoff99]

A forum of multiple places
Has more subfora than Basses
Hardware Setup Repair
This thread will go there
You can put those folks through their paces

 

[Possum Willy]

Seems that, even though I've been moved to the correct forum, no one wants to comment.

I believe I have a serious issue with the Trussrod, as in fractured, not broken (shades of "Shaken, Not Stirred")

Anyone want to chime in if they have had similar issues?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Is there too much relief, to little? You set the relief you want and a few days later it’s different? Could we get some specifics on the neck issue?

I guess I don’t understand the strap button question either. If the “bottom” button means the one behind the bridge that’s typically centered (more or less) behind the bridge and centered on the side of the body. Moving it further up the bass side of the body can help with balance issues. The other one is typically centered on the upper horn.

Pictures are always a helpful and fun thing as well.

 

[Possum Willy]

Tried to include pic, but apparently, the demigods Microsoft and Gargle didn't want to play nice.

You covered most of what I thought about the placement of the strap button. Rather than being centered, it's mounted "more up" almost parallel to the strap button on the Horn. This is a small-bodied 86 RB851 model, no doubt the button position from the factory was to help with nosedive. It's all original, including plenty of roadrash, exactly the way I intend to keep it.

The Trussrod situation is a "first time I've encountered this" thingy. When I loosen the Trussrod to the max (meaning there is no truss in the rod, meaning spinning freely) then the neck has the "shape" I want (Flat) and I can setup the Bass with as light an action as possible (my preferred action) as I play rather fast Progressive Rock stuff. But then things start shifting around, including tuning.

ALL of my other Basses, including a 96 SRX400 made in Korea (my absolute favorite for so many reasons) still have some sort of tension going on when adjusted to a flat neck, with strings, intonation, and tuning accomplished. ALL of my Basses are tuned EADG. Excepting, of course, my 5 String.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The Trussrod situation is a "first time I've encountered this" thingy. When I loosen the Trussrod to the max (meaning there is no truss in the rod, meaning spinning freely) then the neck has the "shape" I want (Flat) and I can setup the Bass with as light an action as possible (my preferred action) as I play rather fast Progressive Rock stuff. But then things start shifting around, including tuning.

ALL of my other Basses, including a 96 SRX400 made in Korea (my absolute favorite for so many reasons) still have some sort of tension going on when adjusted to a flat neck, with strings, intonation, and tuning accomplished. ALL of my Basses are tuned EADG. Excepting, of course, my 5 String.

Is this under string tension tuned to pitch? "Spinning freely" = can the TR nut be removed?

Riis

 

[Possum Willy]

Yes to both, string tension, tuned and proper intonation.
Removing the Truss Rod would require disassembly of neck. Hoping to avoid doing that.

 

[Lo-E]

It sounds to me like you just need to tighten the truss rod until it just engages. You don’t ever want to just leave the rod spinning freely.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Yes to both, string tension, tuned and proper intonation.
Removing the Truss Rod would require disassembly of neck. Hoping to avoid doing that.

Okay. So when the truss rod nut is fully "relaxed" and strings are tuned to pitch, the neck is perfectly flat / no relief?

Riis

 

[Possum Willy]

It sounds to me like you just need to tighten the truss rod until it just engages. You don’t ever want to just leave the rod spinning freely.

If I do that, I get an undesirable bow to the ne

Okay. So when the truss rod nut is fully "relaxed" and strings are tuned to pitch, the neck is perfectly flat / no relief?

Riis

Exactly, normally with any of my other Basses, there is some tension still on the truss rod. Not the case with this Bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Any chance this is a dual-acting rod and the TR is in its neutral position? If a single-acting rod, under string tension, with the TR nut fully loose / relaxed, and no resulting relief, you need to hand it off to someone for remediation.

Riis