keep it or return it?

[Bassclef46]

I have a Yamaha Attitude 3 that has a truss rod that is as tight as it can tighten. Right now my neck relief is .010 and that is where i like it. It plays, sounds and feels great.
I am about 10 days past the 30 day return period but I did request a return.

My concern is that this is a very expensive bass and if the neck gets any upbow I wont be able to tighten the truss rod to reduce relief. I live in NE Ohio and we have 4 seasons here and with spring on the way the added humidity could cause the neck to backbow and force me to loosen the truss rod, ultimately negating this issue

I dont want to get stuck with a $2500 bass that has a neck I can not adjust. Yamaha does provide a lifetime warranty on the neck and body so I would assume they would replace the neck if needed.

Based on this would you return the bass for a full refund or would you wait and see if the humidity adds moisture to cause a backbow or run the risk of dry winter air next winter causing an upbow and a neck that can not be adjusted due to a fully tightened truss rod?

 

[Leonid Nidis]

You should have extra on the truss rod.
Return it.

 

[Goatrope]

Return it.

 

[fretno]

I just looked it up. Its a dual acting. These do get tight as it pushes the neck in either direction. Just make sure you are using it correctly before returning.

 

[Bassclef46]

I just looked it up. Its a dual acting. These do get tight as it pushes the neck in either direction. Just make sure you are using it correctly before returning.

interesting.....what do you mean using it correctly? are you saying it might not be fully tightened?

 

[fretno]

Yes but google it. Or TB it to get a solid idea of how to set one. But with a DA truss rod that point at which it gets tight is the point at which it starts working on shaping the neck. So you would keep turning. I personally loosen
The tension before doing this. Ive also experienced stuck trussrods on new instruments and so i give the back of the neck a good hard massage to help free it up along with a few gentle flexes in all directions. Sometimes a little glue binds them up or just the construction process itself. Being new and never yet used enough they can be tight from that. So dive in and let us know. I would start by loosening the strings massage the back for a min and turn the rod full amount in both directions. You will see the neck react. If not keep turning until you do.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

So, you're trying to return a bass 10 days past the return period because you're afraid something might go wrong in the future even though Yamaha has a lifetime warranty on the neck? Are you certain there isn't some buyer's remorse mixed in?

 

[songwriter21]

So, you're trying to return a bass 10 days past the return period because you're afraid something might go wrong in the future even though Yamaha has a lifetime warranty on the neck? Are you certain there isn't some buyer's remorse mixed in?

I agree, and Yamaha would stand behind an instrument like that, especially with Billy's name on it, like Nathan East or John Pattituci. Those guys are Yamaha's sweethearts.

 

[Bassclef46]

Yes but google it. Or TB it to get a solid idea of how to set one. But with a DA truss rod that point at which it gets tight is the point at which it starts working on shaping the neck. So you would keep turning. I personally loosen
The tension before doing this. Ive also experienced stuck trussrods on new instruments and so i give the back of the neck a good hard massage to help free it up along with a few gentle flexes in all directions. Sometimes a little glue binds them up or just the construction process itself. Being new and never yet used enough they can be tight from that. So dive in and let us know. I would start by loosening the strings massage the back for a min and turn the rod full amount in both directions. You will see the neck react. If not keep turning until you do.

thank you - so your advice was AWESOME. after loosening the strings and loosening the truss rod to what felt like "the middle" i gave it a nice massage. a few gentle flexes. Even loosening it was kind of difficult as i could feel it had more room to loosen but was just sticky. After that I checked relief again and since it was loosened it of course needed an adjustment. so tightened it up back to where i had it before, and was able to move beyond that point so it was tight again. I could then apply a bit more force and it would go moreif needed, but i didnt want to do that since i knew i was at my original tightness and beyond already. Relief was perfect and i still have more room to tighten as needed.

I had never encountered this issue until I bought my SB1 last year. It also has a duel action rod and has the exact same issue. G&L agreed to replace it if i need them to, but I will have to apply your advice to that bass as well and hopefully its just a sticky/new rod that needs some help.

Thank you again for the help. what a relief!

 

[Zooberwerx]

I have a Yamaha Attitude 3 that has a truss rod that is as tight as it can tighten. Right now my neck relief is .010 and that is where i like it. It plays, sounds and feels great.
I am about 10 days past the 30 day return period but I did request a return.

My concern is that this is a very expensive bass and if the neck gets any upbow I wont be able to tighten the truss rod to reduce relief. I live in NE Ohio and we have 4 seasons here and with spring on the way the added humidity could cause the neck to backbow and force me to loosen the truss rod, ultimately negating this issue

I dont want to get stuck with a $2500 bass that has a neck I can not adjust. Yamaha does provide a lifetime warranty on the neck and body so I would assume they would replace the neck if needed.

Based on this would you return the bass for a full refund or would you wait and see if the humidity adds moisture to cause a backbow or run the risk of dry winter air next winter causing an upbow and a neck that can not be adjusted due to a fully tightened truss rod?

What's your procedure for adjusting / tightening the TR to remove relief?

Riis

 

[Matty Koff]

.10mm relief? Do you have feathers for fingers? j/k perhaps you play with higher action than I do.

 

[Bassclef46]

So, you're trying to return a bass 10 days past the return period because you're afraid something might go wrong in the future even though Yamaha has a lifetime warranty on the neck? Are you certain there isn't some buyer's remorse mixed in?

you make a valid point, but honestly i dont want to return it. I was hoping to get some help so I could avoid returning at all costs. I got a great deal on it brand new and love the bass. My concern was a bass of this price developing a banana neck that i cant play. Yamaha having that warranty also was a big factor in not wanting to return it.

the issue i deal with when one of my basses or my car or house develops some unknown issue is I kind of obsess over fixing it. so to avoid that hassle i would rather just have returned it then stress over it....if that makes sense. But thankfully fretno advice was spot on

 

[Zooberwerx]

.10mm relief? Do you have feathers for fingers? j/k perhaps you play with higher action than I do.

I read it as .010" not mm in the initial post.

Riis

 

[Matty Koff]

I read it as .010" not mm in the initial post.

Riis

You're right. He said .010 and likely meant inches which is .25mm. My bad. Only slightly lower than I tend to set mine.

 

[Bassclef46]

What's your procedure for adjusting / tightening the TR to remove relief?

Riis

pretty standard i think. Capo first fret. hold E string at 17th fret, .010 feeler at 8th fret. if i need more relief i loosen the rod 1/8 or 1/4 at a time depending on how much adjustment is needed. If i need to reduce relief i always loosen strings then tighten an 1/8 or 1/4 turn.

I do a hand check everytime i play one of them though by holding at 1st and pinky on 12th fret and index finger tap around 6 just because its routine now.

 

[fretno]

thank you - so your advice was AWESOME. after loosening the strings and loosening the truss rod to what felt like "the middle" i gave it a nice massage. a few gentle flexes. Even loosening it was kind of difficult as i could feel it had more room to loosen but was just sticky. After that I just checked relief again and since it was loosened it of course needed an adjustment so tightened it up back to where i had it before, then checked and was able to move beyond that point to where it got tight again. I could then apply a bit more force and it would go more, but i didnt want to move do that since i knew i was at my original tightness and beyond already. Relief was perfect and i still have more room to tighten as needed.

I had never encountered this issue until I bought my SB1 last year. It also has a duel action rod and has the exact same issue. G&L agreed to replace it if i need them to, but I will have to apply your advice to that bass as well and hopefully its just a sticky/new rod that needs some help.

Thank you again for the help. what a relief!

Beautiful ! Enjoy that bass ! & we need pics \m/ shyboy

 

[Spidey2112]

Yamaha does provide a lifetime warranty on the neck and body so I would assume they would replace the neck if needed.

If you really like it, explain the issue and your concerns with Yamaha customer service. If you get something in writing from them (other than a warranty) regarding your specific circumstances, I'd keep it.

Oh, and Go Bucks!

 

[Zooberwerx]

pretty standard i think. Capo first fret. hold E string at 17th fret, .010 feeler at 8th fret. if i need more relief i loosen the rod 1/8 or 1/4 at a time depending on how much adjustment is needed. If i need to reduce relief i always loosen strings then tighten an 1/8 or 1/4 turn.

I do a hand check everytime i play one of them though by holding at 1st and pinky on 12th fret and index finger tap around 6 just because its routine now.

When tightening the TR, clamp the bass between your knees and manually flex the neck backwards with your left arm. Never use the TR solely. Appears you're spot-on, otherwise.

Riis

 

[Zooberwerx]

You're right. He said .010 and likely meant inches which is .25mm. My bad. Only slightly lower than I tend to set mine.

Yeah, I use the .010 - .014" as a standard but .010 is a bit too tight for me.

Riis

 

[rtslinger]

Glad it worked out for you. I too was going to suggest loosing it first. Anytime I am doing setup and find the neck needs an adjustment, I always start out by backing off the tension on truss rod before tightening it.