LTD AP-204 with an up-bow. Need advice.

[FromBelow]

Hello, I made the classic mistake of buying a used bass online through Guitar Center. I found what seemed like a great deal on the older LTD AP-204 with the rosewood fingerboard and called up the place two times on different days to hear what the employees had to say about it. I was told the neck was straight and the action was low. What I received was completely unplayable. Not to mention all the hardware barely works as it should. The up-bow in the neck makes for the highest action I've seen in a while. I checked the truss rod and it's nearly maxed out, I don't feel like forcing it anymore. Also the neck creaks and shifts slightly in its slot.
I plan on returning the instrument, however, if I did decide to keep it, would I have to look for someone to reset the neck? I'm not sure how much it would cost and if it's worth it. I have an old Squier strat and a jazz bass which both have the same issue with up-bow in the neck.
I don't know if it's the heat and humidity where I live that's doing this to my cheap guitars, or if I just need to find a brand that makes low end guitars that aren't prone to this issue?
Could it be that the GC employees were telling the truth and the up-bow happened during shipping and it needs time to adjust?
TiA for any help.

 

[Zooberwerx]

All 3 basses have "up-bow" (...too much relief?) and I'm not convinced you're able to fully address on your own. You need to hand it off to someone in-the-know. In the meantime, quit forcing the truss rod(s)...that's not how it works.

Riis

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Yes, it’s possible the neck was ok in the store and moved in transit and/or after arrival. It depends on the relative conditions where the bass started out and where you are.

If it was mine or on my bench I’d start by removing all the string tension, possibly removing the neck, if it was a bolt on, and, on a new to me instrument, loosen the truss rod. Ideally, the neck should be straight or nearly so with no truss rod or string tension. If I was going to proceed with that neck and depending on the amount of excess relief (upbow?) it had I might clamp the neck into a back bow and tighten the truss rod. Then reassemble and restring and see where it ends up.

If you’re not comfortable with any of that seek out someone capable locally and ask if you can observe while they do it.

 

[FromBelow]

All 3 basses have "up-bow" (...too much relief?) and I'm not convinced you're able to fully address on your own. You need to hand it off to someone in-the-know. In the meantime, quit forcing the truss rod(s)...that's not how it works.

Riis

This may come as a shock to you, but there are other people in this world besides you and your wise generation who can identify problems with cheap guitars.
I checked the truss rod and it was already maxed out as the bass was first taken out of the box and tuned. Believe it or not, but I know that's not how it works, and I'm not dumb enough to force a truss rod beyond that point.
The bass has been returned and has been hanging on the wall at GC for weeks and it will for many more months because it has a serious up-bow in the neck.

 

[lethargytartare]

...I checked the truss rod and it was already maxed out as the bass was first taken out of the box and tuned. Believe it or not, but I know that's not how it works, and I'm not dumb enough to force a truss rod beyond that point.
The bass has been returned and has been hanging on the wall at GC for weeks and it will for many more months because it has a serious up-bow in the neck.

To be fair, based on your comments, a person could reasonably draw the conclusion that you might have some mixed understanding of the components of the bass's setup. And you did say "I don't feel like forcing it ANYMORE." <emphasis mine> Which suggests you were forcing is SOME. (And your first post says the nut was nearly maxed out, but your second post says it was fully maxed out). And since you noted that you have other instruments with the same problem that you cant fix, it wasn't that harsh to suggest it might be time for a pro's assistance. Don't sweat it.

Personally, if I had people at the store telling me the action was low, I'd want them to justify its condition in person. And I'd be pissed if they put it back on the wall and would probably call their manager or corporate offices. "The reps are lying to customers to get them to buy an obviously damaged POS"