Maxed out truss rod question....

[chilliwilli]

I bought a very old bass and everything is great EXCEPT for the fact that the truss rod took ALOT of strength to tighten by 1/8 of a turn. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have forced it, but the neck play better now plus the instrument was only $200.

I have some questions about how to deal with this bass going forward though......

1. How can you tell if a truss rod is maxed out vs it needing lubrication or another issue related to age?

2. It came strung with a set of 100-45 D'addario XLs. Switching to a very high tension set of strings can help fix a back bow, but is the opposite true also? Can putting on strings that are much lighter in tension help fix a neck with too much relief? What about taking the strings off and just letting the bass sit for a while?

3. It arrived from Southern California only 2 days ago and I live in the Upper Midwest which has a very different climate obviously. Any chance things will improve as the instrument adapts? I'm also going to be moving to Florida in 6 months time, so that should be interesting.....what can I expect as far as neck relief is concerned when it comes to low humidity/cold vs high humidity/hot?

Any help is much appreciated because I really don't want to spend alot of money on this thing.

 

[Chasarms]

If you have a really tight truss rod, a few suggestions:

Loosen the string tension and completely remove the truss rod nut. Inspect the threads and make sure both the rod and the nut are not damaged. When you re-install it, rub the backside of the nut and also the wood where it makes contact liberally with a dark pencil. The "lead" is actually graphite and makes for an effective and easy to manage dry lubricant.

Once your ready to tighten it again, try helping the neck with a little (note LITTLE) force instead of making the nut and rod do all the work. Sit in a chair with the bass on the floor and the neck between your legs. Use one hand to gentle press the neck into a back bow by levering against your leg while tightening the truss rod with the other. It take a lot of stress off the nut and threads.

And, yes, lower tension strings will demand less counterforce from the truss rod. You should get less relief by default.

 

[Pilgrim]

^^I second this suggestion. Good technique for neck adjustments, and lubing the truss rod nut may avoid problems later. Regardless of the instrument cost, all basses should be treated with care.

 

[chilliwilli]

If you have a really tight truss rod, a few suggestions:

Loosen the string tension and completely remove the truss rod nut. Inspect the threads and make sure both the rod and the nut are not damaged. When you re-install it, rub the backside of the nut and also the wood where it makes contact liberally with a dark pencil. The "lead" is actually graphite and makes for an effective and easy to manage dry lubricant.

Once your ready to tighten it again, try helping the neck with a little (note LITTLE) force instead of making the nut and rod do all the work. Sit in a chair with the bass on the floor and the neck between your legs. Use one hand to gentle press the neck into a back bow by levering against your leg while tightening the truss rod with the other. It take a lot of stress off the nut and threads.

And, yes, lower tension strings will demand less counterforce from the truss rod. You should get less relief by default.

Thanks, I will try and do this. If the truss rod still doesn't budge than what?

 

[Chasarms]

Thanks, I will try and do this. If the truss rod still doesn't budge than what?

The nut may be at the bottom of the threads on the rod. There is a tool available from StewMac to address that, but it may not be worth it. you can also buy another turn or so by stacking flat washers under the truss rod nut.

It's also possible that the rod is otherwise physically limited and cannot add any additional tension.

Never put excessive torque on the rod. If you are staining excessively to turn it, you probably shouldn't. You can break it or pull it out of the anchor on the other end. The technique I described above is helpful for this. if you take the tension off the rod before you attempt to tighten it, and it is still very hard to turn, you definitely should not turn it.

In any case, you can tune it up with lighter strings and play it like it is, or you can turn it into a wall clock.

 

[ZedLepp]

One of my MIJ Squiers is at the end of the truss rod. I put the lightest set of strings that I can find and tune it to D, neck is perfect then. I use it when one of my cover bands play old Motley Crue songs.

 

[hotbass57]

Thanks, I will try and do this. If the truss rod still doesn't budge than what?

I added a couple of washers on the truss rod. Reapplied truss rod nut and now I get the extra movement I needed. I would loosen the truss rod also. Could be frozen. And all the good info from above. I also have TI flats which are very low tension on that bass.Good luck.