My boss doesn't understand neck relief.

[electracoyote]

That graphic pretty much says it all. I have been experimenting with neck relief for 40 years. Assuming the frets are very level, you can only get the action so low at the 12th fret with no relief. (Of course, nut depth comes into play here a bit as well.)

But believe it or not, some players prefer no relief, especially those who rarely play above the 7th fret (yep, they're out there folks). Granted, it's kind of an old-school notion.

You see it moreso with some acoustic players, flatpickers and such, who want higher action at the 12th so they can control dynamics and get more "snap" on the string when desired.

But if you are a bass or guitar player with a medium to light touch and you routinely play above the 7th fret, and you want a fast player, you might be happier with a slight relief and a lower action at the 12th fret. That's the conclusion I've come to with my electric and acoustic six-strings and basses.

If I were still using guitar techs for my set ups, I would expect my techs to understand the give and take regarding relief, communicate to them my playing style, and trust them to set up the instrument so it plays according to my tastes and needs.

 

[68Goldfish]

Solvents with no respirator. Dirty towels in an open box...Oh the horror! I'm glad you don't work on cars for a living.

 

[WalterBush]

I guess Jerzy Drodz makes sub par basses then.

Last time I looked (NAMM a few years back) the absolutely beautiful ERB's that Jerzy Drozd put out had relief carved into the fingerboard.

As has been pointed out, neck relief doesn't have to mean that your neck looks like a crescent. .010 at the 7th fret with first and last pushed down feels dead flat to most players I've talked to. YMMV.

+1 on talking to people afterwards to see what they think of the job. I've offered a re-do from time to time to keep a customer, and it's paid off.

 

[hdracer]

Solvents with no respirator. Dirty towels in an open box...Oh the horror! I'm glad you don't work on cars for a living.

+1 or weld or paint....

 

[madrob]

I'm more concerned about the health issues from the improperly handled chemicals and solvents. Don't let anyone tell you it's just some fumes so suck it up and live with it. I did that at a job (welding) and have been plagued with chronic headaches and migraines for the past 15+ years.

In my opinion, no job is worth risking your health over.

Rob

 

[younggun]

Solvents with no respirator. Dirty towels in an open box...Oh the horror! I'm glad you don't work on cars for a living.

Sorry I don't understand this attitude...are you saying the OP shouldn't be concerned about his health and shop safety, because YOU happen to work at a job that also exposes you to inhalation hazards and chemicals too? It seems to me you should be more understanding of the problem not less.

You do wear a respirator at your job, don't you? How about eye protection? Hearing protection? Gloves when handling solvents (solvents are transdermal, they can penetrate the skin)...if you don't, that's on YOU for not doing it and being ignorant to the health hazards you are presenting yourself...its also on your employer for not providing the PPE and environmental safeties they should (and in many cases what is required by law).

I'd be willing to bet I work in a job where I'm exposed to a lot more hazardous materials and situations than pretty much anyone else here, a job where I have to constantly remind my guys to put their safety and health first, use their PPE, and exercise risk management. I would never use that as some kind of justification (or pissing contest reasoning) that someone else shouldn't be concerned about their work environment though.

The OP has a very legit point that safety should be a concern in his workplace. Inhalation and hazardous chemicals are a concern in ANY working environment (its why OSHA requires MSDS sheets in the workplace), and solvents are no joke...Its the old outdated "man-up" attitudes that need to go, not the attitude of safety when dealing with brain-cell-destroying, and cancerous substances.

 

[TheMightyWoot1]

^Thank you.

 

[68Goldfish]

Sorry I don't understand this attitude...are you saying the OP shouldn't be concerned about his health and shop safety, because YOU happen to work at a job that also exposes you to inhalation hazards and chemicals too? It seems to me you should be more understanding of the problem not less.

You do wear a respirator at your job, don't you? How about eye protection? Hearing protection? Gloves when handling solvents (solvents are transdermal, they can penetrate the skin)...if you don't, that's on YOU for not doing it and being ignorant to the health hazards you are presenting yourself...its also on your employer for not providing the PPE and environmental safeties they should (and in many cases what is required by law).

I'd be willing to bet I work in a job where I'm exposed to a lot more hazardous materials and situations than pretty much anyone else here, a job where I have to constantly remind my guys to put their safety and health first, use their PPE, and exercise risk management. I would never use that as some kind of justification (or pissing contest reasoning) that someone else shouldn't be concerned about their work environment though.

The OP has a very legit point that safety should be a concern in his workplace. Inhalation and hazardous chemicals are a concern in ANY working environment (its why OSHA requires MSDS sheets in the workplace), and solvents are no joke...Its the old outdated "man-up" attitudes that need to go, not the attitude of safety when dealing with brain-cell-destroying, and cancerous substances.

I'm sure your right. I guess I was underestimating the harshness level of the chemicals a guitar tech could be exposed to.

 

[I-Bassie]

I am having some neck issues. I like my strings fairly close to the fret board, but not with a huge relief. How do I adjust the truss rod to get rid of seasonal buzzing, without creating too much of a bow in my neck?

 

[Johntheson]

The lady I go too (Fret Not Guitar Repair) asks you to play your instrument for a short while, while she observes your picking, and fretting methods. It is only after this, and after asking questions, and listening to your answers, that she takes the instrument in for her work. She is the first, and only tech to do this for me, and it has translated into all my instruments playing the best that's possible. I told her I'd never had anyone require me to play before taking my axes in for a setup, and she replied; "how can anyone possibly give you the best setup possible without seeing how you play"? I was sold on her from that day on.
John Sr.

 

[Floyd Eye]

For the lowest possible action without fret buzz, usually some relief is necessary. Not always though. My 74' 4001 has a dead straight neck and stupid low action with no fret buzz.

 

[MegaSwing]

Part company amicably and put up your own shingle.

 

[FunkRenegade]

"First and last fret" doesn't work on all basses. Different necks bend differently, and truss rods dont work beyond 17th fret on most basses.

Check the necks curvature with the truss rod loosened and check again after tightened. Only a portion of the neck responds to truss rod adjustments.

I agree that proper relief is almost imperceptable by eye, therefore I use the first and last fret method.

 

[Willopis]

here is my 2 cents:
5 years is the old school length of apprenticeship.
You are a journeyman now.
There is no worthy apprentice that does not at some point cast some of his teachers ideas aside and develop his own.
At any place of work there has to be a way to openly discuss things that the other person does that bother you and a way to work them out.