New Spector USA Custom Shop Truss Rod Question

[MattF007]

Fortunate to have been able to get my hands on a new USA Spector 5 string 35 inch scale Custom Shop bass. It needed a truss rod adjustment, I’m guessing about 3/4 of a turn in little increments to tighten it. I know these necks have graphite rods. Is it safe to assume about 12-24 hours for the neck to fully respond to the adjustment. I would like a little less relief but want to wait to see how it responds. Second question more for my own interest, are these truss rods easily replaceable like on Fordera and F Bass where they can be pulled out with a tool heaven forbid it requires it way down the road or is it major surgery involving removing the fingerboard. Thanks to anyone that can comment.

 

[Bass Viking]

I seem to recall Sheldon Dingwall saying that 90% of relief change happens at the time you adjust the truss rod. I forget how long he said the remaining 10% takes. I don’t know how easy it is to remove the rod but it sounds like you know what you’re doing so I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[songwriter21]

Fortunate to have been able to get my hands on a new USA Spector 5 string 35 inch scale Custom Shop bass. It needed a truss rod adjustment, I’m guessing about 3/4 of a turn in little increments to tighten it. I know these necks have graphite rods. Is it safe to assume about 12-24 hours for the neck to fully respond to the adjustment. I would like a little less relief but want to wait to see how it responds. Second question more for my own interest, are these truss rods easily replaceable like on Fordera and F Bass where they can be pulled out with a tool heaven forbid it requires it way down the road or is it major surgery involving removing the fingerboard. Thanks to anyone that can comment.

Basses, especially US Spectors, aren't made from balsa wood, so to me, the turn-and-wait thing is absurd. Turn the rod until you get the relief (or lack of) you want. You may have to make an adjustment or two in the next week or so, but no need to walk on glass with a brute of a bass like yours.

If you had to make an adjustment right before going on stage, would you wait until the day after to make sure it's right? That's not realistic.

Acoustic instruments are a different animal, but solid bodies are meant to handle significantly more abuse.

Adjust, and then maintain.

 

[Chrisk-K]

In my experience with 30+ basses and guitars that I’ve owned, the neck relief changed the moment I adjusted the truss rod. Once the relief was set, I never ever had to readjust the truss rod after 12-24 hours.

 

[direktor]

In my experience with 30+ basses and guitars that I’ve owned, the neck relief changed the moment I adjusted the truss rod. Once the relief was set, I never ever had to readjust the truss rod after 12-24 hours.

My experience as well.

Anytime I’ve had a bass that seemed to move a little after adjustment, I came to conclusion that if a put a little back/forward force on the neck after I adjusted it, it would find its new balance point with that maneuver right away and then not move again.

Across all my basses I’m probably making 12 adjustments a year.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Fortunate to have been able to get my hands on a new USA Spector 5 string 35 inch scale Custom Shop bass. It needed a truss rod adjustment, I’m guessing about 3/4 of a turn in little increments to tighten it. I know these necks have graphite rods. Is it safe to assume about 12-24 hours for the neck to fully respond to the adjustment. I would like a little less relief but want to wait to see how it responds. Second question more for my own interest, are these truss rods easily replaceable like on Fordera and F Bass where they can be pulled out with a tool heaven forbid it requires it way down the road or is it major surgery involving removing the fingerboard. Thanks to anyone that can comment.

I have a tricked out MIA Coda. When I bought it a few years ago, I had questions about it and the Spector folks beat the seller to the answer.
Try contacting Spector and see what gem of information you may glean from their response, on top of what you asked for.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

USA Spectors are some of the best made basses on Earth. The trussrod will certainly respond quickly to tweaking.

 

[Five or Six]

It will respond after your first "tweak". But, I have always waited 24 hours for a truss / setup to settle. After that I'm pretty confident it will stay where I put it.