Possible frozen truss rod?

[adamaarts]

I bought a Sterling HH a while back used off reverb, I did the initial setup and noticed the truss rod was tough to turn, although I’ve never had this style of truss rod from the bottom of the neck, wasn’t sure if that’s ‘normal’ or not. Anyway, I got it in the realm of playable before it started refusing to turn and bending whatever took I could fit in there. Figured I’d let it rest a few days and try again.

So fast forward a few months, I finally sat down to adjust some more and I couldn’t get it to move at all. I loosened the strings and then loosened the rod about a quarter turn, then tightened it about half a turn and it’s again refusing to go farther without being my tools. I even used the truss rod tool it came with and it bends instantly.

The neck is moving when I was able to adjust, and I’m guessing it just needs about another half turn to get to where it’s perfect, any advice as to what I should try? I’m sure I’m outside any sort of warranty.
Attached is the bent truss rod tool

 

[Emanuel]

I have the same problem perhaps worse in that the bass I'm concerned about
(1978-1981 Fernandez FPM-80) has the recessed Allen wrench adjustment.
This bass has the most wonderful resonance. Crazy loud acoustically. I'm jonesing to use it. I don't want to break the truss, Help!

 

[adamaarts]

So I have tried looking up whatever I can on this subject. And I’ve seen a couple things I could try, like lubricating the rod, clamping/bending the neck to help relieve the pressure, and lastly I could remove the strings entirely and try again. It does loosen so that gives me hope, I just worry that I’ve maxed it out and it won’t straighten any more which would really suck!

 

[C Stone]

Remove the truss nut, insert a of couple washers or a spacer. Re-install truss nut. Set-up bass, that’s about it. Good luck!

 

[C Stone]

…So fast forward a few months, I finally sat down to adjust some more and I couldn’t get it to move at all. I loosened the strings and then loosened the rod about a quarter turn, then tightened it about half a turn and it’s again refusing to go farther without being my tools. I even used the truss rod tool it came with and it bends instantly.

The neck is moving when I was able to adjust, and I’m guessing it just needs about another half turn to get to where it’s perfect, any advice as to what I should try? I’m sure I’m outside any sort of warranty.
Attached is the bent truss rod tool

If you decide to add a couple washers, once you get it back together “help” the neck along when you tighten the truss with little or no tension on the stings, get it where you think you need it then tune strings to pitch, check relief, if it needs further adjustments rinse and repeat

 

[adamaarts]

Well.

I went and snapped that dang truss rod. Against my better judgement I did every step mentioned, and gave it about a 1/8 turn, tried to go a little more and it snapped off.

So...... now is it more cost effective to get the truss rod replaced or to just find a new neck? It’s a 5 string HH sterling with the roasted maple. I think I may be even more out of luck to try and get a matte black headstock.

 

[C Stone]

Did the truss rod actually break or did you end up stripping the nut? Normally a nut will strip out before the rod breaks and since you said the nut turned both ways I assume it was not a frozen nut.

 

[adamaarts]

Did the truss rod actually break or did you end up stripping the nut? Normally a nut will strip out before the rod breaks and since you said the nut turned both ways I assume it was not a frozen nut.

Yea it was the rod itself. I though the nut stripped when it came loose, but after taking the neck off to get to it I saw the damage.

 

[C Stone]

HOLY MOLY! You had to have cranked that with an incredible amount of force!

Look how the ‘tines’ are mismatched (out of alignment) with the hex walls.

 

[funkinbottom]

Well.

I went and snapped that dang truss rod. Against my better judgement I did every step mentioned, and gave it about a 1/8 turn, tried to go a little more and it snapped off.

So...... now is it more cost effective to get the truss rod replaced or to just find a new neck? It’s a 5 string HH sterling with the roasted maple. I think I may be even more out of luck to try and get a matte black headstock.

It's not really all that difficult to replace the rod yourself if you're handy. I've done a couple. The first one was a little scary because I had never done it before, but it turned out just fine. A replacement rod, depending what type is only $15 -$30. Here's how I did mine.

Put metal ruler on frets then iron on high to soften glue, slowly worked putty knife under board and worked my way down the neck a little at a time, moving the Iron as I did. Once board is off, remove/replace rod and glue board back on. Just keep an eye on detail to ensure you have everything lined up correctly and you should be fine. Oh.... youtube is your friend. As you can see, no real special tools, kinda crude actually. I used the big rubber band type clamp method that a friend suggested. Worked excellent, and available at a lot of local hardware stores.

Here's pics. Hope that helps. Worst case is you screw up, but you need a new neck anyway.

 

[C Stone]

I did a search for Ray5HH necks, no luck but I did come across this 20% off sale…

Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray5HH Limited-Edition 5-String Bass

 

[adamaarts]

As much as I’d fear doing that, since it’s already broken I might actually have a go at this. I’m pretty handy with non guitar related woodworking, and even did a kit bass a while back which I had to install frets as well.

defintely will be watching a lot of videos on this!

It's not really all that difficult to replace the rod yourself if you're handy. I've done a couple. The first one was a little scary because I had never done it before, but it turned out just fine. A replacement rod, depending what type is only $15 -$30. Here's how I did mine.

Put metal ruler on frets then iron on high to soften glue, slowly worked putty knife under board and worked my way down the neck a little at a time, moving the Iron as I did. Once board is off, remove/replace rod and glue board back on. Just keep an eye on detail to ensure you have everything lined up correctly and you should be fine. Oh.... youtube is your friend. As you can see, no real special tools, kinda crude actually. I used the big rubber band type clamp method that a friend suggested. Worked excellent, and available at a lot of local hardware stores.

Here's pics. Hope that helps. Worst case is you screw up, but you need a new neck anyway.

View attachment 4946623 View attachment 4946624 View attachment 4946625 View attachment 4946626 View attachment 4946627 View attachment 4946628 View attachment 4946630

 

[adamaarts]

Yea I couldn’t find any necks either. Even Warmoth doesn’t make ones that fit.

This is quite a deal actually, considering a neck would likely be more than that even if I could find one

I did a search for Ray5HH necks, no luck but I did come across this 20% off sale…
View attachment 4946865
Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray5HH Limited-Edition 5-String Bass

 

[funkinbottom]

As much as I’d fear doing that, since it’s already broken I might actually have a go at this. I’m pretty handy with non guitar related woodworking, and even did a kit bass a while back which I had to install frets as well.

defintely will be watching a lot of videos on this!

Alright, now we're talkin'. That's how I felt too. But once I checked out some vids, read a few posts here in Luthiers corner and asked a few questions, I was actually more excited than nervous about doing the repairs myself.
Sounds like you have some skills in woodworking. That and keeping an eye on detail,move slowly.... you got this no sweat..

 

[Emanuel]

All good to know, I going to start with the add washer tactic.
I have actually been thinking about trading out the fretboard on another bass to make it fretless sans lines/dots/side markings where “fretted”. Great full for the info