Squire Fretless Jazz Bass Truss Rod Issue

[Stephen Vite]

Hello all, I recently acquired a Squire Jazz Bass and I noticed the action was quite high. I tried adjusting the neck relief via the truss rod and action via the bridge saddles but I noticed that adjusting the truss rod had seemingly no discernible effect. I can lower the action at the bridge but this results in horrid buzzing. When I adjust the truss rod, the Allen wrench spins the nut of the truss rod, but there isn't any effect at all on the neck relief. I even removed the neck, tried loosening it, tightening it, everything all for the neck relief to remain unchanged, with the action being incredibly high. I also tried tightening it but noticed that it does not max out. Is it safe to say this truss rod is broken or is it just the nut? I'm pretty lost on this so please excuse my ineptitude on this matter.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Does the truss rod nut ever tighten up? Can you remove the nut and inspect the threads?

 

[sissy kathy]

The truss rod hex nut socket is likely striped. Get a torx bit that doesn't quite fit and with the neck still off the body tap the torx bit into the socket. the nut should then turn off. But there may be a collar inside the nut recess that needs to come out first. Some have had luck just turning the nut and it sometimes pushes the sleeve out enough that you can grab it with pliers and remove it. Then install a new truss rod nut. In future DO NOT adjust the truss rod unless the hex wrench is fully seated in the socket; also keep the wrench in as straight a line with the nut as possible.

If you are sure the nut is turning, then likely the rod is broken. the nut has about a 5/8~3/4 inch of threads inside so if something is gonna give it will be the solid rod not the threads.