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Tips for setting up a dual truss rod neck?

gimmeagig

gimmeagig

Feb 25, 2004
2,891
1,198
Coeur D'Alene,Idaho
#1
Hi,
I just got my first six string bass. I'm pretty good at setting up basses but this one has a dual truss rod with a 2 octave neck. The neck is not super wide (16.5mmm string spacing.)
I'm sort of tapping in the dark as far as how to set it up. Currently I have the treble side cranked a bit more than the low string side. I figure that the high strings don't vibrate out as far as the low ones..
The low string side is fairly loose.When I tighten it I seem to get string buzz below the 5th fret pretty quickly.
Can you guys give me some pointers for setting up a dual truss rod system?
 
#2
"When I tighten the low rod where I have more relief I seem to get string buzz below the 5th fret very quickly."

When you tighten the rod, you will remove neck relief or flatten the neck. This would result in increased buzz potentially.

The amount of relief you choose is a very personal decision and everyone has the perfect setup for themselves. However, within reason giving yourself a little more relief will let you lower action more without getting buzz. This could even be as high as 1mm in some setup guides. I would suggest experimenting until you like the setup, and then keeping those measurements so you can quickly setup any bass.

Regarding a double truss rod neck:
Outside of stripping the truss rod with an ill-fitting adjustment tool you will be unlikely to break anything. You should be able to turn one or both as tight as need be. The point is to be able to semi-independently adjust each side of the neck.

The E string may need more relief than the D string as you described to allow the optimal action to be set at the nut and bridge. I would not worry that one is more turns than the other. You should probably measure relief on each side of the fretboard. If the D needs more relief, loosen it. If the E needs more relief tighten it. If you get buzz, make sure the frets are level. If so, then either add more action or more relief.

Again, there is no standard setup. What works for me may be terrible for you. I have bought basses that were setup professionally, but were unplayable with the setup.
 
#3
James Collins said:
"When I tighten the low rod where I have more relief I seem to get string buzz below the 5th fret very quickly."

When you tighten the rod, you will remove neck relief or flatten the neck. This would result in increased buzz potentially.

The amount of relief you choose is a very personal decision and everyone has the perfect setup for themselves. However, within reason giving yourself a little more relief will let you lower action more without getting buzz. This could even be as high as 1mm in some setup guides. I would suggest experimenting until you like the setup, and then keeping those measurements so you can quickly setup any bass.

Regarding a double truss rod neck:
Outside of stripping the truss rod with an ill-fitting adjustment tool you will be unlikely to break anything. You should be able to turn one or both as tight as need be. The point is to be able to semi-independently adjust each side of the neck.

The E string may need more relief than the D string as you described to allow the optimal action to be set at the nut and bridge. I would not worry that one is more turns than the other. You should probably measure relief on each side of the fretboard. If the D needs more relief, loosen it. If the E needs more relief tighten it. If you get buzz, make sure the frets are level. If so, then either add more action or more relief.

Again, there is no standard setup. What works for me may be terrible for you. I have bought basses that were setup professionally, but were unplayable with the setup.
Click to expand...
So it is not unusual or wrong to have the treble side pretty tight and the low string side fairly loose? If that is the case I might just leave the neck alone, because the bass plays well as it is. I just was worried that over time I might warp the neck if both rods have a different tension.
 
#4
Not unusual for the treble side truss rod to be set differently to the bass side - the demands placed on each side of the neck will be somewhat different, especially with extended range basses. I'm certainly no setup wizard but my only meaningful advice would be to make micro adjustments and take it real slow. The dual rods give you a greater degree of fine control over the neck so take advantage of that.
 
#6
I think you are fine to leave it how it is. It may need adjusted over time... Or not.

The amount of tightness in the truss rod is holding the neck how it is. I would suggest adjusting the two truss rods as needed to hold the neck how you want it as opposed to setting the truss rod to an arbitrary tightness.
 
#8
A few decades ago it was common practice to set the truss rods for different amounts of relief for the bass and treble sides of the neck. Over the years techs began to notice that some necks would develop a twist. Some were minor. Others were not.

The practice today is set the rods so that the relief is the same on both sides of the neck.
 
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#9
202dy said:
A few decades ago it was common practice to set the truss rods for different amounts of relief for the bass and treble sides of the neck. Over the years techs began to notice that some necks would develop a twist. Some were minor. Others were not.

The practice today is set the rods so that the relief is the same on both sides of the neck.
Click to expand...
That's what I was worried about..
 
#11
gimmeagig said:
That's what I was worried about..
Click to expand...
By definition of you adjust one side differently than the other you are giving the neck a twist.

Some other thoughts to consider are:

How long has the neck been in this position and stable for? If you like the setup and it has been stable for 10 years, you probably need not worry.

If the neck is not twisted with the truss rod set the way it is now, would making them match less to a twist due to the imbalance created by making them match?

Necks with single truss rods also twist. I know people blame the truss rod for causing the twist, but the wood is probably the culprit. If anything I feel like two truss rods give the ability to remove an unfavorable twist or create a favorable twist.
 

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