Truss rod issues with brand new bass

[Hugh9191]

Hi

I've just taken delivery of a brand new vintage fretless icon bass. I'd been very happy with it until I decided to tighten the truss rod a bit.

The bass came supplied with a key but I have been unable to get a grip on it to tighten it. I've done many truss adjustments in the past so I'm not a stranger to it.

Any suggestions to try before I send it back?


Thanks

Hugh

 

[Zooberwerx]

Before I answer, is there any way you can post a pic? From your description, the truss rod nut socket is stripped (rounded out) which I find difficult to grasp as this is a new instrument.

Riis

 

[Hugh9191]

Here's a pic of the truss, reckon it's stripped?

 

[BioWeapon]

That looks pretty awful...

 

[Zooberwerx]

Here's a pic of the truss, reckon it's stripped?

What the heck kinda bass is that?!? Yeah, it's shot.

Riis

 

[MoreBeer]

Ouch! Someone chewed on that sucker.

 

[Hugh9191]

Ha, ok. Well that's confirmed my suspicions.

Its annoying though because I did wait 2 months for it to arrive. I'm just glad I decided to adjust it slightly. If I didn't spot that now it would have been awful down the line.

 

[pedroims]

Hard to believe this bass came out of the factory like that. Anyway, the nut is completely stripped out.

 

[Hugh9191]

Yeah, I wonder if they broke it attempting a setup before sending it out. It is weird though.

 

[Bongolation]

Yeah, I wonder if they broke it attempting a setup before sending it out.

Using power drivers in factory setup is a huge source of damage anywhere on the instruments.

I could tell you stories, after working on this junk for over forty years..

You people have to understand that makers simply do not care about anything but producing units ASAP at the cost of quality, and that goes for the makers of ALL production instruments.

If it saves X seconds in the production routine, they'll do it, even if it's grossly wrong and/or tends to cause QC problems, because most buyers won't notice, at least until it's too late. If they get a few comebacks, that's OK, it's all figured into the cost/benefit ratio determining their methods on the shop floor.

Manufacturers are not interested in building the best instruments they can, but the worst instruments they can get away with.

 

[Hugh9191]

Sent it back and unfortunately the replacement arrived missing the string retainer, no hole drilled for it or anything.

I've had a refund for it now and have ordered something different. It's a shame because both were nice basses apart from their faults. Neck was nice, finish nice, sound excellent but I could never recommend them due to the faults I've experienced.

The retailer I bought it from were, thankfully, very good in dealing with the issues.

 

[smcd]

This is a £300+ bass?? Yikes!

 

[awilkie84]

This is a £300+ bass?? Yikes!

Dude. This kind of thing happens on $1600+ basses. -_- It's more likely to occur on cheaper models, so it's not really THAT astounding.

 

[Hugh9191]

It was a £225 bass.

I don't know if I was unlucky getting 2 lemons of if this is a common issue with these instruments. It is a shame though because they were both nice apart from their flaws.