Truss Rod Issues

[Willstonez]

So I recently purchased an 1993 Ibanez Soundgear 1300 and when I was tightening the truss rod, it didn't look like it was doing much past the fifth fret. Could it be broken, or is this normal? Also, if I apply a little bit of pressure on the side of the neck when I'm in position for playing, it will occasionally creak...is that a bad sign? I have only a few days to return this bass if there are these issues!

Thank you!

 

[Willstonez]

Help bump?

 

[ibateur]

Truss rods don't immediately straighten a neck. Give the wood time to adjust to the pressure. To be honest adjustments should never be done in extremes.

 

[gbarcus]

I had an old bass that creaked a bit when making adjustments to the tr. It was never a problem, but I never did more than 1/4 turn at a time with the strings loosened.
How much have you had to tighten the tr nut so far?

 

[fuNKmaster83]

with old basses and all guitars and basses in general its like this that you should not expect the truss rod to do any good with just the bolt on there...
i always put counter string pressure on the neck then tighten the truss rod... if needed i loosen it afterwords... so you help the truss rod work with this simple method...

 

[Ric5]

keep your basses and guitars in a room with a humidifier. Keep the humidity above 30%

35% to 50% is optimal.

Wood shrinks when it gets dry. This can cause a bowed neck.

 

[Growly Lytes]

The creak is a sign that the Truss Rod is too tight.The thing fuNKmaster83 said about having tension to help the Truss Rod move is a great idea but ive been told to not do it with the strings at tension but to help the neck & truss rod by carefully applying pressure to the neck in the direction you want the truss rod to go.
Believe me " i had this problem of the Truss Rod creaking & it really worried me till i read about this method on TB & the internet.Doing this it felt so easy to turn compared to before it felt super tight & it didnt creak 'At All' now.