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Truss Rod Troubles.

Paul DeStefano

Paul DeStefano

Oct 15, 2014
12
1
New Jersey
Disclosures
Bass Musician Magazine
#1
Hey guys, not sure if I'm posting in the right place or not, but I'm gonna go ahead anyway.

So I just recently found a Squire Pro tone P bass, the 5 string model, I really was looking forward to taking the bass home with me until I went to go adjust the neck. The rod keeps spinning with no friction and doesn't engage at all. So the question I have is, what to do with the rod? I've encountered messed up rods before but never one like this. I have the bass on layaway, so I don't have to take it home. Should I leave it and make it someone else's problem or is there an easy fix for a disengaged truss rod?

Thanks
 
#2
Do you know if it is a double action truss rod? I did some googling but couldn’t find anything. If it’s a single action truss rod there is a chance to repair it without completely replacing the rod. It’s likely, however, that it’s a double action truss rod and the fretboard would have to be removed or milled off to replace the rod. That repair would most likely exceed the cost of the bass or a new neck.
 
#3
Because it's on layaway, and you don't have to take it home yet, there's no way to know if it's a stripped truss rod nut, or if it's the rod itself (unless you can mess with it and see if the truss rod nut backs off completely, but even then, a new truss rod nut might not fix the issue). For that reason, I would let it be someone else's problem. Because it's a Squier, I can safely say it's a single action truss rod. For that reason, I'd let it go. If it's a worst case scenario, the repair would far exceed the cost of the bass. It's not worth that risk.
 
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#5
Lownote38 said:
Because it's on layaway, and you don't have to take it home yet, there's no way to know if it's a stripped truss rod nut, or if it's the rod itself (unless you can mess with it and see if the truss rod nut backs off completely, but even then, a new truss rod nut might not fix the issue). For that reason, I would let it be someone else's problem. Because it's a Squier, I can safely say it's a single action truss rod. For that reason, I'd let it go. If it's a worst case scenario, the repair would far exceed the cost of the bass. It's not worth that risk.
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I did get to mess with the rod itself, the nut isn't stripped, although I do have another bass with a stripped nut. The rod just spins and isn't engaging.
 
#7
Paul DeStefano said:
I did get to mess with the rod itself, the nut isn't stripped, although I do have another bass with a stripped nut. The rod just spins and isn't engaging.
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If the threads inside the truss rod nut are stripped, it will feel like the truss rod is just spinning around, but it's the nut that's spinning around. If you can back the nut all the way off, then it's probably not the rod as the rod would just spin, and the nut would never come off as a result.
Regardless, I would run away.
 
#10
Lownote38 said:
Can you have your setup guy there check it out?
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Yeah, I was going to have him take a look at it either way. The other thing I was going to mention is I can probably snag it for sub 200 bucks given the fact that I work there and can talk to the people who set the used gear prices. At that point would it be worth it to look into a replacement neck? the bass is rare and I actually really like the way it sounds, just plays like crap.
 
#11
Those have a single action single rod truss rod, and so the nut will only engage when tightened. If you are loosening it, it will eventually just spin. If you are tightening it and it's not engaging, then check that you have the right size hex key and that it's not just spinning inside the nut. If it's the right size key and when you are tightening the nut it just continues to spin, then the TR is likely broken inside, or the nut has come off the end of the TR. :)
 
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#12
Paul DeStefano said:
Yeah, I was going to have him take a look at it either way. The other thing I was going to mention is I can probably snag it for sub 200 bucks given the fact that I work there and can talk to the people who set the used gear prices. At that point would it be worth it to look into a replacement neck? the bass is rare and I actually really like the way it sounds, just plays like crap.
Click to expand...

I personally wouldn't buy a new neck for it, because the neck would cost more than twice what the instrument is worth. If the neck is bad on it, I wouldn't pay more than $100 for the loaded body.
 
#13
QUOTE="Paul DeStefano, post: 26463500, member: 268758"]I would, except these basses are extremely rare. They were only in production for a year. The one that I snagged seems to be the only one for sale at the moment.[/QUOTE]
Paul DeStefano said:
I would, except these basses are extremely rare. They were only in production for a year. The one that I snagged seems to be the only one for sale at the moment.
Click to expand...

I feel like my answer still stands. Lol just being honest
 
#14
Don't forget that the neck can be repaired, putting in a new truss rod. It'll cost about $500, which is more than a replacement neck for a common Fender. But this is a rare neck, and you may not even be able to find a replacement. Having the existing neck repaired is an option. How much are you willing to spend for this rare bass?
 
#16
Bruce Johnson said:
Don't forget that the neck can be repaired, putting in a new truss rod. It'll cost about $500, which is more than a replacement neck for a common Fender. But this is a rare neck, and you may not even be able to find a replacement. Having the existing neck repaired is an option. How much are you willing to spend for this rare bass?
Click to expand...
Well, I still have to work it out with my higher-ups at Guitar centery, but less than 200 bucks for the loaded body for sure. I found a sick warmoth neck for like 300 with Hipshot tuners included, I might look into that.
 

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