Well I guess I really screwed up this time - truss rod content and a question or two

So a few weeks ago I got a really great 1982 Greco PMB-800 - neck through. The truss rod was maxed out and the board still had a little bit too much relief. I should have left it alone though - it was pretty playable - but I was going to try the washer trick so I backed the nut off. (Even though it's a Ric copy it has a single truss rod.)

Well, I put the nut back on sans washer (I realized after the fact that I didn't have one) and I don't know how it happened but I tighten the nut down and the relief is nowhere near where it was. So I think maybe I threaded the thing on wrong, and I try to unscrew it... and here's where it gets real bad... the nut isn't coming off and I can feel the entire rod (or at least part of it, if I snapped it) rotating around. I can't get it tightened and I can't take it off. I removed the bass nut (the slotted string holder nut I mean) to see if I could get more grip to back the truss nut out but to no avail. I didn't hear any wood cracking or splintering or anything like that so hopefully the inside structure of the neck is sound - I just think the truss rod snapped or became unmoored or something.

This is seriously bumming me out. The bass isn't worth a ton, maybe about $800, but it sounded great and felt awesome. It had a little bit of buzz I was trying to dial out, but as I said I should have left well enough alone as it's now unplayable.

My questions are - does this sound like it can be fixed, given that the bass is neck-through?

If it can be fixed, who's the best person in the CONUS that I could send it off to? I am in the NYC metro area but have not found anyone around here I would truss (get it?) with this job. I know the bass isn't super valuable but unless it's ridiculously expensive I'd like to have it fixed (along with a good setup and fret level). Thanks in advance for any tips or tricks.

 

$400 would be expensive but still worth doing IMO. I really like the bass. I'd say once it hits $500 or more we'd be getting into the "not worth it" range.

 

Update - I was able to get the adjustment nut off. It seems like the entire rod was turning within the channel - is that possible? Shouldn't the other end of the rod be anchored somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice, even if it's just a rec on where to send it. (Don't say dumpster)

 

It does not appear so, no.

Bummer. Thanks for the info.

Anybody have a good reco on who'd be well suited to evaluate? NYC area would be great but I can ship too.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Thanks! I dropped it off there on Saturday. Chris is quite a character but based on some of the other work in his shop I felt good leaving it with him. The fretboard will indeed need to be removed. I told him to go for it. In for a penny, in for a pound I suppose.