What would you do if your truss rod was maxed??

[Hevy T]

Would you

1. keep it and do the washer trick
2. sell it and do the washer trick
3. other!!

please explain your choice.

I just went to adjust my MIM Geddy and low and behold the truss rod is maxed and the action is pretty high. I am going to put a washer on the nut to lower the action and get some more adjustment. What should my next move be?

 

[DigitalMan]

Action notwithstanding, how is the relief?

 

[Hevy T]

Action notwithstanding, how is the relief?

The one on the leftInvalid Link Removed

 

[DigitalMan]

The one on the leftInvalid Link Removed

You could do extreme finger strengthening excercises???

 

[Fielding]

I had a tele that the truss rod was as tight as it would get and there was still a big gap at the 8th fret. I had to shim the neck at the heel end of the pocket, and then I was able to get the proper amount of neck relief.

 

[Hevy T]

I also just noticed that the finish is cracked on the back of the neck between the 5th and 7th frets on the skunk stripe!! I am not a happy camper at this point. I am just happy that I am mostly playing 5 string these days, however I still love my Geddy

 

[MovingPitchers]

I had this problem too with my Mendel neck. I just shimmed it at the front part of the neck joint so it tilts upwards a little. The action is still sort of high, but it's low enough that I won't have to press down hard when fretting my notes.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Give up, roll over, and die.

 

[Hevy T]

Give up, roll over, and die.

Thats how I feel.lol. I had the same happen to another Geddy neck, a mim jazz, mim jazz 5 string and an Ibanez SR 305E.

I am thinking about going all Ibanez because I love ultra thin neck and the harder woods they use in their necks. I thought about getting an old SR505, refinishing it and throwing jazz pickups in it so I can still have my beloved jazz tone but on a bass that is more suited to my personal specs. Am I nuts??

 

[Mind Eroded]

I had this problem too with my Mendel neck. I just shimmed it at the front part of the neck joint so it tilts upwards a little. The action is still sort of high, but it's low enough that I won't have to press down hard when fretting my notes.

Damn, did you buy it new? I bought mine new last sept and already had to take the neck off to tighten the rod in order to correct neck bow a couple of times w the change of seasons, etc. It's good for now but I hope I don't run into similar issues in the future.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Damn, did you buy it new? I bought mine new last sept and already had to take the neck off to tighten the rod in order to correct neck bow a couple of times w the change of seasons, etc. It's good for now but I hope I don't run into similar issues in the future.

Naw. Bought it off TalkBass Classifieds. What's done is done so I do the best I can with what I have.

I hate the cross-shaped truss rod washers and especially the ones at the heel of necks. Such a P.I.T.A to deal with. The last bass without that was my old MIM P that was rock solid and outplayed any American Fender I tried out.

Sadly, it's gone now.

 

[stacker]

Washer trick. Shimming could help but would more than likely cause choking if the neck still has some up bow.

 

[Mind Eroded]

Naw. Bought it off TalkBass Classifieds. What's done is done so I do the best I can with what I have.

I hate the cross-shaped truss rod washers and especially the ones at the heel of necks. Such a P.I.T.A to deal with. The last bass without that was my old MIM P that was rock solid and outplayed any American Fender I tried out.

Sadly, it's gone now.

Same here, the neck on my '03 MIM jazz is stable and the way the action is set up now feels lower than ever, in 13ish years of owning it. Neck is also still straight as an arrow.

 

[Hevy T]

Washer trick. Shimming could help but would more than likely cause choking if the neck still has some up bow.

Did the washer trick. Helped a bit, however I agree with MovingPictures. Those Geddy Lee necks while beautiful to play are a PITA to deal with. Since I am playing mostly 5vers now I will either try and find a Jazz 5ver with a slim neck, or grab an old SR 505, refinish it and throw jazz bass pickups in it. Lots of work though. I would rather just get a 5 string Jazz Deluxe and call it a night!

 

[MovingPitchers]

Did the washer trick. Helped a bit, however I agree with MovingPictures. Those Geddy Lee necks while beautiful to play are a PITA to deal with. Since I am playing mostly 5vers now I will either try and find a Jazz 5ver with a slim neck, or grab an old SR 505, refinish it and throw jazz bass pickups in it. Lots of work though. I would rather just get a 5 string Jazz Deluxe and call it a night!

I wasn't just talking about the geddy lee necks. I was talking about all Fender basses with those truss rod adjusting mechanisms. Even the American ones with the Allens wrench washer are annoying to deal with.

 

[Hevy T]

I wasn't just talking about the geddy lee necks. I was talking about all Fender basses with those truss rod adjusting mechanisms. Even the American ones with the Allens wrench washer are annoying to deal with.

I hear ya, and agree. The only heel truss rod adjustment I have ever liked is the MusicMan styled one with the wheel. I guess Fender is actually starting to do that

 

[Lowness]

Buy a new neck - it will be as good as that one.

 

[gip111]

Is maxed out bottomed out or just tight?
Sometimes you can force the neck back to loosen the truss rod and you can turn another little bit as you apply force to the neck.

 

[Mechayoshi]

I'm not sure how shimming will that much help when relief affects action in the MIDDLE. Time for a new neck?

 

[charlie monroe]

If you use a washer and continue to reef on the nut, won't you blow the rest of the skunk stripe out?

I think this neck needs pro help or the fire wood pile.