Which way to adjust truss rod?

[iCONICA]

Hi,

I've a Tobias Toby Pro 4, and it's hung vertically, (quite like me on a peg on the wall.

Over time it's caused more and more fret buss across all the frets.

Which way do I adjust the truss rod to raise the action slightly? I'd rather know than get it wrong and stress the neck.

Thanks, chaps.

 

[Rocky McDougall]

I admire your desire to learn. You are speaking on setting the relief. Setting the relief is only part of doing a proper serup. Maybe a simple truss rod adjustment is all your bass needs but you need to know the complete setup procedure. There are sticky notes on our site that lead you to professional instruction on setups. Take the time to learn before you just start turning the truss rod nut. It is a simple thing to do, but can be the only dangerous part of a setup. If you break the rod or strip the nut you have a major problem. The nut should never be adjusted with the string tension on it. You can loosen the strings and adjust the nut, but first, measure the amount relief you have and how that fits into the setup measurements. Read the instructions, several times and learn the procedure. Every bass player should be able to do his own setups properly. Do not adjust the truss rod until you understand it's function and the effect it has on the neck.
Rocky

 

[throughthefire]

I can't give you a definitive 'left' or 'right', but here's a way to tell - *if* you can access the truss rod with the strings on.

Connect the bass to a tuner, and make sure it's in tune. Turn the truss rod nut (about 1/4 turn is enough). Check tuning again (on any string). If the string is flat, you've moved the neck forward; if it goes sharp, you've moved the neck backwards. You want the strings to go flat; tune them back up, and see if the buzzing has gone. If not, repeat..

 

[SamanthaCay]

I admire your desire to learn. You are speaking on setting the relief. Setting the relief is only part of doing a proper serup. Maybe a simple truss rod adjustment is all your bass needs but you need to know the complete setup procedure. There are sticky notes on our site that lead you to professional instruction on setups. Take the time to learn before you just start turning the truss rod nut. It is a simple thing to do, but can be the only dangerous part of a setup. If you break the rod or strip the nut you have a major problem. The nut should never be adjusted with the string tension on it. You can loosen the strings and adjust the nut, but first, measure the amount relief you have and how that fits into the setup measurements. Read the instructions, several times and learn the procedure. Every bass player should be able to do his own setups properly. Do not adjust the truss rod until you understand it's function and the effect it has on the neck.
Rocky

For the most part that's pretty good advise but you still didn't give the simple answer to the op's question.

On most all basses a turn to the right will tighten the rod and a turn to the left will loosen it if you need more relief as the strings are so low that they are buzzing you want to loosen the rod.

A good place to start is in small increments, say like a quarter turn, did that make a difference?
If not give it another quarter turn.
Do this while re tuning each time until it is right and you should be fine if it ever feels to tight take it to a good tech/luthier just to be safe.

And as far as the “you should always loosen your strings” comment, no you don't
If you are adding relief by loosening the rod you definitely don't need to
if you are tightening the rod this can in some cases be helpful and as well in some cases be nessesairy but not always.

 

[Mousekillaz]

there are some very good tutorials on Youtube about this. that explain and show how to do a proper setup by a skilled luthier and bass tech. Here's the
LINK

 

[GM60466]

Pay someone to do it right. You won't be sorry.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Jeez, seemed like a simple enough question to me.

Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Tightening the rod will reduce forward bow ( relief).

 

[iCONICA]

Jeez, seemed like a simple enough question to me.

Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Tightening the rod will reduce forward bow ( relief).

I know which way all threads work... I didn't know which way tightening or loosening the nut would bend the neck.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to get a price for a full professional setup, and if it's reasonable, I'll do that, if it's too much, I'll watch the vid again and do it myself.

Thanks.