How To Adjust Bass Neck - Help

[Laurier Tiernan]

Hello Folks,

I recently purchased a Stingray used and didn't notice the neck was warped because I was in a bit of a hurry and it was a steal in terms of the price.

It's warped in the sense that there is about a centimeter (1/3") of space between the twelfth fret and the E string, whereas it's "perfect" on the first fret.

If I read right, I guess I should just add relief by turning the trust rod wheel counter clockwise but I'm really not sure how far I trust myself to fix it.

What would you suggest I do?

Thank you for reading this post.

May you have a great day.

All Good Things to You,




Laurier Tiernan

[strummer]

Hello Folks,

I recently purchased a Stingray used and didn't notice the neck was warped because I was in a bit of a hurry and it was a steal in terms of the price.

It's warped in the sense that there is about a centimeter (1/3") of space between the twelfth fret and the E string, whereas it's "perfect" on the first fret.

If I read right, I guess I should just add relief by turning the trust rod wheel counter clockwise but I'm really not sure how far I trust myself to fix it.

What would you suggest I do?

Thank you for reading this post.

May you have a great day.

All Good Things to You,




Laurier Tiernan

Since you don't seem too sure about what to do (you should take away relief, not add it) I suggest taking it back to the store and have them fix it. In case you bought it privately, do a search here and you'll find out how to in no time

[MrMusashi]

internet diagnostics is a difficult and dangerous sport.. we all tend to do it from time to time but id recommend getting someone experienced to look at it.

if you want to adjust the truss rod yourself this video explains it in better detail:
Truss Rod Adjustment - YouTube

my prefered distance between the string and fret (when doing the procedure from the video above) is about the thickness of a businesscard. you might like it higher if you dig in on the strings and perhaps even lower if you have a light touch.

the nice thing about eb is that adjusting the trussrod is so easy! experimenting and finding out what you like is a breeze!
esp compared to say a 60'ies reissue instrument where you have to take the neck off the body, adjust, assemble, tune and then judge the results.

ps: dont use cheap tools to adjust with. cheap allenwrenches or screwdrivers might break and scratch up your prescious!

pps: if you are unsure (even just a little bit) get someone qualified to look at it. call the japanese distributor and ask if they have a dealer with a good tech near you. or call eb customer service. whats better than getting help straight from the source?

[DrKev]

Have a look here too...

Music Man Basses

[projectapollo]

Your symptoms don't sound like a warped neck. Just in need of setup. To me warped would be if the neck had a twist in it or concave U shape that was permanent, couldnt change shape with adjustments of the truss rod.

[Movielife]

Yep, its just an action issue Im guessing. For some, that isnt an issue. I have my action fairly medium Im guessing. I don't like it too low as I like to really dig in with my fingers on some tracks.

[JayDawg]

If you do decide to adjust the trussrod wheel on your own, don't do major turns at once. Just do a little at a time and as it adjusts and then settles, then repeat the process until you get it adjusted to where you like it.

[Laurier Tiernan]

Thank you for all your help, guys.

I actually ended up calling the Japanese distributor (as Mr.Musashi suggested) and they suggested a technician at a shop a few subway stations away from my house. The guy was super nice, adjusted my truss rod a bit, adjusted my bridge a bit, and then concluded that it was mostly the nut groove for my E that was too worn down. He then filled it up with a bit of dentistry stuff and suggested that I have the nut replaced if I have the problem again. I'm glad that I took it to a professional because he set my intonation and everything, which is something that I don't have the patience to do at this point. I'd rather have a professional who's endorsed by EB do it for me.

Thank you once again for all your suggestions.

[nurnay]

Thank you for all your help, guys.

I actually ended up calling the Japanese distributor (as Mr.Musashi suggested) and they suggested a technician at a shop a few subway stations away from my house. The guy was super nice, adjusted my truss rod a bit, adjusted my bridge a bit, and then concluded that it was mostly the nut groove for my E that was too worn down. He then filled it up with a bit of dentistry stuff and suggested that I have the nut replaced if I have the problem again. I'm glad that I took it to a professional because he set my intonation and everything, which is something that I don't have the patience to do at this point. I'd rather have a professional who's endorsed by EB do it for me.

Thank you once again for all your suggestions.

Good call going to a pro. Sounds like you'll be a happy EBMM owner!