How do you determine when your trussrod needs a tweak?

[adouglas]

In the interest of getting back to discussions about musical instruments (what a concept!), here's a conversation-starter:

How to all of you determine when your trussrod needs a tweak?

Do you physically measure the string height and relief from time to time?

Do you "wing it" and go by feel?

I've gotten to the point where I don't need any measuring tools. I know by feel when it needs a tweak, and I measure by eye. This is only possible because the capstan wheel makes it so easy to adjust.

(Specifically, with the bass in playing positon, hanging from the strap, I put the middle finger of my left hand down on the 12th fret, under the B string [so that my finger serves as a backdrop to the height of the B string] and look down on it from above. I know what the right string height looks like based on that.)

So...what do you all do?

 

[MingusBASS]

I just wing it.

 

[Randracula]

I just know what feels right to me by now. If it feels like there's too much relief I tighten it a little bit.

 

[ibanez2005]

Feel mainly, sometimes if you're gettin' buzzing across a certain section of the neck then this is a sign. If you cant get the action low too.

 

[midopa]

Buzzing would be a good sign I guess, given weather changes and wot not. If the action starts feeling too high or too low, I turn the truss rod whichever ways to make it right again. I bleeb pressing down on the 3rd and 15th frets and looking at the relief at around the 8thish fretish shouldish beish radish a good way to measure?

 

[fly]

had a buzz on my 5th to 7th frets on the E..........


tweaked it.

good as new.

 

[KennethB]

I wing it too. I play with what would be characterized as "medium action". It's low enough to slap and high enough for a wide dynamic range when playing fingerstyle. They are extremely stable though, the EBMM necks. I rarely have to do any adjustments at all. And I do some crazy stuff too, like bending the neck for "whammy-bar effects" and vibrola.

 

[slucas]

I practially NEVER touch mine apart from initial adjustment at time of delivery. No need to, I keep them out of extreme temperatures at all times and monitor/control the humidity in the 2 rooms they are stored in (always in their cases). A little preventive maintanence goes a long way for me. I am divorced and don't have any kids, I treat all my gear like I did though.

 

[AnthonyD]

It's very rare... Usually brought on by a buzz...

 

[spencer]

buzz in the high frets adjust bridge
buzz in the low frets adjust truss

 

[jongitarz]

Um....No. If there is a buzz above the 12th fret, less relief and raise the saddles. If there is a buzz in the lower fretr area, you want more relief.

 

[roburado]

Um....No. If there is a buzz above the 12th fret, less relief and raise the saddles. If there is a buzz in the lower fretr area, you want more relief.

Does "more relief" mean more curve to the neck (headstock bending toward the top)? Does "less relief" mean straighter (going more in the direction of the back)?

 

[Randracula]

Does "more relief" mean more curve to the neck (headstock bending toward the top)? Does "less relief" mean straighter (going more in the direction of the back)?

Yes

 

[ibanez2005]

Ive found its best for tone and sustain for the action to be a little higher anyway.
It gives more consistency across the neck.

 

[Figjam]

I check my relief just by pressing the string down at the first fret and the fret where the neck meets the body. Its a quick and easy way to see if I need an adjustment.

 

[brooklynfall]

I check my relief just by pressing the string down at the first fret and the fret where the neck meets the body. Its a quick and easy way to see if I need an adjustment.

Basically what I do. The way I was taught was, while the bass is in playing position, hold down the first fret with the left hand and the 12th fret with the thumb on the right hand. Now, while you're in that awkward position, without moving your right thumb press down with your right index finger at the 7th fret. On my SR, if there's any give at all (space between the string and the fret), I need to take out relief. That's just because I love low action - it's personal to everyone.

Usually I do this on the A string, by the way.

 

[PocketGroove82]

Going by feel is not "winging it".
If you've been playing bass for more than a minute, your fingers are gonna tell you went you need some new strings,
and your fingers are gonna tell you when you need an adjustment.

If you are new to the instrument and have no clue if your 3inch high action is normal, then you might wanna get a professional setup and worry about measurements and such.

sry if i sound like an @$$! but 'tis true

 

[strummer]

Going by feel is not "winging it".
If you've been playing bass for more than a minute, your fingers are gonna tell you went you need some new strings,
and your fingers are gonna tell you when you need an adjustment.

True
However, setting relief and string height without measuring isn't a very consistent (or fast) way of doing it, not even when it's your own bass. I help my friends out, keeping their favourite settings in a list, and by using measurements it's real quick.
I also measure on my own basses, simply because it is a lot quicker.

 

[AnthonyD]

Measuring is for setting up someone else instrument for them...

Feel is for setting-up my own...

 

[jongitarz]

Yeah, but if you measure after you do your setup, you always have a reference point.