Bongo 4: More Relief?

[D@ninja]

Hello,

I've bought a Bongo bass and played it for a week now.
I really love this bass but I have a problem with the neck, there is not much bow in the neck.

Is this normal for Musicman ?

For the record I know how to adust the truss rod, but it is almost loosened and I can't get the bow I want. I've compare it to my Warwick Streamer and Mayones Jabba Bass.
I've practical read every thread about how to adjust a truss rod and brigde adjustments. But that's not the problem, I need more bow and I have no idea
how do this ?

Anyone who had the same problem or have the solution for me ?


Cheers,

Gerrit

(sorry for the bad English, I hope you understand)

 

[MrMusashi]

hello and welcome to the forum

i would start by talking to the dealer and if that doesnt work out id talk to the distributor in your country. ernie ball is backed by distributors all around the world and in cooperation they should be able to help you out

the internet diagnostics we can offer here are only guesses.. some more qualified than others, but without seeing the bass in "person" its impossible to give any advice that actually helps

MrM

 

[Colin]

contact your dealer and if that fails contact customer service. adjusting your neck is not for the faint of heart

 

[bovinehost]

I'm not giving you advice or in any way diagnosing your issue over the internet, but I will tell you what happened to me once.

Bought a used Bongo, put some fairly low tension strings on it and discovered that I couldn't get enough relief, even with the truss rod completely backed off.

Could I have put higher tension strings on it? Sure. But I wanted what I wanted and that wasn't going to work for me.

So, with the truss rod still loose, I tuned the bass up past normal pitch until I could see a bit of relief in the neck. Then I let it sit like that for a couple of days. Wood is organic and will move, and when I detuned the bass back to normal pitch, I had to adjust the truss rod a little bit and - voila! Problem solved.

Again, this is not advice or diagnosis because I can't see your bass from here.

Jack

 

[D@ninja]

So, with the truss rod still loose, I tuned the bass up past normal pitch until I could see a bit of relief in the neck. Then I let it sit like that for a couple of days. Wood is organic and will move, and when I detuned the bass back to normal pitch, I had to adjust the truss rod a little bit and - voila! Problem solved.

Jack

Hi Jack,

I will try this, but I have a lot basses, but it is notable for me that
the neck from the Bongo is really flat. Other brands react far more on the
Truss Rod and have more relief in the neck.

When I pull down the string on the first and 12th fret there is almost no gap at all.
(A4 paper I could barely move between the fret and string)

I've bought this bass second hand so I can't go back to a dealer.

I let you know if it works for me.

Gerrit

 

[D@ninja]

Hello,

I've talk to a luthier and I go to him with the bass.

He told me that most basses have a truss rod that works both ways and the MM works one way. Meaning when you loosen the truss the neck must turn (bow) by it's self and that could sometimes be a problem.


Gerrit

 

[D@ninja]

Hello,

Can someone confirm if it is normal when there are no strings on the bass and the truss rod is completely backed off.
The neck gives a forward bow (in the other direction, more than flat)

 

[kylierider]

I'm not sure what you are trying to do..I believe a neck with no truss rod tension on it could bow forward. After all the truss rod is what straightens out the neck. I would put a little tension on the neck and put some strings on it as soon as you can. I would not think it good to leave a neck in this state.

 

[D@ninja]

I'm not sure what you are trying to do..I believe a neck with no truss rod tension on it could bow forward. After all the truss rod is what straightens out the neck. I would put a little tension on the neck and put some strings on it as soon as you can. I would not think it good to leave a neck in this state.

There are strings on it, but we saw it when we changed the strings.

With a little tension you straightens the neck if you have a normal up bow. I'm not sure, but the neck must have
a little up bow or at least be straight when the Truss is loosed.
I have practical no relief at all even with the strings on, that's my point.
And with no strings it gives a back bow and I want to know if that is normal.

For now it's okay but what's happing in the future, there is practical no room for adjustment.

 

[maddog]

Which frets are buzzing?

 

[mfallmann]

Hello,
I was with the luthier today and he said that this is not normal.

I sure hope you haven't visited wishbass ...

 

[D@ninja]

The neck of my Bongo, with no tension on the truss rod and practical no tension on the strings. You can see the back bow........

 

[mynan]

Are you in the states?

 

[D@ninja]

Are you in the states?

No unfortunately not.

I also try to apply pressure to middle of the neck.
Sometimes the truss rod in the neck might be stuck, but that's not the case with my neck.

Gerrit