1992 SR4 neck flex problem

[Eugene Hatstand]

Hi folks, I recently purchased a beautiful 1992 stingray and was well pleased with it until a few days after purchase I took it out of its case to find the action so high you could have driven under the strings. I adjusted the truss rod and it sat back nice and low like it was before. Few days later it became high again so again I adjusted it. It sat stable for two weeks until yesterday when suddenly in the space of 12 hours it has tensioned itself so the strings are flat against the frets! If you push the neck even slightly it flexes very very easily.

The bass is cased in a room which is maintained at a constant 18 degrees, none of my other basses have ever needed such constant adjustment, and that includes another stingray. It has a birds eye maple neck and a friend suggested that these necks do flex much more easily. Can anyone suggest anything here or do I just need to live with this? I'm not sure I can be bothered with the constant attention it needs.

 

[steevo]

Sounds like you've brought a bass with a dodgy neck. Are there any signs its taken a knock at all?

 

[bluesberry jam]

PM sent.

 

[Eugene Hatstand]

No evidence of damage at all but it is very grubby which leads me to wonder if it has been taken care of. The body is pretty much immaculate however. Who knows. Very strange.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Is the humidity maintained at a constant level in that room? you may want to clean and re-oil the neck with some tru-oil to see if you can get it less sensitive to changes in moisture.

have you checked the neck plate bolts to make sure they are all tight? Not SUPER tight, just tight.

Also, pretty much any guitar neck, if you press on it, will flex, especially longer necks on electric basses. If you've ever heard Randy Rhoads on Blizzard of Oz, he played that on a Les Paul Custom, no tremolo. All of those "detune" sounds are him pushing on the back of the neck.

 

[laneline]

As far as the neck pocket I find these types of inserts worked great on a couple of guitars I had. THREADED STEEL GUITAR NECK INSERTS FOR TELE STRAT BEST PRICE ON LUTHIER KIT used, new for sale - www.acefest.com

 

[Soulkeeper]

Also, pretty much any guitar neck, if you press on it, will flex, especially longer necks on electric basses.

After I got myself a pretty accurate electronic tuner, I've had to keep the bass in the same position every time I tune (no leaning backward or forward on the chair while tuning). If I forget to keep it straight, gravity pulls on the strings/neck, and I can easily fool myself into believing the neck has warped. Not saying that's your problem, just that it was mine once.

 

[Eugene Hatstand]

Hmm. I'm aware that all necks do flex, it's just that in twenty years of playing I've never had one that was quite this bouncy! Indeed I can tilt it forward and gravity pulls it away so the action is visibly higher, equally if I lie it on its back the strings sit closer to the frets. Whilst hanging round my neck it plays awesome, it's just I've never known anything like this and it bothers me. Bummer.

 

[Eugene Hatstand]

Neck bolts feel right to me, no variation in humidity. It's my sons bedroom and my wife is incredibly fussy so the temperature and humidity in there are almost clinically stable.

 

[liverbird]

It being a 1992, I assume the neck has the lacquer finish?

 

[bovinehost]

PM sent from Customer Service, so the internet diagnosis can take a break.

Will re-open if necessary.