Dumbest question you will ever hear

[thecraig]

okay, so I've been playing bass for 2 years now and have owned two seperate basses, a sammick that completely sucked and a SUB 5. now I could easily adjust the truss rod on the sammick where it was accesable through the headstock, but how would I adjust the trussrod on the Sub 5 whos truss rod is accesable through a wheel attached to the body of the bass? I tried sticking an alan key in but when you apply pressure it simply bends.

anyways I'm sure anyone who has read this far is simply laughing their ass off at me, but any help here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mobay45]

Welcome to the boards!

The truss rod wheel on your bass should be very easy to adjust. You just insert any tool that will fit into the holes on the sides of the wheel and either turn it clockwise or counter clockwise to make the adjustment.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

A small screw driver works fine

 

[Mobay45]

A small screw driver works fine

That's what I use!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>That's what I use!

Why cointenly

 

[adouglas]

If an Allen key stuck in there bends, what makes you guys think a small screwdriver won't?

Try loosening the strings first....takes pressure off the threads on the trussrod and makes it easier to turn.

 

[bovinehost]

I've used a small screwdriver for years. I've also, when stuck without my trusted small screwdriver, used an ink pen.

 

[MingusBASS]

If an Allen key stuck in there bends, what makes you guys think a small screwdriver won't?

Try loosening the strings first....takes pressure off the threads on the trussrod and makes it easier to turn.

Perhaps the Allen key was quite a bit thinner than the screwdriver? Just like the other guys I've used a small screwdriver with out a problem. Unless something is wrong with the bass, that should do the trick. There should be no need to loosen the strings.

Andrew

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>>If an Allen key stuck in there bends, what makes you guys think a small screwdriver won't?

I'm assuming 'thecraig' was using a very fine Allen key for it to bend. If he used a large key, I think the truss wheel would have spat the dummy before the key was bent.

The wheel shoud be adjustable with the strings at full tension. But, if there's a large adjustment to do, it may be adsvisable to loosen them first (if the neck is being straightened).

Now, if the wheel is frozen, that's a different story.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

thecraig.

Word of caution...always loosen the truss wheel first just in case it's been wound to its limit.

Looking at the truss wheel (in the direction of the headstock):

To loosen...turn anti-clockwise. To tighten (and make the neck straighter)...turn clockwise.

 

[AnthonyD]

I've used an allen key, a small screw driver, a nail - basically whatever fits the hole and has a few inches to it for leverage...

Always a quarter-turn or so at a time and always with the strings under tension.

Give it time to settle (20 minutes?), retune, reset, recheck and if necessary, repeat!

 

[bovinehost]

I think the truss wheel would have spat the dummy before the key was bent.

Luckily, I had a British roommate in the late 70s or I would never have figured this phrase out.

I say "luckily" but mostly it wasn't lucky at all. He was a vintage guitar dealer and I'd come home to find Nazareth drinking tea in my living room.

That may sound cooler than it actually was.

Anyway, "spit the dummy" is one you might want to explain in ENGLISH, Gav.

heh heh

Jack

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Why cointenly

 

[Musicman Nut]

okay, so I've been playing bass for 2 years now and have owned two seperate basses, a sammick that completely sucked and a SUB 5. now I could easily adjust the truss rod on the sammick where it was accesable through the headstock, but how would I adjust the trussrod on the Sub 5 whos truss rod is accesable through a wheel attached to the body of the bass? I tried sticking an alan key in but when you apply pressure it simply bends.

anyways I'm sure anyone who has read this far is simply laughing their ass off at me, but any help here would be greatly appreciated.

What i Use that is Very good and has never bent, Go to a Hardware Store and Purchase a Small Finishing Nail Punch. I wish Ernie Ball Would Just add one with every Instrument because i sell 6 a month easy. They Work Perfect.
Dave. J

 

[MingusBASS]

... I'd come home to find Nazareth drinking tea in my living room.

Now you're mess'n witha SON OF A B*&$H!

 

[Freddy-G.]

Now you're mess'n witha SON OF A B*&$H!

HaHa! I wonder how many people got that one?

 

[AnthonyD]

Love the tune!

Guys I play with are *squeemish* about playing it!

 

[bovinehost]

They were pretty nice, all things considered.

Another time he had Ted Nugent's band in the living room, and I was treated to quite a little temper tantrum from the bassist, whose name now escapes me.

I don't think he liked Ted very much.

 

[spectorbassguy]

Now you're mess'n witha SON OF A B*&$H!

Oh yeah! Wasn't that a Ricky 4001 that their bass player used? Sure sounds like it!