Hanky has a quick setup question

[hankSRay]

Well I just slapped on a pair of Power slinkies on my sterling. I got the saddles and inotation spot on but there is still a lot of relief in the neck. I figure I need to adjust the truss rod so I went to tighten it up and I noticed there was a little bit of resistance. Is that normal? I'm not one for tinkering around with my basses set up (not on my good basses anyway) but I was just wondering if a little resistance is ok. Also, does the truss rod keep turning, or does it stop once it can no longer be tightened? Hopefully I wont scew this up lol.

 

[bovinehost]

Henri, give it a quarter turn and then wait a day to see how it settles.

A little bit of resistance is normal.

Jack

 

[hankSRay]

awesome, thanks Jack!

 

[ExLurker]

When you tighten it (clockwise) loosen the strings to having no tension, then tighten and like Jack said no more than 1/4 turn at a time. Re tune and then let it settle overnight, repeat process until correct relief achieved. FWIW Ive never had to go more than 1/4 turn either way to adjust between winter and summer.

 

[jongitarz]

There really is no reason to loosen the strings when adjusting the truss rod

 

[Figjam]

Correct, you should adjust the neck at normal tension.

 

[ExLurker]

OK, the strings at concert pitch are pulling on the neck causing it to bow. Tightening the truss rod increases the stress on the thread with the strings at full tension. I've actualy managed to strip the thread by not loosening strings before tightening the rod. I only talk from personal experience.

Have a look at this

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/trussrod.html#2

Self styled guru - whatever...

All I'm saying is... better be safe than sorry, I was sorry.... never to be repeated

 

[maddog]

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/trussrod.html#2

I don't quite do it this way but I do take the tension off the truss rod. While in playing position on a stool, I pull the headstock back while tightening the trussrod. Just found it made it easier to turn and I figure it extends the life of the trussrod system. I don't use a lot of force just enough to where I can feel the trussrod is easier to spin. Hopefully I'm not doing anything bad to the neck.

The capstan wheel makes this much easier then if I had to use an allan wrench. I luv the capstan wheel.

 

[jongitarz]

There really is no reason to loosen the strings when adjusting the truss rod

 

[Figjam]

OK, the strings at concert pitch are pulling on the neck causing it to bow. Tightening the truss rod increases the stress on the thread with the strings at full tension. I've actualy managed to strip the thread by not loosening strings before tightening the rod. I only talk from personal experience.

Have a look at this

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/trussrod.html#2

Self styled guru - whatever...

All I'm saying is... better be safe than sorry, I was sorry.... never to be repeated

...


So you are saying that the myriad employees at EB that have spoken their opinion on the subject are wrong?

 

[bovinehost]

I've adjusted many a trussrod in my day....and I'm going to guess Jon has me beat by a rather serious number. On EBMM basses, if you're doing it properly, you don't have to loosen the strings to adjust the trussrod.

Now, all props to Gary Willis. If it makes you feel better to loosen those strings, then you should.

It's not like it's going to hurt anything.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I adjust em at full tension 1/4 turn at a time.

 

[tkarter]

I don't go for the 1/4 turn myself. I move it one hole at a time the direction it needs to go. Never needed to move one more than that one hole either. I think a 1/4 is kind of radical.

Just my opinion though.

tk

 

[ExLurker]

...


So you are saying that the myriad employees at EB that have spoken their opinion on the subject are wrong?

With respect Figgie, jongitarz hardly constitutes a myriad, and no, I don't think this particular EBMM employee is wrong, I never said that. I don't think Gary Willis is the be all and end all on the subject either. I talk from personal and painful (in my wallet) experience and wanted to share that. Sorry it appears to differ from your opinion but respect mine as I respect yours. Now go and play that the heck out of that new blue SR5 of yours, its lovely

 

[hankSRay]

well 6 hours later and I just checked to see how the neck settled. the relief is just almost there and these power slinkies are really cool, but man do they give your fingers a workout. the tension is alot more than I'm used to, but the string to string balance is killer.

 

[maddog]

well 6 hours later and I just checked to see how the neck settled. the relief is just almost there and these power slinkies are really cool, but man do they give your fingers a workout. the tension is alot more than I'm used to, but the string to string balance is killer.

Nice, eh?

I know what you mean about the finger workout. I've been slowly working up the finger exercises but my fingers still seem to get tired pretty fast.

Isn't weird how they feel? Definitely in a good way. I found the B string to be alot more focused. They really seem to make my Bongo5 feel just right.

Glad you like them.

 

[AnthonyD]

...While in playing position on a stool, I pull the headstock back while tightening the trussrod. Just found it made it easier to turn and I figure it extends the life of the trussrod system. I don't use a lot of force just enough to where I can feel the trussrod is easier to spin. Hopefully I'm not doing anything bad to the neck. ...

This is my approach as well... ¼ turn at a time...

 

[tommyindelaware]

I've adjusted many a trussrod in my day....and I'm going to guess Jon has me beat by a rather serious number. On EBMM basses, if you're doing it properly, you don't have to loosen the strings to adjust the trussrod.

Now, all props to Gary Willis. If it makes you feel better to loosen those strings, then you should.

It's not like it's going to hurt anything.

i too have adjusted many a trussrod in my days.......& on basses i have often had to loosen the strings to allow easy truss rod turning w/out stripping the cheesy hex nut just about everyone uses. between the hex nut .........& the non teflon coated rods....u are alot safer. (specially 5&6 stringers)
the brilliant thing w/ ebmm is.........due to the wheel & teflon..........
the rods turn easily w/ out loosening the strings. that makes the whole ordeal painless by taking all the guesswork out of the equation.

 

[Figjam]

With respect Figgie, jongitarz hardly constitutes a myriad, and no, I don't think this particular EBMM employee is wrong, I never said that. I don't think Gary Willis is the be all and end all on the subject either. I talk from personal and painful (in my wallet) experience and wanted to share that. Sorry it appears to differ from your opinion but respect mine as I respect yours. Now go and play that the heck out of that new blue SR5 of yours, its lovely

Not just talking about this thread. Ive heard from several peoples mouths (computers).