👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
John Myung Bongo 4

Neck is going crazy - Seasonal issue?

Etudica

Etudica

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
283
Location
PA
I've had my JPXI 7 for about 2 months now, set it up perfectly, and have been playing it nearly every day. However, lately it seems my neck is moving A LOT. Neck was fine for weeks, but now it's requiring a 1/4 turn of truss rod at random - in either direction. I'll adjust it back to where it should be and it seems happy for about a week, but then almost overnight it will move noticeably. A quick 1/4 turn and 24 hours later it's back. But this has happened twice in 2 weeks. I understand it takes 24+ hours for the neck to settle after adjusting, but why would it decide to move 5-7 days later?

This is my first EBMM so I'm wondering if this is normal with the JPXI design. All of my other guitars (stored in the exact same room and environment) have not required much adjustment during the onset of Fall and cooler, dryer air. And none of my guitars have left the studio either. Could this still be just a symptom of changing seasons here in the northeast???
 
Yep. I'm in the Northeast too and noticed that my JP XI and JP 7 were sensitive to seasonal changes in exactly the same way. It's the super-thin necks. Gotta love the easy access truss rods. My JP 7 was about 7 years old when I sold it and it still did it so I don't think that it's something that goes away with aging.
 
If you noticed the Fantastic Fall Colours were having this year is because it's been colder earlier than usual in the North Eastern Region. The Air is very dry. This time of year I keep my guitar in the case and bring it out when I play. For me it seems that the Maple necks and Maple Finger Boards don't like the dry cold weather, Hence fret sprouting. I've never had a problem with Maple Necks with Rosewood finger boards though. My L111 all Rosewood neck is doing great as well. Good Luck!
 
The neck on my JPX was quite squarmmy (word?) the summer before this past one - since it has been solid. Some guitars just react differently than others. I usually find I need to do a seasonal tweak on most of them. I wouldn't worry too much about it - you live in the same basic climate as I do and this time of the year it can be all over the map in terms of temps and humidity (or lack of it). It should settle
 
Thanks for putting my mind at ease guys! I assumed it was normal since there are no other issues and truss rod feels fine while turning/adjusting, but just wanted to make sure.
 
Etudica,

I have to regularly adjust my truss rod on my Axis with birdseye maple neck over here in the middle of the pacific. I think with humidity fluctuations the maple, especially the birdseye neck, just has a tendency to expand/contrast. Someone at my local shop told me that birdseye necks are notorious for this.

Cheers,

Tom
 
ZeroFivefour said:
Etudica,

I have to regularly adjust my truss rod on my Axis with birdseye maple neck over here in the middle of the pacific. I think with humidity fluctuations the maple, especially the birdseye neck, just has a tendency to expand/contrast. Someone at my local shop told me that birdseye necks are notorious for this.

Cheers,

Tom
Click to expand...

My roasted maple neck hasn't been affected so far. I think there's some secret sauce going on in there. :cool:
 
Spudmurphy,

I'm not sure I believe it either.

Perhaps its a function of having the floyd/gotoh bridge.

Next week I'll get my hands on my holy grail of all EBMM guitars. It will have a floyd and I am hoping it has the most birdseye of all birdseye necks as I simply prefer birdseye necks because they play like butter and are stunningly gorgeous.

Cheers,

Tom
 
It's wood, and each piece is unique. Some necks will react to changes in temperature and humidity more or less than others. Totally normal, a truss rod adjustment is all that is required to get it back to where you want it, and doesn't Music Man make that easy? :)
 
I've also heard that too much birds-eye affects the stability of the neck although I've never had a problem with mine and I love the look of a highly figured neck.
 
DrKev said:
It's wood, and each piece is unique. Some necks will react to changes in temperature and humidity more or less than others. Totally normal, a truss rod adjustment is all that is required to get it back to where you want it, and doesn't Music Man make that easy? :)
Click to expand...

+1 Learned everything about truss rod adjustements since I got my Music Mans. Excellent system!!
 
Actually, the more birdseye a piece of wood has the weaker it will be structurally. However, I don't know the exact percentage and I'm sure they are not drastic changes.
 
Cheers Dr K - these scare stories seem to gain more weight what with the interweb!!

Wood is wood - it's grain pattern will very and therefore so will it's structural integrity.

Why would birdseye weaken it's integrity? - I could now put out a story saying that birdseye makes wood stronger - (but I won't 'cos I can't prove it lol) = insofar as forces acting on the neck will veer off cos off the birdseye - ever wondered why drummers drill a hole as small as a birdseye in a cracked cymbal?

Nah sorry, I'm not buying into this birdseye cr4p - I'm always telling my managers to challenge based on evidence not their perception or rumour.
We have evidence here from BP across a large sample size -and he sees no higher waranty claims in cases of necks that have loads of birdseye.

"The case for the defence rests m'lud."

Would you buy a guitar with loads of 'eye and flame or a plain Jayne? I don't think I need answers to this lol.
 
It is very normal for a guitar neck to move at this time of year. Just a quick truss rod adjustment will usually do the trick. Never a bad idea to use a guitar humidifier. Some people don't think you need to use one on electric guitars, but without a doubt they help on electrics, at least where I live here in Utah. Just helps keep things more stable and consistent in my observations over the last 21 years of experimenting with what works best. Where you live will play a big part in how much the neck moves/shifts and how often you need to adjust the neck. There are lots of factors that go into play actually.
 
I have a fair bit of birdseye on my Axis neck and I rarely make a truss rod adjustment and I'm quite picky about buzzing and having the right action height.
I've heard this from several places but it might be hog wash I dunno regarding birdseye being weaker. I believe the point was its slightly weaker but not weak by any means.
 
Yes Dr Kev, the placement of the trust rod is wonderful...on our EBMM Guitars............It was a pain, back in the day when I owned a different brand......and had to remove a piece of plastic with screws just to get to it...........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Jacquard Straps
Back
Top