Question Poor set-ups on Necks common? Truss wheel difficult to turn?

[RaginRog]

USED BASSES- Poor set-ups on necks common? Truss wheel difficult to turn?

I just picked up a used (via Guitar Center) pearl blue Sterling, and I must say that the previous owner didn't do a good job adjusting the neck/setting the string height. The neck was filthy...now to the point.

Why is it that I frequently see basses with poor neck adjustment (via the truss), and the bridge saddles cranked as high as possible on MM basses? First thing I did yesterday was clean the neck and fretboard, give it a tru oil/wax treatment, install new med-light .45-.100 strings. I then noticed I needed to adjust the truss rod because there was way too much bow, but man was the truss wheel hard to turn...I managed to coax at least a 1/4-to -1/3 a turn, but it felt so tight...and not reflective of the great amount of bow the neck had. I'll check it out later tonight, so I'm hoping I see positive signs...if not, she's getting returned.

 

[adouglas]

Sheer speculation, mind you, but....

If you know nothing about guitars and basses, then you naturally would think that a fret buzz would be cured by raising the string, and the obvious way to do that is to raise the saddles.

So I think that a lot of ignorant owners never touch the trussrod adjuster at all and try to cure normal changes due to climate with the bridge.

Trussrods that never get turned will get stiff.

 

[mynan]

BP's going to love the title of this thread...

 

[Rick Auricchio]

It's a lot easier to tighten a truss rod if you give the neck a little muscle as an assist. A bit of back-pressure helps straighten the neck as you tighten the rod. Then give it a couple hours to settle in before further adjustment.

 

[RaginRog]

Sheer speculation, mind you, but....

If you know nothing about guitars and basses, then you naturally would think that a fret buzz would be cured by raising the string, and the obvious way to do that is to raise the saddles.

So I think that a lot of ignorant owners never touch the trussrod adjuster at all and try to cure normal changes due to climate with the bridge.

Trussrods that never get turned will get stiff.

Thanks for the insight, and you're likely correct...but with all the information on the internet, you would think that someone might research the care of their expensive bass...

I wasn't aware the truss rod might get stiff for lack of use...gives me hope. Did another 1/4 turn when I got home...it does seem better.

BP's going to love the title of this thread...

Well, I hope he reads the post first and see's I'm questioning set-up ignorance.

It's a lot easier to tighten a truss rod if you give the neck a little muscle as an assist. A bit of back-pressure helps straighten the neck as you tighten the rod. Then give it a couple hours to settle in before further adjustment.

Thanks Rick...yeah I place my knee firmly against the back of the neck and give a slight tug, pulling the headstock back, as I turn the truss wheel.

 

[RaginRog]

BP's going to love the title of this thread...

I just added USED BASSES to the title!

 

[RaginRog]

Update...it's coming around. I actually measured the nut slots on my other Sterling and determined the nut slots on this one were a bit too high, so I gave them a little shave down. Did another 1/4 turn of the truss rod, and she's almost perfect, with nice action and great intonation. Patience is not one of my virtues, so I may have started to panic early....put my thinking caps on...

I should have taken before and after pictures....