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Sydney Dyens

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
11
Location
Ville-D'Avray, Ile-De-France, France, France
Hi guys,
A few weeks ago I received my new Classic Sterling bass (awesome and beautiful btw). I thought everything would be perfect EXCEPT THAT the trussrod wheel seems to be locked. I tried many times to turn it right to make the action lower, but it really doesn't work...
Heeeelp ! :)
Sydney
 

five7

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Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
4,295
Not too deep or it might dig into the wood on the other side making it hard to turn.
 

dlb1001

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Joined
Mar 11, 2006
Messages
56
Also, give the wheel a quarter turn CCW then turn it CW to see if the wheel will move easier.
 

Tollywood

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Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
4,178
Location
Rhode Island
Welcome to the forum, Sydney.

I had that happen once. The truss rod was basically stuck. You may have to hold the body at the neck joint and apply a little pressure on the headstock. That's what I did and I heard a pop, tried the wheel, and it was working again.

Good luck,
Bryan
 

Tollywood

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Mar 23, 2011
Messages
4,178
Location
Rhode Island
Oh, also holding the headstock, and applying pressure at the 12th fret was part of the process. I'm sorry, I forgot for a minute. I alternated between those areas.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 

MrMusashi

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Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
2,840
Location
69 degrees north
let customer service help you..

they know all the tricks and will guide you through the process so that you dont damage the bass in any way..
its so easy to slip and scratch your beauty, especially if you use cheap tools!

MrM
 

ZiggyDude

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Joined
May 20, 2009
Messages
274
Location
Harrisburg
That just happened to me with a brand new Bongo 5HH - sparkle green. I had to send it to EBMM. They needed add some threads to the rod as the wheel was at the end (call it "Chase". It was pain in butt - but they did do good service and it works now.

There seems to be an issue with QC and these. My Desert Gold Bongo HH5 turns hard but does turn, my Electric Blue 5HS turns easily and buttery smooth, and the one above had to go to the shop.
 

Sydney Dyens

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
11
Location
Ville-D'Avray, Ile-De-France, France, France
The problem dude is that I can't send it to EBMM, because I live in France, this would be too long and too difficult...
But I remember that when I tried for the third time to turn the wheel, the results were a part of the painting which was gone and... twisted tools !! And the wheel still didn't move ! May I conclude the instrument itself wasn't damaged at all and is REALLY unbreakable ??
 

tbonesullivan

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2012
Messages
2,400
Location
New Jersey
I have 4 MM instruments, and the truss rod wheels on two turn really easily. On the other two, they "stick", and I almost want to really loosen them and put some graphite or something . Both that stick also have rosewood fretboards. The two that don't have maple fretboards, though the two that stick are also much newer than the other two.

maybe the truss rods washers need time to break in?
 
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