Help! Unable to increase neck relief on newly purchased JP6

[SaoTim]

Pics here

I recently purchased an older JP6 (2002 model I believe) and I've been unable to adjust the truss rod to add more relief to the neck. The truss rod wheel doesn't have tension when I turn counter-clockwise and I do not get any changes to the action when I turn this direction. I also noticed the wheel starts to separate from the neck in this direction. When I turn the wheel clockwise to straighten the neck, there is resistance and I do notice a decrease in relief. Sure, I can adjust the strings individually at the bridge to adjust the action, but that almost seems like a band-aid to the issue at hand. Is the truss rod maxed out in this direction or something? I haven't had this kind of issue with a 2023 JP15 that I've had for a while. Anyone have advice? Thanks!

tl;dr - truss rod wheel works in one direction, but not the other

 

[nervous]

I am assuming the, like all mine various EBMM guitars have had, that's a one way truss rod and when you feel the wheel nut come loose there is no more work that it's doing, and if the neck was off the body it would simply unscrew all the way off. No harm in that and I have done this to clean the plastic washer and lube the threads on some that I restored. In that state all forces that would create the neck bow to cause relief is coming from the string tension. The neck stiffness if the counter pull. the higher the string tension of any particular brand or gauge the more it will try to pull the neck forward, into a greater state of relief. It's only at that point that you counter that specific pull but adding tension into the truss rod by tightening the wheel clockwise, until the perfect balance is reached and you get the relief set as you need to.

All that said, where you are is where I have been a couple times with my Axis. Strung with EBMM 9-46 hybrid 2241 strings I get barely enough string tension where I can just engage the wheel so that it's not fully loose, and just right relief. It's that close. I think a standard Slinky 9-42 wouldn't be enough full set tension to make that work. What gauge strings are on there vs. what gauge would you normally use. If you're a .010 gauge player that would likely help, but lighter strings in your situation is tricky I think. The alternate set up method that some folks like, is a flatter neck and higher saddles to compensate with little to no relief. Some guitars will take this method, others don't like it. It often depends on the quality of the fretwork. What string action height do you prefer? You're at the very front edge of available adjustment with the current set up. a couple small things may help considerably. And, not sure what your climate is but things tighten up for me during the cold, dry winter months where I need to loosen the truss rod just a hair to compensate, If it's ever two hairs them I am in your boat.