| Author | Message | ||
| flatwoundbass
Junior Username: flatwoundbass Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2011 |
Tried searching, but did not find an answer...maybe you all can help. My new-to-me Excel four string arrived today, and all is great...neck relief is perfect and there is no neck twist, but upon inspecting the truss rod nuts, one has about 1/8" of exposed threads beyond the nut, and the other is flush. Is this normal??? Are the threaded portions of the rod sometimes of slightly unequal lengths? Any insight would be appreciated...it's the only thing nagging me about my new bass. (Message edited by flatwoundbass on March 08, 2012) | ||
| roymus
Junior Username: roymus Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2010 |
I have wondered a little about this as well, as I have owned 3 alembics from 76 untill 2006 with the same thing esp on the 2 older ones,but the necks were all great. I usually adjust to a dead straight G side and the slightest amount of relief on the low E side. | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2908 Registered: 6-2002 |
Perfectly normal, I would think. You might try checking if the "short" one is just snug, but unless you can hear it rattling I wouldn't worry. | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 1033 Registered: 11-2006 |
not normal of course, all truss rods must work equally and have a dual action in two way. But unfortunatly it seems not to be the case by Alembic and I dont know why. I ordered my blackwood series II with this specification (dual action single truss rod) like all bass I have had and THIS solution work perfectly. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1793 Registered: 11-2004 |
Okay my MK has the same but you must realise that each string is at a different tension therefore the amount of counter pull on the truss rods is also unequal. Put in a few other variables such as wood grain uneveness, the truss rod engineering specifications, string construction and gauge. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2176 Registered: 10-2003 |
Due to the vagaries of wood construction and other design factors, particularly in older instruments, this is normal. I have owned a handful of dual-truss basses (Ric, Conklin, Alembic, Dean..) and they have all exhibited this. It's nothing to worry about. John | ||
| tubeperson
Advanced Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 237 Registered: 5-2005 |
One should be comforted that the engineering of the Alembic truss rod system permits the rods to do the job each one is supposed to do, and address the natural "flaws and defects" of wood. Remember, that is why there is a truss rod cover!! Maybe some players look at their truss rods while playing, I'm too busy playing and diggin' the audience and the groove. Are you a looker or a player? | ||
| flatwoundbass
Junior Username: flatwoundbass Post Number: 17 Registered: 8-2011 |
Good point, TP! Just trying to put my mind at ease about something I saw during my new bass inspection yesterday...first gig with the Excel will be tomorrow night and I guarantee I will not be thinking about truss rods then! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1795 Registered: 11-2004 |
flatwound..get out there and gig, give those rods something to think about when you are hammering the frets!! | ||
| basser
Junior Username: basser Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2008 |
roymus, one question regarding your above post. does it mean that your neck is perfectly straight on both G and E side with equal truss rod adjustment but intentionally loosened the E side truss rod compared to the G side to get some relief on that side only? i'm just curious whether all Alembic necks are built straight on both sides or built with the E side having a bit more relief as a factory default. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1824 Registered: 9-2002 |
There is no factory default: James at Alembic will aim for the same feel and the same 'neighborhood', but they will all adjust to that place slightly differently, due to all the little vagaries in each piece of wood, the total of the little tolerances in construction, etc. Generally, for low action, you shoot for dead straight and then 'back out' just enough relief to kill most of the obvious buzzes. When you get to that spot where the neck is carrying only the slightest relief and you can hear a few string rattles that don't carry through the pickups and out the speakers, you'got about all you're going to get. All of this changes with personal taste from one guy to the next, playing styles (light touch, slapper, heavy pick, good or bad left hand technique, and on and on), string type and brand and guages, there can be a lot that goes into it. And some guys can play anything and don't notice, all the way to guys who can feel and tell everything wihtout even plugging it in. There's a lot that goes into setups, but it really depends on the guy playing it as to how extensive the work needs to be. In general, Alembics are very easy to play, and easy to maintain. J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1825 Registered: 9-2002 |
Oh yeah, and I forgot: The truss rods rarely ever torque up the same on both sides. At times I've had mine snug on one side and barely more than finger-tight on the other. Remember, most wood moves over time with weather, humidity, age. The truss rods will chase that change to keep the fingerboard/neck where you want it. These are usually very, very tiny changes over a long time, and some guys don't even notice it. So these settings can evolve over months and years, and they never seem to end up in identical places. You'd think they would, but in real life it rarely happens. J o e y | ||
| roymus
Junior Username: roymus Post Number: 13 Registered: 2-2010 |
To Basser, I beleive that on a bass if the neck is really good ,usually I can get away with no relief [dead straight] on the high side and because the thicker the string the larger the vibration halfway up the string length, that it will of course need some relief. thanks to dual trussrods this can be set, but if only one trussrod and I was checking out a bass to buy, I would prefer to see the neck with a slight bit more relief on the E side than the other way around. This even goes for my acoustic and electric guitars to a lesser extent as well. It does not have to be but as a finer point this is what I believe. | ||
| basser
Junior Username: basser Post Number: 14 Registered: 10-2008 |
thanks guys. a lot of help always. cheers! |
