| Author | Message | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 26 Registered: 8-2007 |
The Epic that I got from a fellow Alembic Club member seems to have a bit of backbow, and fretbuzz from the 5th to the 1st fret. I personally like a small bit of relief. How do I adjust this. I'm used to normal dual-action truss rods... CW = straight, CCW = losen The bolts for the rods... one is about as loose as it can be... the other is about as tight as it can be. HELP!!! | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 27 Registered: 8-2007 |
BTW... the tight one: the screw that the nut is on... is to the end of the nut's thread (without the screw sticking out of it... just to the end) HELP Will Robinson>>> HELP! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1661 Registered: 6-2002 |
From what I understand, you should not have a loose nut on a truss rod: always make it sit snug against the end plate. The second ground rule is that both truss rods should have roughly the same setting. So I would check if perhaps the neck is twisted. Or does it have strings that range from extra heavy on one side, to extra light on the other? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5595 Registered: 5-2002 |
Also. One truss rod doesn't affect just one side of the neck; so even though one nut is loose, the tight nut still affects the side that the loose nut is on. So for the moment, leave the loose nut loose and back off an 1/8 to a 1/4 turn on the tight side, and then give it some time to adjust and see where you are. But first, go to the Must Reads section and read Joey's Setup Post. And yes, clockwise tightens the nut and straightens the neck, while counterclockwise loosens the nut and adds forward bow. | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 28 Registered: 8-2007 |
Thanks... Did this before the prior posts... I've loosened the tighter nut a bit(E side)... and tightened the (G side)... now it's about in line with the other truss nut (amount of screw in nut). I'd like to get some more relief, but don't want to screw with it, until it stays like this for a while. The neck doesn't seem twisted... slight relief in the "E" side and about as much on the "G" side. I do notice that the relief seems to be a bit more substancial from about the 5th - 1st fret... slight relief >>> then more pronounced at the 5th. (I imagine that it is a result of the truss rod having very little tension compaired to the other for an extended period of time). I hope that it will correct itself over time with the correct amount of tension applied. It doesn't have any fret buzz, and cannot see any twist at the headstock... both side of it are the same... no tilt in either direction. I cannot see any twist, only the more pronounced relief from the 5th - 1st fret. The prior owner used lights... then switched to D'Addario light top/med Bottom. I'm using 105-45 med strings.... and use them always, so hopefully this will help correct things (by leaving the same weight strings on all the time). Again, THANKS for any and all input. Please help me if I'm going in the wrong direction with my speculations. Cheers. (Message edited by ubado on October 26, 2007) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5598 Registered: 5-2002 |
Give it a few days and then, if it still needs it, loosen the E side nut a little more; then give that a few days and see where you are. | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 29 Registered: 8-2007 |
thanks dave... did you catch my edited post? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5599 Registered: 5-2002 |
Sounds like you're on the right track and keeping an eye on things. Just take your time and make small changes. | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 30 Registered: 8-2007 |
BTW... I noticed that I failed to mention that the more pronounced relief is ONLY on the "G" side. Again it doesn't seem or look twisted only a more substancial relief from the 5th - 1st Fret. Can this be corrected over time... with what I'm doing? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5600 Registered: 5-2002 |
How is it playing now? | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 31 Registered: 8-2007 |
It plays fine... no buzz... nothing... I can't even feel the pronounced relief when I play... no added pressure is really needed. It's only about a 1mm or 2mm (most likely between) more pronounced than the rest of the relief in the curve... (kind of a concave warp... steady relief, then the pronounced relief). Looking from the top of the neck down, I can't even see it. The neck itself shows nothing. It is only when I look up the neck (on that side... at the edge of the fretboard). All in all, it plays great... Still very happy with it.  (Message edited by ubado on October 27, 2007) (Message edited by ubado on October 27, 2007) | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 33 Registered: 8-2007 |
I just eye-balled the "G" side... seems to be straightening itself out. Hopefully over time and tinkering... I can get it to where it needs to be. Thanks for the info Dave... please pass any info my way. Thanks again! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1229 Registered: 9-2002 |
Buying used almost always lets you inherit a unique set of challenges . . . . if this had been me, I'd have backed off both nuts to where they were loose, left the bass tuned full up to pitch and put it back in the case for a couple days or a week. The neck and your guage strings would have introduced themselves and gotten used to each other. Then I'd have done my setup, fully expecting to fine tune it once about a week later, and that would have been that in most cases. Sounds like you got to the same destination by a little different route, great! It's one of life's little mysteries as to exactly how snug each truss rod nut should be: Only the neck relief will tell you. I've decided it's one of those counter-intuitive things: Your head says one thing, but reality shows you something else. It's once again interesting how much of a fuss theses axes present, coming or going from light to normal strings. It certainly sounds like you've got this one dialed in VERY well, 1 or 2mm relief is VERY slight, and if it's playing well, you need no more suggestions from any of us ! J o e y | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 38 Registered: 8-2007 |
Thanks bigredbass! I didn't really notice anything until after I changed the strings, then eyeballed the neck and noticed it was backbowed. Also a bit of buzz depending on how I fret the first few on the "E" side... could be more buzzy due to the GHS Boomers I got on it... I might change them out for some DR's much later, after the neck is all set. I've gotten the pronounced relief almost out... now it's about in line with the "E" side. I'll leave it alone for about another couple weeks, then get both rods where I want the neck to be. | ||
| ubado
Junior Username: ubado Post Number: 39 Registered: 8-2007 |
Brought it to my tech... last week... he made the last adjustments, and checked everything out... It's fine... intonated and ready to rock. |
