Truss-rod, how to tune it

[goran]

So I have series 1 old bass, I I just got MK Deluxe 5 string, neck is straight, and that bugs me because I usually like little bit of bowed neck, so I tried to mess with truss rod and turned it half of the circle and nothing happened, neck is stil straight, can you give me some pointers? Should I do a whole circle?

I usually tune all my basses, all works good but here is kind of weird that nothing happened. Don't want to do anything wrong.

Thanks

[jwright9]

There should be two truss rods. Did you adjust both of them equally?
Left to loosen and right to tighten.

[edwardofhuncote]

Goran, particularly on your 1980 Series bass, my advice is to loosen the strings a few turns first, tighten both rods (clockwise) no more than a 1/4 turn each at a time, then re-tune. Give the bass a while to acclimate, then make another adjustment. It may take a day or more. Going a full turn of the truss rods at once is very risky, especially while already under tension.

Take your time, and you can get them remarkably close. 

[edwardofhuncote]

Also, I'm not familiar with the seasonal climate in Croatia this time of year, but here in my part of the world it is beginning to get dry, and I have already had to adjust a couple necks. I have found that adding a humidifier to my bass cases helps keep the wood from reacting so quickly. A simple plastic box with a damp sponge works wonders.

[StephenR]

If you want relief (slight bow) you need to loosen, not tighten the truss rods. Agree it is best to move in small increments and give plenty of time between adjustments to check the results before adjusting further. You will get it...

Are you using light gauge strings on the MK? I had to loosen the truss rods quite a bit, and multiple times. before the neck on my newest Series bass had the relief I wanted. Heavier gauge strings will pull the neck up and create more relief.

[edwardofhuncote]

Yes, sorry Goran, I misread your post. For more relief, loosen the rods counter-clockwise. 

[keith_h]

To add more relief (bow) you need to loosen the truss rod (counter clockwise/anti clockwise). How long it will take to develop the bow depends a lot upon the bass and how long it has been in particular setting. I would work in 1/4 turn increments and let the bass sit overnight. You could also try tuning the strings higher to add some extra tension to pull on the neck.

This also leads me to ask what brand and gauge of string you are using. Some bass strings are very low tension so do not pull on the neck as hard so might require more adjustment.

I also want to add a link to Joey's setup post as it does a good job on how to setup a bass.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=311.0

[goran]

So I have Labella both strings on my 1908 Series 1 and MK Deluxe 5 string (Labella RX 45-65-80-105-130)

Thanks a lot for all the tips, yes I need to loosen the truss rod to make it has more relief.

So both trussrods turn the same way, right?

There should be two truss rods. Did you adjust both of them equally?
Left to loosen and right to tighten.

Yes all equally. Isn't it both trussrods turn the same way, right? Why One on one side other on other?

Also, I'm not familiar with the seasonal climate in Croatia this time of year, but here in my part of the world it is beginning to get dry, and I have already had to adjust a couple necks. I have found that adding a humidifier to my bass cases helps keep the wood from reacting so quickly. A simple plastic box with a damp sponge works wonders.

Climate is actually nice for instruments around 40-60 % humidity depends on season. My wife is violin player in symphony orchestra, she know all the humidity stuff

If you want relief (slight bow) you need to loosen, not tighten the truss rods. Agree it is best to move in small increments and give plenty of time between adjustments to check the results before adjusting further. You will get it...

Are you using light gauge strings on the MK? I had to loosen the truss rods quite a bit, and multiple times. before the neck on my newest Series bass had the relief I wanted. Heavier gauge strings will pull the neck up and create more relief.

Yea I always use the same strings (Labella RX 45-65-80-105-130), found these one are just perfect for me. But I know what you mean by heavier tension strings.

Yes, sorry Goran, I misread your post. For more relief, loosen the rods counter-clockwise. 

Both of them, loosen both rods, right?

To add more relief (bow) you need to loosen the truss rod (counter clockwise/anti clockwise). How long it will take to develop the bow depends a lot upon the bass and how long it has been in particular setting. I would work in 1/4 turn increments and let the bass sit overnight. You could also try tuning the strings higher to add some extra tension to pull on the neck.

This also leads me to ask what brand and gauge of string you are using. Some bass strings are very low tension so do not pull on the neck as hard so might require more adjustment.

I also want to add a link to Joey's setup post as it does a good job on how to setup a bass.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=311.0

Thanks I've check that, just wanted to be sure.

[edwardofhuncote]

Yes, loosen both rods Goran. Two truss rods = twice as nice... it's just extra stability. My '77 only has a single rod, and it is a little bit scary putting the wrench to that one. Fortunately, it is very stable and hasn't required any further adjustment.


Follow Joey's setup post and you can't go wrong. 

[jazzyvee]

I have another question and maybe this would an appropriate place without adding another thread.
The G string of my series II is choking all along the fretboard when slap and pop on that string.
When I'm playing regular finger style there is no choking. So my question is do I need to raise the bridge or adjust the truss rod or both. The other strings are fine and don't choke.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'd need to understand the mechanics of that playing style to advise you best Jazzy, but you could try simply raising the bridge incrementally by fractions of a turn and see if a couple thousandths of clearance fixes it... this would be easily reversed if not. If that doesn't solve your trouble, you might try changing the neck's geometry just a little with a truss rod adjustment. Just remember, a little bit does a lot... 

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Edward, I have wondered what circumstances require a bridge adjustment and what requires a truss rod adjustment. I can't recall ever adjusting that particular bass since I picked it up from Alembic. Maybe the climate has made an impact. I think I will try as much as possible to measure the bridge height on another of my basses that doesn't have that issue an start the bridge height there first and see  how that feels as the series II has the lowest action on many of my basses.

[goran]

Wow, it worked like a charm, now my bass is as I want it, little bowed, medium high strings (for me) just perfect.

@Jazzy, for years I wanted to have as low as I can get string height and flat neck, but I realized that, because of how I play I need to change a few things for better sound. So first I raised the strings, then bowed the neck, then lowered the strings and then raised them just so when I play without an amp nothing buzzes. I remember one time at bass meeting one guy heard me play without an amp (just was showing the bass), he asked how do you get no buzz with strings so low, then he tried a bass and said "oh the strings are not that low".

And throughout years I've tried a lot of basses from like: Alain Caron, Vic Wooten, Jerry Watts, Reggie Washington,  etc. most of them don't have such a low action. I just read an interview how one guy tried Jimmy Johnson bass and said that strings were not low at all

So, too sum it up, if you have issues, make a bowed neck a bit and raise the strings. As Patitucci said, there is no dynamic if the string are too low, specially if you have buzz problem or any problem.

[lbpesq]

 

So, too sum it up, if you have issues, make a bowed neck a bit and raise the strings. As Patitucci said, there is no dynamic if the string are too low, specially if you have buzz problem or any problem.

... unless you are John Entwistle.  I could never figure out how the guy did it.  But he sure did it!

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

Here's a quick-check Jazzy;

On the bass you're most comfortable with the setup on, hold either the B/E or G string down at the 1st fret and somewhere about the 15th-19th fret. In the center of this span, take note of how much relief (space, or travel) there is between the top of the frets and the bottom of the string. Do the same on the opposite side of the neck. If it's too flat, one would get the condition you are describing, with the notes buzzing and choking out. Loosening the truss rods just a little will allow the neck beam to relax, inducing some relief. Conversely, if there is too much space, the bass is hard to play. (this is sometimes call stiff action) At that point, you would tighten the truss rods, thereby flattening the neck.

Two of my Alembics are incredibly stable. That Persuader 5-string has required a grand total of one truss-rod adjustment ever, and one of my Distillates (the '81 walnut) is equally stable. I can't remember ever adjusting it. The fretless ones are a bit more sensitive, or probably I just notice smaller changes in their action quicker. I have learned that leaving them cased with a humidifier box in the cold/dry months helps.