Elan 5: new truss rod nuts (twin) - best way to do?

[Sparky]

Hey there!
When I got my Elan 5, there came two new truss rod nuts with it.
Checking the installed ones, they are in really bad condition.
I want to replace them with the two new.
I never did this before so sorry for asking:

Can I easily take one off, put a new one in and repeat at the second one?
Where do I have to take care of?
I don't want to damage my neck or fingerboard or whatever can get broke when I do it.

I searched the forum but didn't find a "how to" or something.

Many thanks for your help and support!!!

[KR]

Loosen the strings. Remove both old nuts, and install the new ones. Tighten each nut to just fairly tight. Re-tune the bass. Capo the first fret, and at the same time, also hold down the 15th-16th fret on the lowest outside string. While capo-ing and holding down the 15th-16th fret there should be a gap the thickness of a thin guitar pick between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th-8th fret. Repeat capo procedure on the highest outside string. Tightening the nut straightens the neck. Loosening the nut adds more relief or gap when measuring with this procedure at the 7th-8th fret.

[gtrguy]

Also be careful when removing the old nuts. Use the correct wrench (I prefer a small socket on a long thin extension if it will fit. I have actually turned down the outside diameter of sockets on my lathe to get them to fit just right). If you feel a lot of resistance to turning, I would put a small rag or something around the bottom of the nut and squirt a bit of WD40 (or your favorite sauce) on it and let it sit for a while and then try to remove it. Last thing you want to have happen is to break that nut off!

[pauldo]

Also be careful when removing the old nuts. Use the correct wrench (I prefer a small socket on a long thin extension if it will fit. I have actually turned down the outside diameter of sockets on my lathe to get them to fit just right). If you feel a lot of resistance to turning, I would put a small rag or something around the bottom of the nut and squirt a bit of WD40 (or your favorite sauce) on it and let it sit for a while and then try to remove it. Last thing you want to have happen is to break that nut off!

Running with that thought… if resistance is felt, do as instructed above (Aero Kroil is my favorite sauce),  also try turning it back ‘in’, be patient working back and forth, adding sauce as needed and letting the sauce do its work.  Snapping the nut/ threads off would be a bummer.

Side note; certainly not to be performed on an Alembic,  I have had tremendous success on caked up rusty fasteners with this old farmer trick…. Heat up the fastener with a torch and touch paraffin to it, the paraffin will wick in between the nut and the threads and PRESTO!

Good luck, keep us updated.

[mica]

Because the truss rods are stainless steel and the nuts are nickel plated brass, there should be no galling. Usually the nuts are exceedingly easy to remove - just loosen with a 1/4" wrench and you can then just use your fingers the rest of the way. Then hand thread the nuts back on the rod and use the wrench when you need to.

Note that the amount of rod that sticks out the end of the standoff nut isn't calibrated. The new nuts should be the same as the old ones and will fit in about the same place on the threads as the old ones.

[Sparky]

Dear all,
thank you all for your efforts helping me to do it right.
Very helpful information!

So, what I see is: "take your time doing it, no job by the way".
WD40 is my favorite. If the nuts stuck, I'll use it.
I havn't in mind the condition of the threads of the rods. will check before turning the first nut.
The spare nuts I have are original including the tiny wrench.
This wrench I'll use.
Hope to find time to do on the weekend.
I'll come back with the result.

What thickness is a "thin" guitar pick (mm)?
Inhave a gauge messuring gaps. is there a "nominal/standard measure"?

[KR]

0.44 or 0.45mm is ballpark.

[Songdog]

Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass has been my Alembic setup guide. It suggests .012" (about .3 mm). Keep in mind this is a starting point. Depending on factors such as your playing style and strings you use, you may need more or less relief than that.

[KR]

This shows how thick Fender picks are.

[Sparky]

you are great!  Thank you so much!

[Sparky]

Murphys Law and the real life...
I was told, the nuts are origin, so the wrench.
Today, I started the job (thx 2 all again), openend the bass, opened the bags with nuts and wrench and got stuck:
Nuts are different: smaller, silver colored, not brass as inside the bass. wrench is metrical 9mm and does not fit fine to the origin nuts of the bass.

So I tried to adjust the neck a little bit and that was the job for me for now.

Anyhow, all your info was helpfull for adjustment!
PS: found a fender pick with 0.4mm ;-)

[bigredbass]

WHEN you get to the point to replace the nuts, it wouldn't hurt to put a bit of lube on the threads of the new ones for later so it's never a problem down the road.

[gtrguy]

Small can of anti-seize (or one of it's copies) is a handy thing to have around, and should last the average person years.

[pauldo]

Huge supporter of anti-seize.   👍🏼