Author Topic: HELP! TRUSS ROD NOT RESPONDING.. (Read 767 times)

roberto · « **on:** May 17, 2011, 09:45:20 PM »

Hi Alembicians!
I ve a couple of Alembics, so sometimes one of them doesnt get played for a few months. So I decided to use my Persuader 5.
I find the frets buzzes..so I checked the relief, and I saw there is zero relief. So I opened the truss rod cover and loosen the bass and treble side rods , about 1/4 turn and let the wood settle for 2 days.
To day I check it out and I find the treble side has some relief but the bass side seems to be not responding...so I opened the cover again, and loosen the bass side again...but hen I found that the bass side truss rod hexagonal screw is loose, that I can use my fingers to loosen it..
Any body have an idea what is happening and what I am supposed to do?
Should I apply some heat to the truss rod cavity?or should I let some more time for the woods to move?
BTW, the truss rods use to function perfectly .I tink the humidity and climate is rather 'wild' these months and it may affect the woods/ rods...
Any opinions or suggestion are greatly appreciated.
thanks
regards
/robert

adriaan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2011, 11:29:34 PM »

People have reported success by tuning up the bass by a whole step (E>F#, etc.) and leaving it like that for a week. Then tune down to normal pitch again, and you should have a better range of adjustment to play with. (Caveat - could have more effect on a new instrument.)

terryc · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2011, 12:38:29 AM »

roberto..DON'T APPLY ANY HEAT
I would do as Adriaan says but keep a close check on it.
The rule for rods are lefty loose, righty tight.
Another suggestion is to loosen them totally and tighten them both at small increments and see if the neck straightens out.
Again NO HEAT...only the most experienced luthiers/woodworkers know how to properly apply heat
Best of luck

roberto · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2011, 12:45:39 AM »

Adriaan, will do that right away..hope it works...thanks for the suggestion..
terryc, thanks for the warning.
regards
/r

pierreyves · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2011, 06:15:14 AM »

I had the same problem with all my alembic, I do not understand why they do not truss rods that act in both directions (dual action). For those where I could not do anything, I placed a thick book of 10 cm on the 20 th box, stretched strings for a bow-shaped light, but that has changed the curvature of the neck , not the action of the truss rod. The alternative is that I did send before I bought it (from bass central) for a heatbend and there it is perfect, despite the dissatisfaction of Bass Central (spend some dollars...). For Blackwood, I asked a single truss rod with dual action.

pierreyves · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2011, 06:18:19 AM »

I would do with book about 2 weeks in a dry place. Don't forget you can correct it also with nut and bridge adjustment, a little higher so that the neck is slightly arched

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2011, 07:51:58 AM »

Oops - double post
Peter

(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on May 18, 2011)

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2011, 07:52:25 AM »

And triple
Peter

(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on May 18, 2011)

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2011, 07:52:44 AM »

Pierre-Yves, I'm not sure I understand what you're doing with the book; are you placing it between the neck & strings?

Peter

roberto · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2011, 11:02:41 AM »

pierreyves,
AFAIK,Alembic's truss rods is dual action....
raising the nut would change the feel very much..I wouldnt do that
I also have raised the bridge and the action to a ridiculuos level..and the buzzes wont go away..strange..
Before the problem exist, the relief is very little and the actiion is super low....without any significant buzzing...
BTW, could you please explain in detail how you do it with the book?

pierreyves · « **Reply #10 on:** May 18, 2011, 12:47:44 PM »

As Far As I Know (thanks to translate, I must look on google...), Alembic's truss rods have single action. All my alembic I have had (about 7) had single action except those I specifically asked for a dual action (2). Raising the nut and the bridge a little would affect the neck position and become like a bow (arc = bow ? = arch ?) in lighter of course. The string action work well in this case but you must be patient.
I place the book (10 cm high) between strings and fingerboard at the 20 fret (around).
I did a picture on the club some years ago but I don't remember where. Adriaan, help ?! I need to work now, I come back as soon as I can

FC Bass · « **Reply #11 on:** May 18, 2011, 03:20:15 PM »

Here you go: Too strong truss rods?

pierreyves · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2011, 03:29:02 PM »

Thanks FC !!

here is the asked explanation:

roberto · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2011, 05:23:48 PM »

thanks for the picturespierreyves
I will try that too!
/robert

roberto · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2011, 11:21:43 AM »

good news..
I loosen the bass side rod until it is compltely loose and can be turned by fingers,then I tune the lower 3 strings higher than pitch, even more than 1 step higher..but still not too tight to break the strings..the upper 2 strings is 1 step higher tuned..
I did use tpiereeyves 'book method for 2 days...but I use only 2 cm thick book...and....
SOME RELIEF HAVE EXISTED ON THE BASS SIDE!!!
Im really happy...Im close to selling the bass last week...
but now , its again the killer sounding bass!!
Adriaan, terryc and piereeyves. thanks for the suggestions
best regards
/r
I