Neck hump

[rb4003]

I've posted this on the ric website as well as here (straight neck ?)... I think I need all the help I can get with this one (4003 Rickenbackerbassman) I've been working to try and get my neck straight
Sorry to be a pain but more help needed.
Over the last week I noticed a hump has appeared about the 12th fret position (if I put a capo at the 1st fret and hold down strings e or g at the last fret I have relief from the last fret to the 12th and then relief again from the 11th to the 1st).
I managed to cure this by releasing the truss rods half a turn but now I have relief all the way down the neck of approx 40 thou at the 11th fret. any ideas on where to go next would be appreciated.

Dave.

[qwezirider]

First, welcome aboard, Dave.

Gads, I cringe at the thought of this one all over again:

http://rickresource.com/forum/viewtopic ... 3&t=341918

The only thing that I could do that worked was to swap mine back to the original owner (Charly!) for another of his basses as he likes much higher action than I and it didn't affect him. There are some more serious solutions in that thread than what I tried (or was equipped to try). Maybe someone else has found a good home remedy for this one since then.

[johnallg]

For info and reference:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_ ... %20neck%20?

I know what it says there, but I've had two necks that had the hump and the only way to clear it I could find was to straighten the rods almost completely (you need just a bit to get them in) and that did it. F W I W

[rb4003]

John, when I started trying to get the neck flat I did'n't have a hump but had forward bow (relief) of approx 3/32" at the 12th fret. This I could not remove no matter how much I tightened the truss rods. John Hall then advised me that I might need to bend the truss rods to cure this problem. This I did which gave me less relief but then the hump appeared. It seems I can either settle for a level of relief or a slight hump with less relief. I'm just hoping that the more experienced plyers / luthiers out there may have a few more ideas for me to try.

[johnallg]

David, at this point, I would remove the strings, remove the rods, let the neck settle for a week, then make a judgment call as to straight or curved rods. I will say my necks were straight with the rods out. With the curve from the factory, one neck had a hump around the 11th or 12th fret that would not go away using the usual methods. I believe the rod flipped over in the neck causing this. Any curve in a rod I've seen has been continuous and even, with no kinks or back curve to them.

[doctorwho]

Welcome, David!

When you take steps to correct the problem, please post your results in this thread for future reference.

[rb4003]

When you take steps to correct the problem, please post your results in this thread for future reference.

most definatly

cheers guys.

By the way big smiles today I just became a grandad ... got me a grandaughter..... first 1

[johnallg]

Hey that is really great news! I'm 56 with 2 daughters and a son but no grandkids yet. Congrats, GRANDPA!

[rb4003]

Cheers John ..I've got a gig this weekend so bass will have to wait until next week for the next stripdown.

[scott_s]

Were it my bass, I'd put it on my neck-jig and relevel the frets under tension -- PROBLEM SOLVED!

- Scott

[rb4003]

O.K. Latest on the neck, detesioned strings and released truss rods left for a couple of days neck is sraight with no tesion on it. Snugged up the truss rods and began tightening strings (adjusted truss rods as required after tuning each string). final adjustment made with guitar at concert pitch ... 2 days later neck is still straight. Gonna keep an eye on it now for a while.
Thanks for the help and ideas.

Dave.

[qwezirider]

Whew! Congratulations on saving it so far. That would be fabulous if that did the trick for good.

[rb4003]

Jeez ...just re read my post ... gotta take more time with my typing

[rb4003]

o.k. one week later neck still flat

[doctorwho]

That's great to hear, David! Congrats on a good repair!