Need some help with my 4003

[Bosifis1]

Hi-ya gang!

Pulled my Rick bass off the rack for the first time in months(I know, I know...a sin!). Had some trouble with high action and lowered the bridge as low as it would go. Still the action was painfully high. Then, I noticed a problem-the strings were higher in the middle and low everywhere else. I propped it against the wall and looked at it from the side. The neck bows in the vicinity of the 5th to 12th frets!!! AHHHHH.

I don't know a darn thing about truss rods and don't want to mess with them unless I get some good guidance.

So kids, any advice?

Thanks, Brian...

[dog]

Sure Brian, truss adjustments are easy. To correct for relief in the neck you will need a thin wall 1/4" nut driver. You should avoid anything like a T handle or ratchet. You will notice that the 2 rods will adjust each side of the neck, and you should try and get both sides as flat as possible. To remove relief, turn the nuts clockwise which will tighten the nuts. Do not try for more adjustment than one full turn will provide. If after turning both nuts a full turn you find that there is still relief, let you bass "rest" for a day and then check it again. It is best to check the neck after each 1/4 to 1/2 turn. To check the neck as it gets close to flat, fret the G/E strings at the first and last fret. (a capo may help with fretting the first frets, leaving you with a free hand) With the bass fretted in this manner, you should have no more than the thickness of a sheet of paper between the middle frets and the string. When you have achieved this fret to string spacing in the middle of the neck, your neck will be flat and then ready for any bridge adjustments you may need.

Truss adjustments? You can do it, we can help.

[Bosifis1]

Thanks a bunch Ron!

The right truss nut was VERY loose. I had to turn it a few times to get any tension at all. I turned it almost a full turn and noticed a huge improvement. It's still bowed a little, but I'm gonna take your advice and let it "rest".

Thanks again. Now I'm gonna check out the rest of my guitars!

Brian

[dog]

Glad to help Brian. If you are curious, the reason for letting the neck rest is just so you aren't forcing a badly bowed neck all at once. Chances are that after you have gotten your neck flat, it will stay that way for a good long time. Glad you had guts enough to do it yourself. If you have any other needs, there are guys here who are more qualified than me, and will lend a hand.