Neck bow/rods

[VRICKY63]

I just bought a 1986 4003. The bass is well used but overall solid. I have the truss rods as tight as they can get but the E string side of the neck is still bowed with more relief than I like. I removed the strings and loosened the truss rod nuts all the way back. In this state, with no tension, the neck is bowed forward. I'm sure the rods were never adjusted by the previous owner and the bow has been in the neck for many years.
Is the neck permanently bowed or would new rods fix this? Also the more I tighten the E string side rod the more it gets cocked to one side so the rods look almost like a V.

[jps]

It sounds like one rod is rotating in it's channel. I take it these are the current/new style rods? are the acorn nuts pulled up into the neck cavity by the body end of the neck?

[VRICKY63]

Nuts are at the headstock end. Is there a way to fix the rod rotation? I do not see acorn nuts. Would they be under the pick guard?

[jdogric12]

Curt Wilson just fixed an 85 360 for me that had spinning rods. Might want to reach out to him.

[jps]

Nuts are at the headstock end. Is there a way to fix the rod rotation? I do not see acorn nuts. Would they be under the pick guard?

Yes, pull the pickguard and look at the cavities at the end of the neck.

[jps]

...spinning rods.

Some kind of eye disease?

[ram]

...spinning rods.

Some kind of eye disease?

sex toy?

[VRICKY63]

The acorn nuts are at the body end under the pick guard. So what is the fix?

[jps]

The wood is soft enough that they are being pulled into the body. The rods need to come out and then superglue needs to be applied to the wood in that area to saturate the wood and harden it. Another possibility would be to add a steel/titanium plate for the acorn nuts to bear against but this would require more careful work in that area, but superglue would still be a good idea even under the plate to strengthen the wood there.

[VRICKY63]

Thanks for your help Jeff. This is an ebay buy. The case is very mildew smelling and I think the bass was put away damp with sweat. I could send it back but this bass has the nicest neck. The neck is very much like the 1977 basses I have owned. Very narrow and thin. I think I'll try to make it work. Luckily I'm just across the bridge from Paul Wilczynski so maybe I will have this bass restored.

[jps]

For sure, Paul should be able to fix this right up.