Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

"I have the bass standing on the floor in front of me, hold the top of the headstock with one hand, push the heel forward gentlywith my knee, not applying too much force, always looking down the neck to see the curvature, and with the other hand I tighten the nuts."

So i don't have to adjust the trussrod to change the action(straightend a bit)?
Thanks!

If the neck is straight, action is adjusted at the bridge, with the two Allen screws.

Well the neck isn't straight.. but i don't have to adjust the trussrods to straightend it a bit?

video!

Philip, first of all you need to adjust the neck as straight as possible, for that you have to use the truss rods. Next step is adjusting the action with the bridge screws. Use light gauge strings, 4001 necks weren't designed to withstand higher tensions.

"I've bent many of these back up myself, if you are careful you can do it, I've used needle nosed pliers usually, and this is very common with 4001's. I bend them up just enough to get a 1/4" nut driver on them. It's a good idea to put a clamp over the aluminum block first though so you won't pop the fretboard off. And always take tension off the neck when adjusting 4001 necks, just bend the neck backwards to do this, you do not need to loosen the strings or anything like some people will tell you. I put the bass on the floor with the middle of it behind my knee then bend the neck backwards at the nut slightly to take the string pressure off the truss rods, then I adujst them. This is a very easy and convienant method as you don't even have to move the bass to see the amount of relief you have in it."

Is this a proper way?

Yes it is. The first part of this description refers to pulling up bent-down truss rod ends, usually the result of previous improper adjustment. I hope yours aren't bent down.