Another neck adjustment question

wilbur · Post by **wilbur** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 5:13 pm

Mark,

This is in reference to a 360/12CW with stock Rickenbacker strings. When sighting down the neck, should the neck be perfectly straight or should there be a slight bow to it. I've heard differing opinions and I'll accept yours as the correct one! Thanks.

Jim

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 5:50 pm

Today I put a twelve saddle bridge on my 370/12. Yesterday the neck had about 0.011" of relief at the 12th fret (with a straightedge laid across the fret tops, sitting on the 1st and 24th frets, using feeler guages at the 12th fret). So, I gave each truss rod a one-third turn. This morning, when I checked, the relief was about 0.003" and I'm going to stick with that. I probably should chech my 360/12v64, but after dressing and slotting the saddles and then restringing, I've had about all of the guitar techiness I can stand for one day.

The 370/12 sings!

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 5:53 pm

...also, I noticed that this guitar has the countersunk slots in the bridge mounting plate that John discussed (two years ago?) here.

Didn't need to move it on this one.

G

wilbur · Post by **wilbur** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 3:47 pm

Gary,

Thanks a million. Sometimes the most obvious things are right under your nose and you don't even know it. I've used feeler gauges many a time in automotive work - adjusting valves, spark plug gap etc. but never even thought of it for this application. I checked mine with a straight edge and it was about .015 at the 12th fret. I got it down to about .005 and will stay with that for the time being. It does wonders for the action.

Thanks again,

Jim

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 9:39 pm

Jim - report back in the spring after a winter of dry heat. My 360/12v64 neck "wanders" with the seasons. Roger McGuinn states in his video that he will routinely tweak his before shows. I knew the action was high on the 370/12, but I also knew that I'd be putting a new bridge on it. I'm pleased as can be with it today... I suspect it will also need adjusting come spring (although now that I'm in the Pacific NW, maybe there won't be a "dry" winter - like back east?)

G

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 6:39 am

I try to set up everyones electric guitar (not basses ) with a neck that is as straight as I can get it .

It is NOT an acoustic , and you will NEVER gig with it unplugged . So the strings do not need to have a lot of relief in the neck . This means ... go for dead straight.

Acoustics... that depends on how hard you play , whether you are a finger picker , use a flat pick , play with a banjo player (I forgive you), or play outside camping and beat the guitar like a jockey coming around the 4th turn . Then you need help that I nor anyone can give you . I do work for plenty of players that play that way .
I pull my hair out .

If you have some kind of pickup/mic system , then again , you don't have to play as hard as the guys at the beach playing in the wind.

Basses ... that is a finesse thing and it depends on your slapping technique . If you are like Stanley Clarke, Bobby Vega, Jeff Berlin , and Larry Graham , then straight as an arrow is THE way .
If you are Bootsey Collins , then you need more relief ... and then we get into the Rock posers .. more relief is the norm .

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 6:07 pm

mark,

you said "Basses ... that is a finesse thing and it depends on your slapping technique . If you are like Stanley Clarke, Bobby Vega, Jeff Berlin , and Larry Graham , then straight as an arrow is THE way "

when you say straight do you mean flat as in no underbow?

you then said" and then we get into the Rock posers .. more relief is the norm ."

hey now! lol

thanks

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 2:03 pm

Okay a little rough ... sorry ......you can't see the tongue in my cheek .

If you play really hard , then you will need more relief . If you are a noodler (John Patatucci) then you want NO arch /dip to the neck , or only a couple .001's of an inch ......basicly dead straight .
NO "Underbow"

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 2:45 pm

thanks for the reply Mark.

i play with out beating up my bass so i guess i need to tighten those truss rods to get my idea string hight.

thanks again