Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Can someone please clearify if I am correct in my lingo.I see alot of posts about relief.Is relief when the neck is bowed due to the stings pulling the neck in the direction of the bridge?

Straight is no Bow. Push down srings at first and 12th. Strings should follow neck ll the way down.

What would be if the neck was bowed in the other direction. Head back away from bridge?

Then the big question... If the neck is bowed do you tighten the truss rods to straigten? Does it ever happen that the truss rod nuts are loose and the neck has no bow? It is flat?

Regards
Vinnie

You've got your terms correct.

Bow? Tighten a little bit, maybe 1/4 turn each and wait 24 hours (on a Rick).

Backbow... that's much worse (at pitch). Try heavier strings!

If the truss rod nuts are loose and the neck is flat, you've got a good start on adjusting the neck properly. String the guitar or bass and tune to pitch. Now tighten each truss rod nut until the neck is nearly straight, 1/4 turn on each nut at a time, alternating the nuts.

Now leave it alone. Play it, put it into its case, whatever, just give it a day to normalize and check the relief again. Repeat this procedure until it's how you like it.

As you tighten, the neck gets flatter once strung and tuned to pitch.

OK Thanks!

jdogric12 wrote:Backbow... that's much worse (at pitch). Try heavier strings!

Or back off the truss rod nuts if they are not already loose.