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Post subject: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:04 pm
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Hey everyone. I have a neck that needs adjusting. The issue I'm having is that the hole, on the headstock, for the adjustment is amazingly tiny (barely wide enough to fit a regular 5/32 hex key)...

I have Bullet and Standard nuts and both of them are much too large to fit. The serial is E33### if that helps at all.

The neck heel has the microtilt plate.
The headstock has Made in USA on the front.

Does anyone have any thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:25 pm
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I also want to mention that I have the Fender 3/16" T wrench, and that doesn't even fit... or it will, but turning it removes some of the walnut (which I'm not bothered by...).


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:08 am
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As Brotherdave would say - "Give Us Pictures" -

That's probably a good idea in this case. Take photos of the headstock front and rear. A close-up of the truss rod adjustment opening and the base of the neck at the body, both front and rear.

Publish those photos in something like Photobucket and get the IMG links in here in a new post. Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:58 am
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:arrow: :idea: The easiest solution is to take your bass to a qualified luthier for professional attention. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:15 am
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It sounds like you have a 1983 Jazz bass with the white pick guard and pickups.

The correct size truss rod wrench will fit through that walnut hole and your truss rod is considered a bi-flex rod.

I would rec. that you take it to a qualified repair shop for adjustment.

It is real easy to screw this up if you are not sure of wrench size and the fact that you can't see the end of the rod on those basses.

That's just my opinion.

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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:40 am
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Thanks all...
I did discover this is one of the early Bi-Flex rods. I have just never seen this, never really needed to adjust. I am capable of doing the repairs (used to be a luthier in my day gig), I just never thought that there would be a plug... seems inefficient.


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:29 pm
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BassDbler wrote:
Thanks all...
I did discover this is one of the early Bi-Flex rods. I have just never seen this, never really needed to adjust. I am capable of doing the repairs (used to be a luthier in my day gig), I just never thought that there would be a plug... seems inefficient.


It's a 1983 Fender mass production Jazz. Nothing about it is "normal." It is entirely possible someone boogered up the nut using the wrong size wrench and no standard hex wrench is going to work. Email or call Consumer Relations to find out the right size, if that doesn't work it is messed up.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Attn: Consumer Relations Dept.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Telephone: (480) 596-7195
Fax: (480) 367-5262
E-mail: consumerrelations@fender.com

I don't know off hand what the wrench size should be. If boogered up there are specialized tools at StewMac to use in a stripped nut opening. But first you have to know what the original size was. They are called "GRIPPER TRUSS ROD WRENCHES" at Stewmac.


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 10:20 pm
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Can anyone tell me for sure if my 83 has the bi-flex? It's a Precision. And tell me exactly how the adjustment works. I'm under the assumption that it works the opposite compared to a standard truss rod. Right - ? That's what I've heard but I've not messed with a Fender with a Bi_Flex rod-- thanks


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:19 am
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brotherdave wrote:
BassDbler wrote:
Thanks all...
I did discover this is one of the early Bi-Flex rods. I have just never seen this, never really needed to adjust. I am capable of doing the repairs (used to be a luthier in my day gig), I just never thought that there would be a plug... seems inefficient.


It's a 1983 Fender mass production Jazz. Nothing about it is "normal." It is entirely possible someone boogered up the nut using the wrong size wrench and no standard hex wrench is going to work. Email or call Consumer Relations to find out the right size, if that doesn't work it is messed up.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Attn: Consumer Relations Dept.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Telephone: (480) 596-7195
Fax: (480) 367-5262
E-mail: consumerrelations@fender.com

I don't know off hand what the wrench size should be. If boogered up there are specialized tools at StewMac to use in a stripped nut opening. But first you have to know what the original size was. They are called "GRIPPER TRUSS ROD WRENCHES" at Stewmac.


What was going on with normal mass production in '83?


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Post subject: Re: Weird 80's Jazz Bass Truss Rod issue
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:21 pm
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Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
Quote:
Can anyone tell me for sure if my 83 has the bi-flex? It's a Precision. And tell me exactly how the adjustment works. I'm under the assumption that it works the opposite compared to a standard truss rod. Right - ? That's what I've heard but I've not messed with a Fender with a Bi_Flex rod-- thanks


Your '83 Precision also has a bi-flex rod but don't assume these rods work the opposite way from a normal truss rod, They just have a method of being able to counter back-bow by expanding the rod length against the back side of that walnut plug.

Back- Bow is a very rare occurrence and usually these rods are functioning the same as any other truss rod.

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