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Post subject: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:54 am
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Hi All, just a quickie question for the experts (Brother Dave ,Oxfan etc), I have been offered a Mex P Bass circa 2002 /2004 but when i checked it out the neck had far too much relief on it, On checking the truss rod i noticed the Allen key socket had been rounded off, shall i leave this Bass well alone or can the socket be replaced without too much hassle ? ...Many Thanks...Peter


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:43 pm
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does it have too much back bow (Flat) or too much relief(curve)?

If the truss nut is stripped - that is a problem. Sounds like you can't just show it to a repair guy before you buy it. Or can you?

Believe it or not some guys will just tighten the heck out of the nut- not knowing that when you adjust one you just turn it 1/4 to 1/2 a turn at a time.. if even that much.

Okay I've got you warmed up for Brother Dave.


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:53 pm
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Thanks Stroker....Yeah there is too much bow on it, It´s like taking a cab from the strings to the fingerboard !,Being a Mexican with i suspect a non metric size socket some idiot has tried to force a metric key into it and stripped it and there are no what i think is the US Imperial ? size tools available in Europe....Still whats to be expected when they maintain their vehicles in the same manner !!....


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:10 pm
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EYIE CARAMBA !! A Stripped truss rod ... :( if the seller is cool he'll go with you to a repair tech to see if it's repairable ....... :)


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:37 am
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These nuts can be replaced. But ordinarily they are replaced because the screw threads are stripped or the neck needs some spacers added because the nut is maxed out. Ordinarily they are not replaced because the nut access point is stripped. The same process to replace the nut is used sometimes to insert spacers (such as washers) behind the nut to compensate for a maxed out truss rod.

There is a mahogany plug that is glued into the nut access hole and it is usually a darker color than the maple. This wooden plug has to be removed in such a way as to be reused and glued back in. A heat gun melts the glue and then the plug can be worked out with a slight bit of force while the glue is hot. Once the plug is out the nut will screw completely out of the truss rod adjustment opening and off the truss rod, if you can find a way to turn the nut since there are no angles left in the access point. That is somewhat of the big "if" here.

I suspect the nut got maxed out and someone tried to tighten it more anyway, this stripped the nut's access and may have also damaged the threads or jammed the nut. StewMac sells the nuts. It is a fairly straight forward swap out but you need the right tools and I'd probably not try to do it myself because truss rod work is serious business sort of like heart surgery because mess either one up and the patient dies.

Even with the plug out you may not be able to get enough of a grip on the nut to get it to unscrew. Maybe and maybe not. Especially if the nut was forced any at all beyond the thread it might be jammed and you might never get it to budge. Whether or not you can get it off is really the mystery here.

I think I'd pass on this one and look for one with a working truss rod and save myself a lot of grief, worry, suspense and expense. The last time I had a nut removed so spacers could be added was about 15 years ago and it cost about one-third of what the MIM instrument did when new.


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 6:00 am
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Thanks for the info Brother Dave et al , Yes i´ll pass on it.... I was quite lucky insomuch i could actually see it and touch it and not have to rely on trust via a "non returnable" internet sale....Peter


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:11 am
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Good Idea Pete Bass,...... there's a lot a good used issue free Fender Basses out there & for what you would have payed to repair it you could get a used American Standard or American Deluxe...


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:48 am
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Thanks James, I will delete this topic when i can find the delete button..... :oops:


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:31 am
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nah,.... don't worry about it we all learn something from discussion's like this as will people who read this posted thread down the road....


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:54 am
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I would also pass - but I have what I think is an interesting piece of information to pass along.

I used to play Ibanez SR500s when I was on the beach, which is often in FL, because I didn't want to expose my Fenders to the salt and sand. I bought a second one online and it came severaly over torqued and stripped -I had to take it in. The guy used a tool that looked an easy out from my mechanic years. He stuck it into the stripped head and it bit right in, returning the neck to flat.

I thought is was cool, anyway.

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Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:12 pm
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OP- I can dig the "take a cab from the strings to the fretboard"!!! That's great!! I have played "other peoples" basses before where that is the case. I think they just don't know the should adjust the thing-- not sure.


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:23 am
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Just an update on this Mex P Bass, the owner asked me if i could repair it , I replied i will "give it a go" and after trying many different makes of Allen keys, I decided to try my expensive set of Torx (star keys) and the first out of the box fitted !! so it was neck back on body, strung up, neck tightened with key, action lowered and did the intonation all in 35 mins, phoned him up " that will be 25 euros please thankyou " and no im still not gonna buy it cos i´ve already got the same year 2002 Mex P bass and 5 others :roll: ....Peter


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:51 pm
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Cool!! Good job !!! :)


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Post subject: Re: Truss Rod
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:15 am
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Welcome Pete Bass to the swinging, swirling and profitable world of bass techs!


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