NickT Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 Does anyone here ever find that they need to make adjustments to the necks on their instruments due to changing weather conditions? If not, what instrument do you play? I am getting to the point where I can't be bothered with wooden necks anymore. I'm gonna buy a Status 5 instead. (Cheaper than a Zon and more weirdo value...hmmmm a headless Classic maybe?) Free your mind and your ass will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Gollihur Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I'm along the Jersey shore, and I am constantly breaking out the truss rod and bridge adjustment tools year 'round -- it's a pain in the butt! But that's the way it goes-- I'm not going to move 1000 Upright Bass Links, Luthier Directory, Teacher Directory - http://www.gollihurmusic.com/links.cfm [highlight] - Life is too short for bad tone - [/highlight] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Lyons Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 Yep, Jersey's rough, and worse for me because I play with a REALLY low action. Gotta keep tweaking becuase with how low I play, the slightest change will cause horrible buzzing... \m/ Timothy Lyons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan Orr Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 My action is mid-low (on fretted basses) and ultra-low on my fretless. Indiana is ok, but I still adjust it in the spring and the fall. groove, v. Inflected Form(s): grooved; groov·ing transitive senses:1a.to make a groove in;1b.to join by a groove;2.to perfect by repeated practice;3.to throw (a pitch) in the groove intransitive senses:1.to become joined or fitted by a groove;2.to form a groove;3.to enjoy oneself intensely;4.to interact harmoniously - groov·er noun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I was playing my six-string on a regular basis for awhile and didn't touch my Kubicki. I left it in my studio during the rainy season and did my practicing with my six in a small room upstairs. Had a gig come up that I wanted to use the Kubicki and the strings were laying on the neck. Great thing about the Kubicki it's real easy to adjust the trust rod. Quick turn and right back in business. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I'm surprised you brought this up Nick, as you live in the UK - I've found that the climate here is so mild (boring) that I never need to adjust either of my basses once they've been set up properly. That's one reason I'm still considering getting a real upright rather than an EUB - I don't know how all the upright players in places like NYC, the intrument must spend half its time in the shop! Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJR Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 Yes....NY'er checkin' in here. I've found that , generally speaking, the Neck'thru's I've owned are a bit more tempermental than most of the B.O.'s. Either case.....never a real problem. I like tweaking. PJR 5CentMary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mro Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I like my action low and buzzing drives me nuts.I'm continually making adjustments. Good old New England weather. The saying here is" If you don't like the weather, wait a minute"...I still would like to play a modulus but have never seen one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John, just John Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I'm in New Jersey, playing a Rickenbacher fretless and haven't adjusted my midlevel action in years. I play with no relief in the fingerboard, and just raise or lower the bridge a hair now and then. My upright doesn't need "adjusting"-I think by the time the neck is reacting to seasonal changes, you need a new fingerboard because you've planed the old one down too many times. John, just John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 My Stingray has very easy trussrod access via the nifty "spokewheel"....it doesn't take me long to quickly adjust the neck back to where I need to be. I don't have to adjust my Zon's graphite neck at all, but it doesn't make me play my Zon more than my Stingray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I never did an adjustment on my Gibson EB3 until I changed to strings with much less tension. I used to leave it in the car for 7 weeks in Feb/Mar/April and only take it out for a weekly gig (I'm in NYC area - there were days in the 20s-40s, snow, rain, etc.). Sometimes it was in tune from week to week. It was short scale, mahogany neck. I've just had to adjust my Kinal about 2 weeks ago - about 1/8 turn because the neck had "flattened". I won't mind if I have to do 2-3 small adjustments in a year, but more than that would seem unstable. I've tried Modulus and Zon, and wasn't blown away, for many reasons. I know the graphite necks stay put, so travelers like them. Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I've never adjusted my Ric 4003 (only had it a year though). And I guess there's not a lot of difference, climate wise between London and N.Ireland. I'd be crapping meself...I'm not that way minded. CupMcMali...this monkey's gone to heaven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibescotty Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 I've had to adjust my P-Bass a few times this year but I just completed building it at the end of last year. I'm chalking that up to different strings (DR High Beams) and some settling in. It holds it's tuning very well though. My berger is very stable and I hardly have to touch it. Double Posting since March 2002 Random Post Generator #26797 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted June 3, 2003 Share Posted June 3, 2003 My Mex P-Bass Special's only been adjusted a few times since I bought it in 1994. I play with a slight relief, and use a medium low action, with just enough room for slapping. I don't like it too low, buzzes too much for me. I'm not Billy Sheehan. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uber Posted June 4, 2003 Share Posted June 4, 2003 once my truss rod is set up corectly i have never needed to adjust it again , i have checked it once or twice but no need to do any tweaking, i just live up the road in newcastle so the weather is almost the same , i pity u guys that constantly have to tweak your neck because of the environment you live in , that must be mildly anoying ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebrownbass Posted June 4, 2003 Share Posted June 4, 2003 Actually, the URB has such mass in it's neck, it doesn't move very much. On the other hand, the body moves a lot. Think of the URB (especially a carved one) as a giant sponge (remember, there's no finish on the inside.) So when the humidity goes up, the damn thing explodes, and when it goes down, it implodes. The very best solution is to keep a humidifier inside to equalize the moisture content of the wood. With an older bass, this is essential. Also, this is the main reason basses have wheels in the bridges. "Let's raise the level of this conversation" -- Jeremy Cohen, in the Picasso Thread. Still spendin' that political capital far faster than I can earn it...stretched way out on a limb here and looking for a better interest rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBF Posted June 4, 2003 Share Posted June 4, 2003 since i got my fender jazz i've never adjusted it anymore. it has been a year now and i have not noticed any buzzes at all. when i change the strings (about time already) i'll give it a try. since i've never done it i'll have to take a peek at the owners manual. Scales don't do music. Melody does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted June 4, 2003 Share Posted June 4, 2003 I used to get my Ric 4003 adjusted every year, just for good measure. But I haven't done that in many years, and the neck is still right where I want it, with very low action. VERY stable. (Thanks heavens--I'm too askeered of tweaking TWO truss rods!) With the recent rise in humidity in the midwest, I noticed a bit of buzzing here & there on my fretless Sterling (which has super LOW action), & it just took a wee little turn of the spokewheel, and voila--perfect. Nice. My Fender has too concave a profile for me, at the moment; I like it almost totally straight, with low action. This would be easy enough to fix, but here I'm up against the one thing I don't like about this bass--no truss rod access without removing the neck (and I'm a wuss about doing something so apparently invasive). I'm hoping that increased humidity & a lighter gauge of strings will put it about right; otherwise I'll have to break down & tear into it. (What I ought to do is have my tech put a rout in the body under the pickguard... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banta Posted June 4, 2003 Share Posted June 4, 2003 Well, I have two Zons including the eight string shown here that have graphite set necks that are always perfect. http://bassforum.pointbeing.com/users/banta/images/zon8-1.jpg I also have two (neck-thru maple) Rics that sometimes need adjusting, especially if going into an extreme temp change like an outdoor gig in sweltering heat. http://bassforum.pointbeing.com/users/banta/images/4003S5-1.jpg I haven't had to adjust the Rics lately due to climate though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan Orr Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 Originally posted by davebrownbass: Actually, the URB has such mass in it's neck, it doesn't move very much. On the other hand, the body moves a lot. Think of the URB (especially a carved one) as a giant sponge (remember, there's no finish on the inside.) So when the humidity goes up, the damn thing explodes, and when it goes down, it implodes. The very best solution is to keep a humidifier inside to equalize the moisture content of the wood. With an older bass, this is essential. Also, this is the main reason basses have wheels in the bridges.Alex, I agree with DBB, In the winter, it was too dry so I had to pop in a Dampit, gotta refil it every day, but then again, if you practice everyday like you should, then it shouldn't be a problem. But since you live in the UK, I envy you. groove, v. Inflected Form(s): grooved; groov·ing transitive senses:1a.to make a groove in;1b.to join by a groove;2.to perfect by repeated practice;3.to throw (a pitch) in the groove intransitive senses:1.to become joined or fitted by a groove;2.to form a groove;3.to enjoy oneself intensely;4.to interact harmoniously - groov·er noun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD_dup2 Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 I live on the west coast of Florida and deal with incredible humidity and temperature changes year round. I adjust the action on my Barvarian flatback only when I change bridges (been a long time). The action is a little higher than many upright players like but it gives me a better bite using Eudoxas. The bass is a lot soggier in the summer and does not project as well, especially if I play an outdoor gig. I do not use a Dampit, I never have too little humidity. I like just enough twist in my Jazz's neck to keep my nickel strings from buzzing. I like fresh strings and adjust my setup and intonation at least as often as I change them. I keep allen wrneches, phillips screwdriver and electronic tuner in the Jazz's hardcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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