Headless/Fretless Bass Problem (High action off fretboard)

-DMB- · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 11

Merry christmas everyone.

Anyway to get to my problem acouple days ago I recieved as a gift a headless/fretless Maestro (cheapo brand) 4 string bass and I really like it. However, the strings are really far off the action compared to my other basses. I have taken the bridge down as low as it will go but the strings are still insanely high off the fretboard. Do I need to take it into a shop and have the trus rod played with or is there anything I can do to fix this dilemma?

Thanks
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pooch · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

Could be that the string slots in the nut are too high...could be that the bridge is the wrong one, maybe fitted by a previous owner ? ...could be the truss rod needs tightening. Could be all 3

With NO truss rod tension, the string tension bows the neck concave, making a big gap around halfway up the fingerboard. Adding tension on the T rod will compensate for that, but if your bridge and nut are set up wrong, you wont cure the high action with just truss rod adjustment

oogie boogie · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 31

First test the bow in the neck. The easiest way to do this is to hold a string down at the first and nineteenth fret simultaneously. If there is more space than you can fit a business card under then you need to tighten your truss rod. Don't worry, it's not some kind of crazy voodoo, it's just a somewhat delicate operation and something that takes time.

First things first, make sure you have the right tool for the job. If it's a hex wrench make sure that you are using the EXACT correct size for the truss bolt. If it's a nut, use the correct wrench. If it's the screwdriver type, use the correct on, preferably the one with the right angle. If it's the screwdriver type, you'll definitely need to loosen all of the strings before making the adjustment.

Now here's the part that lots of folks screw up because they get impatient. TIghten the truss bolt ONE QUARTER TURN. 90 degrees. NO MORE, UNDERSTAND THAT? Now, tighten the strings back up and let the neck adjust for at least six hours. SIX HOURS. Don't rush it or you can mess up your neck. The wood in the neck has to adjust to the change in tension. After six hours, retune and do the same test as above with checking the gap under the 8th fret as you hold the string down on the 1st and 19th. If it's still high, make another 1/4 turn tighter. Keep this up until the string get closer or you make two full turns. If you make a full turn and you don't notice any difference, you may have a stripped truss bolt or broken rod. In most cases, when the truss is adjusted correctly, you should not have to bring the bridge saddles all the way down and doing so will make you strings buzz and fret out.

Don't strip the truss nut. Tighten it gently. Please let us know if anything changes and we can advise you further. Good luck.

O