Truss rod doesnt straighten neck completely

C

coldturkey

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Hi,
I have picked up a second hand Streamer LX.

The neck has an 'up-bow' on it, but only when the strings are put on and tightened.

Tightening the truss rod has helped significantly, but it still is not quite there yet.
The neck is straight when the strings are not on it.

I have tried tightening the truss rod more, but it doesnt have any effect. Truss rod definately is not snapped, I can loosen it off and keep going and it bends the neck to have more up bow.

I can keep tightening the truss rod forever, and there is quite a bit of resistance but it just doesnt seem to counter the effect of the tightened strings.

Ideas what is wrong? Anything I can try?
 
Does the neck have an up bow? I'm not sure you're terminology is correct.

If the neck is straight when the strings are off, putting on strings will ADD relief to the neck, containing a concave relief pattern, not convex.

Assuming there is concave relief in the neck, what is the measured relief at the 12th fret when the 1st and 24th fret are fretted?

A neck should NOT be straight, it must have some relief to be playable. Preferences on exactly how much relief there should be differ from player to player, but there must be some. If the neck is absolutely straight the bass will not be playable.

;)
 
Welcome to the forum :-)

Luke is right, the neck should not be strainght, it should have a little relief. When you press frets 1 and 12, you should have around 7th fret a space enough to put a business card there.
 
take off the strings again and help the truss rod with gentle physical force:-) (when the truss rod is already tight never ever tighten more with the strings on:-)
as the nut won't take it).

If you have a removeable truss rod (no neck volute) you can loosen it and take it out and check the thing (no big deal)
 
Ok, I have measured the 12th fret clearance when holding 1st and 24th, it is about 2.5mm, but at this string height I still get fret buzz when playing 7th fret.

I have taken the strings off and tightened the truss rod more and more and more, it is firm but seems like it is having no effect.

I realise it does need some relief, but this is way too much and I cant seem to straighten the neck anymore.

The truss rod is not removeable, and it can be tightened backwards to give it more relief it wanted. Any thoughts? apart from removeing the fretboard and checking out what is wrong?
 
Are you only getting buzz at the 7th fret, or everywhere on the neck?

Which way are you turning the truss rod?

You're right - 2.5mm is quite a lot of relief. I have about 0.75mm relief on the bass I have in front of me at the moment, and no buzzin anywhere.

Is the truss rod turning freely, or is it quite tight? Sometimes with the two way truss rod you find the truss rod is 'in-between' tightening and loosening the rod, and it takes a number of turns for it to start having an effect. This may be the case, but if it is you should not feel like you have to force it.
 
Fret buzz is only on or around the 7th fret, I am turning the truss rod the right way (if I turn it the other way the bow gets worse). It is definately tight, however I feel like I could keep turning it and turning it (with force) and it doesnt have any effect.
 
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