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Removing the neck on my Fender Jazz bass to access the truss rod


rocketman

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So my three-month old Fender Geddy Lee signature Jazz Bass started buzzing. I thought to myself "no problem, a little tweak on the truss rod and I'll be all set." The truss rod adjustment is located on the pickup side. Then I noticed there is no groove to access it. OK, so off comes the pickguard, but to my dismay I still couldn't get to it. Now I'm fuming with a bunch of Greek swear words coming out of me. [cursing]

 

So I take it to my guitar tech who tells me that the neck has to come off to adjust it. He did it in about a few minutes, but had to take and put the neck on a few times. He was nice enough not to charge me.

 

I did a search on this and it's pretty much true, although some people have some suggestions on alternatives. Look here. Here's a video on this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vCCVAlb0Kg

 

Well I have an obvious question. Can't they make this easier?

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So my three-month old Fender Geddy Lee signature Jazz Bass started buzzing. I thought to myself "no problem, a little tweak on the truss rod and I'll be all set." The truss rod adjustment is located on the pickup side. Then I noticed there is no groove to access it. OK, so off comes the pickguard, but to my dismay I still couldn't get to it. Now I'm fuming with a bunch of Greek swear words coming out of me. [cursing]

 

So I take it to my guitar tech who tells me that the neck has to come off to adjust it. He did it in about a few minutes, but had to take and put the neck on a few times. He was nice enough not to charge me.

 

I did a search on this and it's pretty much true, although some people have some suggestions on alternatives. Look

. Here's a video on this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgET75Wmy2o&playnext=1&list=PL8576A624E9292BB8

 

Well I have an obvious question. Can't they make this easier?

 

I guess just sticking with tradition on neck style... Older Strats are the same way. A capo and an electric screwdriver can speed up the process...

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Had the wrong video in there, which has been updated now. I heard that some Teles are like this too. I don't know. I guess the engineer in me makes things like this make me go nuts...

 

Yeah a lot of the reissues are like this. My 52 AVRI butterscotch Tele has it but so far the action has been perfect and haven't had to mess with it.

 

newguitars024.jpg

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The first year Pontiac Fiero had to have the engine loosened from it's mounts so the engine could be raised by a hydraulic jack. Why?

To change the OIL FILTER! [cursing]

I don't think that Fender is that bad.

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I have a '65 Precision and a re-issue '62 precision. Adjusting the truss rod on either is a real pain in the neck (no pun intended). This is yet another effect of the obsession that has swept the guitar buying public that any change made to a design within the last 40 years ago or so is automatically bad. There is no good reason to have the adjuster in such an awkward place, and Fender recognized this many many years ago. However,the vintage/reissue market demands that details that were actually detremental to the utility of an instrument are reproduced, because "vintage construction is better."

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I build guitars but am only familiar with the Gibson desings.

 

Why can't they route a little channel under the pickguard, so that a wrench could fit in and access the truss rod without having to remove anything but the pickguard?

 

Or do they?

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Fender does the slot opening on the PG, to access the neck adjustment screw or nut, on the American Standard, American Special, and Highway One Series basses.

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I build guitars but am only familiar with the Gibson desings.

 

Why can't they route a little channel under the pickguard, so that a wrench could fit in and access the truss rod without having to remove anything but the pickguard?

 

Or do they?

 

It would be an easy mod....

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Had the wrong video in there, which has been updated now. I heard that some Teles are like this too. I don't know. I guess the engineer in me makes things like this make me go nuts...

 

 

My MIJ Strat XII is the same way (only I have to deal with 3X the number of strings that you do on your bass!)

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The first year Pontiac Fiero had to have the engine loosened from it's mounts so the engine could be raised by a hydraulic jack. Why?

To change the OIL FILTER! [cursing]

I don't think that Fender is that bad.

 

my DeVille (Cadillac, not amp) has to have the intake manifold removed to replace the starter.......to replace the head-gasket the entire car has to be lifted and the engine dropped from under it......

 

never again.....

i'll stick w/Lincoln from now on

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Hey Bender 4 Life; That sounds like good plan. A good friend had the first year Fiero. 1984 I think. Kinda' wonder how they missed something as simple as an oil filter.

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