Bass In 244 Seconds : Truss Rod Adjustment

[evilbob1001]

I'm having buzz only on my 1st frets of all 4 strings on my j reynolds bass...thanks for the tip bout to try and relief it up and see if it still buzzes

[HeyDavidiii]

Thanks CB777 - I had a lot of bow on my Stingray (didn't realise) and have fixed this thanks to your clear explanation. It plays much better now as far as action is concerned. Small adjustment to string height on E sorted a slight buzz, but apart from that - really pleased with the end result. You're a top guy for saving me a few quid! Cheers

[PunkAdict90]

translate to serbian :D

[panamanian911]

Very helpful. Thanks.

[santiagoeag]

i demand that this video shall be named "Truss Rod Adjustment (Narrated by Jonah Hill)"

[airsoftm16]

@santiagoeag HAHAHA I cant unhear it now!

[JustPlayBass]

@airsoftm16 I hope this guy has a "Jew Fro".

[Jeudaos]

good videos. very good camera angles. can see just what your talking about. I plan on getting a 5 string bass sometimes when I can afford it. I subed.

[jeffharper47]

why is it so zoomed in!

[akupadaku]

thx coolbear, it's very helpfully especially for me. :)

nice tutorial.

[stringzmusic661]

Please People Do not touch your truss rods im a guitar tech and you want believe how many people we get with messed up necks because they touch the truss rod

[jambi880]

I heard that you should adjust your truss rod if you are dropping all the strings to a lower tuning. Is that true?

[CoolBear777]

@jambi880 That is true. Especially if you were used to the action to begin with. Angles, feel and height will shift.

[puppetmetal]

The G String on the 21st fret buzzes a lot, and one solution to that was raising the action, but it only stops buzzing when the string is extremely high. Any other solutions?

[CoolBear777]

@puppetmetal You may have to shim the neck to change its angle. Take it to a repair person if you feel queasy about it.

[theluisandeddyshow]

Please visit your channel

[MyHauntedExcursions]

I have a Yamaha and the rod is at the bottom (by the pick ups) If I have the bass upside down (headstock towards the ground) would I still turn it right-tighten to create a back bow or flatten the nack?

[smokeyoperation]

whit size allen wrench do i need?

[CoolBear777]

@smokeyoperation Basses can be different. Try a few. You'll find it.

[ItsMeLegit]

All my strings are buzzing and They are pressed up tight against the frets. I've tried tightening my truss Rod and the neck remains bowed outwards. What can I do to fix it?

[CoolBear777]

@ItsMeLegit Go back the other way. See what happens.

[PsnIDShMuK]

@ItsMeLegit if it still buzzing after turnign the trust rod both ways and no go. try your string gauge. your strings are too heavy or too light look into that

[torturedklown]

@ItsMeLegit You can also adjust the saddle height on the bridge, if that doesn't take care of it you may have a bad nut (ie cut too deep and causing the strings to hit the fretboard), or worst case scenario you may need to have your frets dressed and leveled. If you can't fix it on your own it's better to take it to a local music store that repairs instruments and have them look at it. You don't want to cause any damage to it. (as can happen when you say over adjust the truss rod). good luck :)

[jeffharper47]

@ItsMeLegit you can also adjust the bridge, you have to everytime you adjust the trust rod to get it perfect.

[jokersmile32]

the low b on my 5 string is a whole half step off at the 12th frett. ive moved the saddle all the way back, even taking the spring off, but still have the problem. should i try to adjust the truss rod? all the other strings are fine.

[CoolBear777]

@jokersmile32 Hmmmm. That's a poser! I had some trouble like this with one of my basses. The problem was with the string. There was too much mass on the saddle. It just would not intonate properly. I got a taper-core "B" and it was much better. A lot less mass. I think the string actually "spoke" more clearly, too. Try that before you get to the truss rod.

[jokersmile32]

@CoolBear777 thank you i will try that. someone also suggested i lower the action, which helped a lot.

[michiniyami]

hey man

[michiniyami]

may E string is buzzing.. can it fix by adjusting the trusrod?

[CoolBear777]

@michiniyami It may. Are the strings low against the fretboard? If not, some high frets may be to blame.

[SimonRivasV2]

my strings are way to damn tight. so is left or right a better option?

[CoolBear777]

@SimonRivasV2 Tough question to answer. What gauge of string are you using? To what pitch are you tuning? Are the strings hard to press down on?

[SimonRivasV2]

@CoolBear777 i believe they're a medium/regular gauge.tuning is standard 5 string ( B E A D G)  Watch the video i attached and you can see how tight they are

[ReapersShredder]

it is possible to adjust the rod with a different tool?

[CoolBear777]

@ReapersShredder Yes. Some older basses like Fenders are adjusted with a standard screwdriver.

[Spacedraptor]

Cheers CoolBear i bought a Kramer bass online when it was delivered the set up was appalling to say the least. You made adjusting the truss rod easy to understand, so much so i made the adjustment with confidence. (I was always frightened of snapping my neck before.)

[Nateisbored]

(using a schecter stilletto 4 string) i tried to give more relief on my truss rod earlier today. i when i put pressure on the allen wrench, it didnt budge at all until i used a lot of force. finally it moved about 1/8 of a turn and i was completely afraid i may have broken the rod. i doubt its broken because it still plays fine. Should i just have someone at my local music shop do it?

[CoolBear777]

@Nateisbored If it frightens you, take it to the shop. As you said it plays fine. You'll hear some scary noises from time to time. It should be ok. There are things I will defer to a repair person. I'll still try to do everything within my scope. Saves a bit of money. We could all use that! Take care.

[PlasterCaster94]

Cheers, this helped alot,

I've got a Yamaha RBX375,

The ''relief'' point's at the bottom of the neck on the body,

Just wondering, what's the best tool to use as an adjuster??

[CoolBear777]

An allen wrench might do it.

[Melermometal]

If i'm using a P-bass, how many times should I adjust the truss rod a year?

[CoolBear777]

Only when you need to. I live in the Midwest. When the seasons change, the neck shifts. I adjust about three of four times a year as the climate changes. Depending on where you live, you may not need to do it that often. Thank you for the question. Keep watching.

[rurounigoku]

can you play the bass right after adjusting your truss rod? or will it damage it?

[CoolBear777]

Absolutely. Play it so so can make more adjustments. It takes time to get it just right.

[Libano603]

i've just bought my first bass,and i have a problem.

the low E strings buzzes on the 11th fret..

what i've to do?

[CoolBear777]

You may have a high or low fret in that area. Try raising the saddle for that string first. I will do a fret video sometime soon. Fretwork is a bit more involved.

[NoahXBloodyXNoah]

Thanks this was helpful. I had forgotten which way caused more bow. lol

Thanks for making this

[sonicshori]

i changed the strings on my bass and the new strings are creating lot of buss the first three frets are dead on all the strings but before changing the strings my bass was working great and i didnt even touched the bridge could you please help me out on what couldhave happened

[CoolBear777]

Are you using the same gauge and brand of string? Did you remove and replace right away? Did the nut move or shift out of position at all? Get back to me when you can.

[joepic85]

Hey, I have a similar issue.. I changed my strings and it seems like the bottom of the neck by the body seems to have a larger gap between the neck and the strings. But on the first 3 frets up at the top, it seems to be a bit closer. Would I need to get something adjusted?

[CoolBear777]

Hmmm. Possibly. If the action feels good, and the bass sounds good, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[spawnsc]

sounds like your using the wrong strings to me..

[solosofsorrow]

A little advice, you should adjust your neck in playing position to get the best feel possible. Adjusting with the neck leaning against your bed or any other surface may put external and unnecessary force upon the neck, making each adjustment less accurate.pickup adjustments to get the sound to match your taste, or as close as possible to your liking. This is another reason why it is good to learn how to set up guitars and bass for yourself to have it personalized for you.

[CoolBear777]

Absolutely right! Tweak and play. That's how you really dial it in. If a neck is really "out", this may take some time. I agree that every guitarist should learn some of these techniques. It will save you some money.

[ButlerGTAS]

MAN! I LOOSED IT BUT IT IS LIKE A BOW NOW!

[CoolBear777]

Go back the other way. Gently.

[spawnsc]

can you shoot arrows with it? :)

[Kenshred]

hey joe, you mentioned letting your bass sit for a day, after adjusting the truss rod. is this to let it settle? should i not play my bass at all during this time? thanks for the help

[CoolBear777]

Yes it is. I'm not saying you should not play the bass at all, actually, you'd be getting a more immediate response if you do. Playing will give you the feedback you need to really dial it in. I'll let it sit on a non-gig day, or if it was really out of whack.

[Kenshred]

thanks again, once again your videos are a big help. thanks joe

[CoolBear777]

Thank you.

[jklop91]

One thing that I noticed when people hear snaps when adjusting comes down to the allen wrench. You would have to do more than 1/4 turns at once to hear the bad snap. Sometimes if you have the right allen wrench size but it gets stuck in the bolt and when you force it you hear a snap, it's in fact the allen wrench that slipped in the bolt. A good indication to switch from Metric to Imperial allen wrenches or vice versa. That way it should fit with little play and it shouldn't get stuck in bolt.

[CoolBear777]

Yes. You're right. Not all snaps and noises are a bad thing. There is a bit of popping and creaking when you adjust. That sometimes happens when the instrument hasn't been adjusted in a while or at all. Like you said it could be as simple as the wrench size.

[fingerboy18]

How about double truss rod basses? I don't want to have my neck twist.

[CoolBear777]

It's just double the fun and longer the time it takes to adjust. Just be patient. My 6-string is a beast with double truss rods. Takes a bit of time to get it together.

[guitarmanRB]

so since this ist to raise or lower the strings what do i use to do that is it the thing at the front ( i have no idea what its called )

[CoolBear777]

The truss rod nut or bolt. It has many names. More often than not an allen wrench of the appropriate size will do. Sometimes a standard screwdriver is used on older models from say, the 60s.

[DamageIncM]

Oh by the way:

How you said that you like a flat neck because you like to do tapping stuff...

Well, I wanted to frontbow my guitar's neck because I'm a really heavy picker and even if playing softer there is too much sizzle on the lower frets, so I have no choice.

However, I also do tapping-stuff like Satriani's stuff and Metal-solos.

Would that become an issue or could I just keep playing that?

[CoolBear777]

I can understand the heavy picking thing. If you really like you guitar, you may need a MAJOR overhaul! Truss rod, saddle adjustment, and a re-fret. I would take it to a reputable repair shop and tell them what your dream guitar should do for you.

[DamageIncM]

Weird... I just set my guitar's trussrod only yesterday and you replied (at this moment) 23 hours ago.

But I now know how to set the saddles/bridge and trussrod, but I wouldn't know how to re-fret.

If you mean to put all-new frets on there, might be expensive too.

Anyway, I got it to buzz a lot less, but the sound also seems to have gotten softer, because the sharp buzz it gone...

Would you know about that?

My guess it's just a case of setting the sound of the electric equipment or not?

[CoolBear777]

I believe the sound got softer because you raised the action to eliminate the buzz. Raising the pickups will bring up the volume a bit. Be careful not to get them too close to the strings. The magnetic pull will decrease the sustain a little. You might get some "clacking" from the strings hitting the pickups, too.

[DamageIncM]

Yeah, the kind of "edge" probably disappeared or at least reduced.

The pickups were already set closer before I adjusted the neck though, so they're already quite close.

The strange thing with (active) EMGs though, is that you don't have much of a choice since EMG recommends you put them really close.

I guess then again you don't have to worry about the lighter magnets right?

Because I believe that is the reason for putting them close.

[lilfili123]

i was lossening my truss rod and i heard a snap u recon i broke it?

[DamageIncM]

Hm, not necessarily, especially with loosening as you're not making the wood tighter of course.

And it depends on how much you turned it.

I think you can also just hear snaps from the moving of the wood, not really breaking it, but I wouldn't really know.

But nice video CoolBear.

I've looked into the trussrod a lot but it would always just confuse me.

I only got to understand it in the last couple of days.

Cause now it's really time to get rid of my buzzing guitar, as the bridge didn't help.

[LinedUp3]

Hi there, I have a 5 string Ibanez bass that I picked up for the first time in a while and i am getting some fret buzz :( pretty much through the whole fretboard until about the 15th fret. Would this be a truss rod adjustment or bridge adjustment? I like my attack low because i like to slap and what not so I don't want it too high. I've never adjusted the truss rod on my own and I think its about time I learned seeing as how the local guitar repair shop went out of business.

[fingerboy18]

It is most likely going to require both the truss rod and bridge height adjustments.

[CoolBear777]

Absolutely right. They go hand in hand.

[CoolBear777]

I wish you all the best! I think everyone should learn to do some of these things and save some money. Above all, you're really getting to know your guitar and how to personalize it for you. If saddle height and truss rod don't do it for you, it may need a re-fret. That would be out of the scope for most. However if you feel like getting into it, there are great tutorials on that subject. I've done them and am getting better. I still defer when I think I'm getting over my head.

[Monton101]

Oh and..is it possibly after loosen my strings, they could eventually start buzzing again?

[CoolBear777]

It could happen. When you change the tension on the neck you may need to tweak and re-tweak the bridge and truss rod.

[Monton101]

Hey, how do I know how much string to cut off each string?

[CoolBear777]

Check out my video on restringing. I give you an idea of how I determine this.

[Monton101]

Let's say the HEx rod is completely chipped. (IN example). I could just take pillers, and turn it towards the right, right?

[CoolBear777]

You could try. I don't think you'd get much out of it. You might also strip the threads on the rod itself.

[Monton101]

Can the weather make your truss rod move? LIke if it gets too cold, would it move? And if it gets too warm, would it move?

[CoolBear777]

Not exactly. The cold and heat will cause the wood around the truss rod to contract and expand thus making the neck shift a bit. Extreme temperature changes should be avoided. Always let the instrument warm and cool gradually. Try not to bring the guitar in from the cold and immediately take it out of its case. This could even cause the neck, or even the body, to crack and split. All the best! Take care.

[Monton101]

Yes it moves very easily. My first time. Turned it right (to my left) stupidly and was tightening it. I realized, and quickly went left (my right side) and loosened it. It sounded so much better after. Only one side is a bit chipped

[Monton101]

My truss rod is a bit chipped..like a little bit chipped..is this bad?

[CoolBear777]

It should be ok as long as the wrench still grabs.

[Monton101]

One of the sides of my truss rod the hex is a bit chipped..a little bit chipped

[CoolBear777]

I'd have to see it. Does it move at all when you use your wrench?

[Monton101]

Is it possible the trauss rod can move by itself? LIke after years of leaving it alone?

[CoolBear777]

Not likely. It can stiffen up from not being used. Be gentle about getting it to move again.

[Monton101]

Can you loosen the bass too much?

[CoolBear777]

Too much, you'll have an upbow. Your string action would probably be way too high.

[grumo81]

What would be the correct order? Truss rod, string height, intonation? Also, thanks for the righty tighty! Easy to remember! ;)

[CoolBear777]

Intonation should always be last. The other two... you can do in either order because one will set the other off. It takes a little time to "dial them in". Patience is the key. Take care.

[AdamDixonWooten]

Classic ibanez jazz bass i like it!

[CoolBear777]

I like it, too!

[ZOMGItsRobot]

This video is so helpful dude, thanks.

I have a bass that I really liked when i started playing and now that my technique has developed, ive noticed that the strings are a little high and there seems to be a little bit of relief in the neck. I hate taking an old bass that i dont play much in for an adjustment, so doing it myself is going to be much easier!

[CoolBear777]

Cool beans! Let me know how it goes. Later on...

[ZOMGItsRobot]

Yeah it went really well! I was being really cautious (a friend said that he accidentally split his neck once so i was a little bit worried haha) and i dont think i twisted it even one quarter turn. but it was enough!

[R0b1zzle137]

I think it straightened, it seems easier to play on. Is the height of the action supposed to chance instantly?

[CoolBear777]

Almost instantly. Keep an eye on it, though. It may go more than you intended. If that happens, back it up a bit. Great job. Keep me posted.

[R0b1zzle137]

If my bass has the truss rod on the other side, near the body, do I turn it the opposite way. For instance, if I want to make it have less relieve and tighten it, for straighter neck, would I still turn right, turn left? Will the neck bend instantly? Or will I have to wait a couple of days for it to straighten out? Also, should I loosen my strings before doing this?

[CoolBear777]

Hello there! They're pretty standard. Righty-tighty - Lefty loosey. Remember to be gentle about it. Always do a little - check your progress - continue. It's not necessary to loosen the strings, but you will need to re-tune constantly. Let me know how it goes.

[skahalakemd]

To coolbear777 about how much would it cost to get this done by a store?

all i need is a general average cost if u were 2 know

[CoolBear777]

That's a tough one to answer. All shops are different. I know of one that does this type of setup for a $22 per hour bench charge. Even if it only takes them a few minutes to do it, give the shop at least a couple of days for this. They will suggest you buy new strings. Old ones just won't do. While you're at it, new strings need to be intonated. There goes more time, and money. This is why I suggest reading as much as you can on this subject. Try to do all that you can on your own. Take care.

[skahalakemd]

ok

i actually did it myself!

its just sittin at home right now cuz i want the wood 2 set them im puttin the new strings on and ajusting the hight of the strings then intonation and all that jazz!

[CoolBear777]

How's it goin'?

[skahalakemd]

great my bass feels great now!

[callthemall]

hey can you do a video explaining more about the harmonics playing and style? and also could you do a video on different modes you can play on bass? thanks.

[CoolBear777]

Absolutely. I have one more of this type of video and then more about harmonics, modes, and all that cool stuff. Thanks so much! Take care.

[phxhere]

thanks again! perfect video, it'll help a lot

[phxhere]

thanks again!