' 76 MM Stingray - too much neck relief - feels like the end of the rod !?!?!?

[Steve_Karl]

I've got a 1976 Music Man Stingray with a maple/maple neck with a skunk stripe. Well ... this is the second skunk stripe in this neck.
The first stripe began to pop out, protruding from the back, broken glue joint, about 20 yrs. ago.
I eventually (after the 4 normal luthiers in Pgh. PA said ... "get a new neck") found a guy who builds from scratch to replace the stripe, about 10 years ago.
He was ancient ... very fearless and impressive. He mostly built mandolins and some guitars.
He did the replacement while I watched and then told me to come back in a few days after he let the glue dry and put some finish on the bare wood.
Total cost was $25.00.

Back to now:
I don't play this bass much and I did a quick general setup on it when I got it back.
It's now stung with a fairly new set of Rotosound swing bass 66. ( see foot note**** below )

I also have tweaked it a few times, (over the course of the last few years) slowly tightening the bullet head
trying to get the neck closer to where I like it, which is almost totally straight with just a tiny bit of relief.
I'm getting really close to wanting to record some tracks with this bass again but it has to be set up really well to do the pop 'n' slap stuff that I want to do.

When I wind the strings loose the neck settles back to just where I'd like it to look when it's tuned to pitch.
You'd think that it would go into a back bow with no string tension?
Am I correct to assume this?

OK I just did that ... detuned it and tightened the rod about 1 tenth of a turn more.
It's getting to feel really hard to turn the bullet head.
I tuned it back up to pitch and it's looking closer, but has a bit more to go before it gets to where I want it.

I'm worried about the skunk stripe popping out again.
Is it possible the threads just need a bit of lube on them?
If yes, how do I do that?

If I reach the end of the threads will it be really obvious?

Also, when just in storage, should I be loosening the strings all the way down or leaving it tuned to pitch?

Any and all comments welcome.

Foot Note ****
On the relativity of calling strings "new."
I haven't played them more than 4 hours but they're at least 5 years old.
Is there anything I need to know? They still sound like piano strings. Bright and lively.

It's probably obvious by now that I'm a guitarist and bass is just an occasional diversion.
Thanks for reading!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Steve......Pittsburgh!....Cool! I'm just north of you in Mars. For those of you not familiar with the PGH region, yep, there is a Mars, PA and we have a little spaceship in the town square and everything.....REALLY!

Back to biz......If the nut on your truss rod is getting difficult to turn, don't try to tighten anymore......You could snap the rod itself or strip the threads, then you'll have yourself a lot of trouble. Not being familiar with a MM Stingray, I really can't say anything concrete without seeing your instrument.

I wouldn't worry about the skunk stripe popping out. The possibility exists, though,  that when the stripe was replaced, glue got on the threads of the rod causing the difficulty.

To tell you the truth, if you are pretty close to being exactly how you like it, I'd leave it alone for a while. Sometimes necks take a week or more to settle into their new adjustment......And being that the weather will be warming up and the humidity climbing, you may need another adjustment in a month!

CJ

 

[Steve_Karl]

Hey there! Yes. I've been to Mars!

The reason I worry about the stripe popping out is because that happened to the old one.
As far as seasonal adjustments go, this neck has never needed them. It has always been very stable and when I get it "in the zone" any seasonal changes have still stayed "in the zone". A little bit either way is still usable to me.

Shouldn't it go into a negative bow with the strings off?

I'm only trying to get it to where it has a very slight relief when strung.
There were times, in the past with the old stripe, I was able to get it too straight, but that became obvious when it felt "too cold".
So I'd then back it off a bit and find that magic spot.

When I adjust it ( and I will be trying to push it a bit farther back ) should I get it into a leg lock and bend the neck back a bit first?

( I'm  gonna call EB and see if they have replacement necks just to be safe )

 

[bagman67]

If it goes where you want it when you slacken the strings, suppose (at least until you can resolve the underlying issue) you were to detune a whole tone and capo at the first fret?

I like me some old Music Man axes.  I hope this works out for you.

Bagman

 

[Steve_Karl]

Thanks Bagman.

Now that's an interesting idea ... the capo. I've never seen one for bass. I'll have a browse to see what comes up.

Anyway ... I don't think I'm totally at the end of the threads yet.
I'm gonna give it an other 10th turn after I get my shoes on and get my land legs back. I just woke up.

Later:
Got my shoes on ... had a pepsi ... got out the bass. Sight <^> - - - Ummmm ... I think it got closer from sitting, but still, just very slightly, too much relief.
I loosened the strings and yes. It's bowing back now. I gave it one more slight turn. Probably about 1/16 or even less.
Tuned it up ... played it a bit .... ahhh yes! It's getting really close to where it should be.
I need to fine tune the saddle screws now a bit.