Fixing a twisted neck ?

Ok here is the deal a buddy of mine was in need of some cash and wanted to sell his Bass Guitar so i bought it.. Its a Ibanez.

Anyhow he did not tune it for a couple years and because of that the neck is twisted to where the fret bars touch the 4th string but not 1, 2 or 3. Some Guy at guitar center told me that all it needs is to be set up but he wants like 30 bucks to do so. My father in law told me that all you do is tighten or loosen the bolt that goes down the inside of the neck.

So i started to mess with it a little and i did get it somewhat better but i still get a lot of the rattle sound from the 4th string touching the fret bars.

I couldn't find much information on setting up a guitar... anyone know anything about this that might help me save a few bucks + learn how to do this shit myself instead of relying on someone ? If i tighten that bolt does that pull the neck towards string 6 or away... how does this work?

read up on truss rods

and pay $30 to get someone else to do it if you're worried about destroying the neck beyond repair

The truss rod controls the bow of the neck - also known as relief.
Loosening the rod bows the neck - more relief.
Tightening straightens the neck - less relief.

None of this should fix a twist in the neck.
So - try a little truss rod adjusting - mark it before you start.
Turn it 1/4 turn at most and see what you get.
Rinse & repeat until fretting/intonation is good.

If it doesn't work - a luthier is your way out.
And when I say luthier, I do not mean guitar center.

Is the neck a set neck or a bolt on?
Bolt on, obviously, can more easily be replaced.

You could also tighten the strings up - a bit overtightened - on the twisted side and then leave it for a couple months to see if you can take the warp out.

Warped necks are hard to fix.

Just get it setup. If you don't know what you're doing you can mess shit up even worse.

*Paging Alvarez...*

Like Stilgar said, if it's a bolt-on you should probably just replace it if you can't otherwise adjust or repair it properly. If you look down the fretboard, you can see by the frets if it's warped/twisted; and if that's the case, a truss rod adjustment ain't gonna fix it.

*Paging Alvarez...*

Like Stilgar said, if it's a bolt-on you should probably just replace it if you can't otherwise adjust or repair it properly. If you look down the fretboard, you can see by the frets if it's warped/twisted; and if that's the case, a truss rod adjustment ain't gonna fix it.

ok.

it was odd tho cause while i was at Guitar Center 1 employee was helping me and another walks up to him and says "look can you set it up?" he looks down the neck and says yea then strums it and it sounds all fucked exactly like mine. i then asked him "is that what i was explaining to you about mine ?" he says yea ..then shows me the guitar and i see the twist in the neck.

Its not Guitar Center that fixes em he actually gave me his # and said 30 bucks i can fix that.

These guys the Nigerians of Guitar Center ? 30 bucks tho with my lack of knowledge does sound like a good way to go .... cause im going to be on his back like a monkey watching wtf hes doing :P



but before i call him im gonna try some of the tips from stilgar first. Thanks :rocker:

$30 isn't expensive to set it up. around here it costs $75.

SNAP

i hate my allen wrench set :(

but that has helped a lot... its still a little messed up but its playable now.. atleast for a noob like me :P


will prolly end up paying dude to get it dialed in right

pay someone

Guitar Set Up Overview (http://users.powernet.co.uk/guitars/setuptut.htm)

Guitar Setup (http://www.igdb.co.uk/pages/guitar_setup.htm)



But I'd pay the 30 bucks because it's pretty fucking technical.

wait for alvy to weigh in on this.

post pictures of the neck if it's visible warping
or is it just certain frets buzzing on particular strings

damn missed this :( sorry so late... I have been slammed busy lately. I have a box full of stuff to send Minstrel in my truck I just keep running out of time to shoot over to the post office... It has gotten THAT bad :(

From your description it doesn't sound like it is def twisted... it could be fallen action on your low 4th string. A setup would remedy this..

However if it is a twist it can be fixed but most shops will say its shot. It takes a lot of patience and it can't be guaranteed. I have fixed 4 twisted necks sucessfully with custom guage strings and basically twisted the neck back into position.

A twist is essentially a visible concave down one side of the neck and a visible convex down the other side of the neck. The neck has twisted and you have the choice of having really high action on 3 strings and normal action on the other 3. Or you can have normal action on one side and buzzed out action on the other 3.

For a twist on an electric 10 guage guitar with convex on the high string end, I put 13 guage strings on the high 3 strings and 10 guage on the low strings. I tune the strings standard on the low end and 1-2 steps higher on the higher strings. I out in a very moist box or room with a humidifier(not soaked! just moist). I try not to steam near fretboards as the fretboard will pull or pop up and create all kinds of new fun.

For the opposite twist reverse sides for guage differences. Besides pulling the neck off, removing the fretboard, and steaming the neck I have never seen anyone else straighten a twist and I have been called lucky that my way worked... however I have done it sucessfully 3 times and the 1st one was my ASI sustainiac I have posted many times... For your bass and a confirmed twist I would put a 5th string in place of the 4th and prolly go a little heavier on the 3rd but not as extreme as the 4th.. then just keep on tuning the bass daily and keep in the moist environment.

There ya have it. The expert speaketh. All joking aside, I would trust Tony to fix my Tele or give me advice on how to do so any day. He is the man.

LOL *knocks on wood* I have made everyone happy thus far... Hopefully I don't ever turn someones axe into a flashy compound bow :D


naw I think its safe to say I know what I am doing by now after 16 years hehehhe

I just want to stop in and say THANKS once again. I took the advice here and messed with it a little by myself. I cant play the thing for shit so i did a little tweaking it sounded better and put it on the wall.

Few nights ago my buddy who can play comes over picks it up and the things sounds pretty damm good especially since the strings are prolly 3+ years old

A true bass player would prolly think its still a POS but its prolly the guitar anyway. i have heard Ibanez suck ass anyhow

I like ibanez stuff personally. I don't like them as well as Schecter but they are still great guitars for the money.

Its a bass tho, and ibanez basses aren't great.

eh? One of my favorite basses is an Ibanez. Whats wrong with them?

http://www.ibanez.com/images/hzoom/EDB555WNF.jpg