Neck tweak

[mgod]

Some of you know that I have a mess of 60s and 70s Guild basses (after accumulating them for 48 years). I've VERY rarely attempted to adjust the necks, because there are so many people more competent than me. But times are the times they are.

I believe my fretless M-85 needs a neck tweak. I tried to use it on a collaboration with Susanna Hoffs and Rusty Anderson last week (doing Petty's "Free Falling", for his 70th birthday), and the closed A (E string) sucked right out. I ended up using a long-scale Modulus fretless with a Dark Star.

I'm informed that Guild specs are different than Gibson specs. Can someone point me to the correct adjustment tool for a '68 Guild bass neck?

RT gives his blessing, by the way.

 

[fronobulax]

I'd use a 1/4" nut driver as a tool. That's what Guild branded and sold to do the job circa 1972.

The advice I recall is do 1/4 of a turn at a time and wait. Can't remember which direction adds bowing and which relaxes. If it doesn't turn, WD-40 might help but it also might be time to pass the hat and pay someone you trust.

 

[Happy Face]

Right tighty, lefty loose.

 

[mgod]

Frono, passing the hat won't help when there's no one to take it to at the moment. David Neely would be great - but there's no seeing each other for now.

 

[fronobulax]

Right tighty, lefty loose.

But I always spend too much time convincing myself that right is the same no matter whether the headtsock is in my lap and I am looking down the neck or the body is my lap and I am extending my arm up the neck

 

[mgod]

So I figure the last time I needed to do this, like 20 years ago, I bought a 1/4” nut driver, because I had one. Turned a 1/4”. Waiting til tomorrow morning to see if there’s any playing result.

 

[Happy Face]

Yep.

But what a testament to the bass that the neck held its shape for so many years before demanding to be tweaked.

 

[mgod]

Especially for the last 30, when it’s had nylon-core strings on it.

That may be why it moved actually. For many many years it had Rick’s strings made by T-I. I put on some LaBellas he gave me earlier in the year and I didn’t much like them - they’re higher tension. I got another set of T-I, and the difference in tension may have done it.

 

[mgod]

Also - I’ve gotta say: I hate doing this shit. Just lemme play. My brother does these kinds of adjustments like god. But, you know, COVID, cancer, all the shit.

 

[Happy Face]

Like you say, it's a chore. Especially if you change string types.

But a handy road skill, no?

 

[mgod]

Urg.

 

[Happy Face]

I found Guild basses tricky to intonate sometimes because of the traditional issues with the E string when using a harp tailpiece. (Until I drilled out a longer slide path.) But Rick basses could also be a challenge since I wanted the action so flat.

Because of that, like Mgod, I've been reluctant to change string types. Why bother ? That just leaves you with the two seasonal tweaks. (Not applicable to LA residents.) Though I have been able to switch between TI Jazz flats & rounds without too much angst.