Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 (edited) On arriving home yesterday with a rather expensive acquisition, I gave it a close inspection and found that the truss rod adjustment nut is buried inside its aperture by about 5mm. The action and relief are okay at the moment so no immediate adjustment is needed. I haven't attempted to adjust the truss rod so I don't know whether it functions. I would normally use a StewMac truss rod crank (see below) on this type of bass, but I don't think it would even fit in this one. Should I be worried about this? Should I be thinking about taking it back? — and if so is this a valid reason to ask for a refund? Edited April 30, 2023 by Jean-Luc Pickguard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I wouldn't be overly concerned if the action is good for you. At some stage you may want to put a washer behind the trussrod nut to space it out a bit more and I've seen a number of older basses where this has been done. It might be worth taking the neck off just to see if there is any movement on the truss rod though, just in case you do ever want to/need to adjust the relief. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I'd be making myself a tool like the one in the pic but with a longer 90 deg blade, specifically to fit it. As above prob a good idea to ensure the TR does actually work while you have a window to return it if it's fkd 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Should I be worried about this? Should I be thinking about it back? — and if so is this a valid reason to ask for a refund? Kinda depends on the make a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 6 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Kinda depends on the make a bit It’s a 1971 Fender mustang - it wasn’t cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineweasel Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Isn’t this quite common with old Fenders? You’re expected to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 1 hour ago, pineweasel said: Isn’t this quite common with old Fenders? You’re expected to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod. I'm more concerned about what has caused it to be so deep in the hole - eg compression of the wood at the end and it if might break down further in time. In my experience chromes or similar strings on a mustang or musicmaster wouldn't normally pull enough relief into the neck for the truss rod to require being tightened to any great extent to counteract it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Yep, I’d have the neck off, and just try a couple of adjustments in either direction to be sure the truss rod works ok. It looks alright to me, I’ve seen worse. Just make sure it isn’t ragged up tight with no further adjustment available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Agree with Rayman. Taking the neck off, checking and replacing should be a 15-20 minute job and will hopefully bring peace of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Looks like someone tried to adjust it without removing and have scrunched up the scratch plate slot which typical of Fender is too small to accommodate a truss rod key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Just get a Philips screwdriver witha suitably size head, heat it up on the shaft 1" before the tip, and bend it to 90 degrees. Instant tool. Ooer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 2, 2023 Author Share Posted May 2, 2023 The bass has been returned for a full refund. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 (edited) You could always seek consolation in Salmon Pink (Black or White) @ £170 https://www.fender.com/en-GB/squier-electric-basses/other/squier-sonic-bronco-bass/0373802580.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3v7oy4PX_gIVSuztCh3pKA9SEAQYAyABEgLk3fD_BwE Edited May 2, 2023 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: The bass has been returned for a full refund. Was it frozen solid? Can you tell us what/where the bass was just in case one of us buys it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 2, 2023 Author Share Posted May 2, 2023 I was able to give the truss rod a tweak to decrease the relief using my stewmac tool (without taking the neck off) and it didn't feel any different to a normal truss rod, so I think it is probably okay functionally, however I just don't know enough about what is inside the neck causing the ajustment nut to be recessed so much. My main reason to return the bass was actually that it was listed as a 1971 mustang, but the serial number indicated that it was not quite that old, and there were other clues to back this up. I believe this was a genuine mistake, and the shop owner did seem genuinely concerned that I had been let down, so I won't name the shop publicly. It is a terrific bass otherwise — certainly on a par with my perfectly set-up twin JMJ mustangs, but with a lighter swamp ash body and some good-looking genuine mojo. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 5 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: The bass has been returned for a full refund. Good shout. Truss rod aside I would have considered the loose fit of the neck joint unacceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 2, 2023 Author Share Posted May 2, 2023 There’s no problem with the neck joint — that was nice & snug. The pickguard is a bit off though as can be seen in the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 Probably due to shrinkage. Got any pics of the whole bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 Alright then — https://reverb.com/uk/item/63044138-fender-mustang-bass-1971 (the price was lower in the shop) When I was there yesterday a couple of chaps came in, one looking very much like Matt Berry. He saw the mustang sitting in its open case and said "That is a thing of beauty" In a perfectly modulated rich baritone voice. I told him about the bass and he expressed that he'd be more interested in a 1974 one so I showed him where they have a similar '74 mustang hanging on the wall. And that is how I met Matt Berry. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 41 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Alright then — https://reverb.com/uk/item/63044138-fender-mustang-bass-1971 (the price was lower in the shop) When I was there yesterday a couple of chaps came in, one looking very much like Matt Berry. He saw the mustang sitting in its open case and said "That is a thing of beauty" In a perfectly modulated rich baritone voice. I told him about the bass and he expressed that he'd be more interested in a 1974 one so I showed him where they have a similar '74 mustang hanging on the wall. And that is how I met Matt Berry. Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 32 minutes ago, Marky L said: Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Alright then — https://reverb.com/uk/item/63044138-fender-mustang-bass-1971 (the price was lower in the shop) When I was there yesterday a couple of chaps came in, one looking very much like Matt Berry. He saw the mustang sitting in its open case and said "That is a thing of beauty" In a perfectly modulated rich baritone voice. I told him about the bass and he expressed that he'd be more interested in a 1974 one so I showed him where they have a similar '74 mustang hanging on the wall. And that is how I met Matt Berry. Ah wow amazing! I wonder why the preference for a '74, not sure what changed between 71-74. Good to know Matt is a mustang fan though, all the best people are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 (edited) I thought it would be a YoB thing which was later confirmed by wikipedia — where his birth date is stated as 2 May 1974, So yesterday was his birthday. He wasn't specifically looking for a mustang — I think he tried a jazz later. But I agree the best people are mustang fans. Edited May 3, 2023 by Jean-Luc Pickguard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 The neck plate serial number indicates 1976 not 1971! Check the pots date codes and the stamp at the heel of the neck. 5 years make a huge difference in terms of price! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 3, 2023 Author Share Posted May 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Hellzero said: The neck plate serial number indicates 1976 not 1971! Yep - that's what I said when I took it back, and they agreed to refund once what I said was confirmed. I mentioned the sunken truss rod issue also, but only in passing as the wrong date was my reason to decide to return it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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