Sire M6 - issue with neck angle?

[SimonPLights]

I had an M6 5 string delivered yesterday. I've never really been great with setups and would appreciate some advice from someone more competent.

 

Initial sounds were nice, B was definitely useable but didn't blow me away with stability like I'm guessing a 37" would, but overall happy with that aspect.

 

The action was quite nice, I didn't measure, but seemed reasonably low, but there was all sorts of clank and buzz on the lower strings in the first 5 frets. I sighted down the neck and it appeared to have a back bow, more so on the treble side. I checked the relief by fretting first and last and the strings were touching against every fret.

 

I put the allen key in the truss rod and realised it's been tightened up loads. Doesn't appear there is enough adjustment left in the saddles to get it down to a reasonable action.

 

To me, this suggests the neck angle is wrong? It was a B Stock model so I wondered if the initial owner wanted low action and had just cranked the truss rod, but then I saw a review for a different bass on Andertons (not the place I bought this one) - translated from French:
 

Quote

"The guitar delivered to me is not adjustable. The bridge bridges are at their lowest. The neck is adjusted to the flattest (slightly hollow) via the truss rod and the action nevertheless remains much too high."

 

Curious what other people would do. I really want to like this bass but low-ish action is quite important to me, and I don't want something that is potentially flawed.

 

Thanks

 

Simon

 

Edited Saturday at 15:55 by SimonPLights

[spyder]

Unfortunately I would send it back.

 

[neepheid]

Agreed, don't mess about with it any further. And if it is dodgy then shame on the retailer for flogging it as B stock - gotta check these things

[Andyjr1515]

There may be other issues - but your analysis of the trussrod seems right.  If the string is hard down on the frets when holding down at 1st and 14th, then the trussrod is too tight.  Before sending it back, it might be worth trying to loosen it until there is a 'just-perceptible gap' at the mid point fret.