Knackered truss rod and fingerboard removal HELP PLEASE

[police squad]

I recently bought a blue Aria TSB550 fretless. It had a seized truss rod.

Now it appears the nut at the headstock nut isn't straight and after a few weeks of WD40 down there, still no movevment and we are thinking that it's cross threaded.

Even if we get the nut off, it would never go back on.

 

I'm thinking to remove the fingerboard, replace the rod and re-attached the board

 

any hints and tips are welcome and I would like to do the work myself

 

TIA the BC massive

[BigRedX]

Calling @Andyjr1515

[Andyjr1515]

I'm flattered, but I'm probably not the best to advise on this one.  The Aria TSB550 is probably fitted with a single-action trussrod and the best way to refit another single action rod varies depending on the make...and I've done loads of stuff on Arias (and LOVE them!), but never a truss-rod replacement.  You can, of course, replace a single action trussrod with a modern dual action one - but Arias, in my view, are a bit too special for that.

 

I'm sure some folks better experienced than me will mosey along soon...   

Edited 21 hours ago by Andyjr1515

[Grahambythesea]

I’m sure you have seen this and others, I think you would be brave to try but clearly it’s possible.

 

[Richard R]

4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

You can, of course, replace a single action trussrod with a modern dual action one - but Arias, in my view, are a bit too special for that

 

Why?  To my mind it's a sensible upgrade that wouldn't change the sound or value of the instrument but would make it more usable. I assume you might have to chisel a bit if the original slot is not flat-bottomed?

 

You have done lots of removal of fingerboard removals, Andy, and one of your threads has a really good step-by-step with photos which I would link to but I can't find it.  

 

 

[NickA]

I had a truss rod issue on a bass I'd had a lovely ebony board made for. 

 

Tried to remove said board as though it was on a double bass, using steam and gentle prizing, to get at truss rod only to find the "luthier" had glued it on with araldite. Broke the board, damaged the neck planing off the remains of the board, new neck required ....which has been pretty good for the last 35 years, so happy days!

 

And here's a scary thread about someone ( who knew nothing about Wals) repairing two Wal truss rods.  He did it tho!

 

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/scary-neck-repairs-two-wal-necks.1616350/#:~:text=He sent the neck to me%2C expecting,to replace the truss rod and fingerboard.

[MichaelDean]

Having removed a fretboard on my own build before (because the fret slots weren't right), it's very easy for something to go wrong. My fretboard came off in chunks and the neck split at one point. 

 

If it's a bass you value and you haven't tried this on something expendable first, get it done professionally. 

[Andyjr1515]

11 hours ago, Richard R said:

 

Why?  To my mind it's a sensible upgrade that wouldn't change the sound or value of the instrument but would make it more usable. I assume you might have to chisel a bit if the original slot is not flat-bottomed?

 

You have done lots of removal of fingerboard removals, Andy, and one of your threads has a really good step-by-step with photos which I would link to but I can't find it.  

 

 

I posted a few (including a scary Wal!).  I'll try to find a couple but will need to convert all the photos due to Imgur UK restrictions.  It may take some time!

[BigRedX]

6 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said:

I posted a few (including a scary Wal!).  I'll try to find a couple but will need to convert all the photos due to Imgur UK restrictions.  It may take some time!

 

ImgBB is a decent replacement for Imgur.

[police squad]

14 hours ago, Grahambythesea said:

I’m sure you have seen this and others, I think you would be brave to try but clearly it’s possible.

 

Great video but it's a thru neck

[police squad]

2 hours ago, MichaelDean said:

Having removed a fretboard on my own build before (because the fret slots weren't right), it's very easy for something to go wrong. My fretboard came off in chunks and the neck split at one point. 

 

If it's a bass you value and you haven't tried this on something expendable first, get it done professionally. 

I don't think my guy wants to do it which is why I'm prepared to have a go myself. The bass is pretty worthless as it is

[Belka]

Once the fretboard is removed I'd assume it would be unsalvageable. The rest of the neck would be fine but I've never heard of any luthier/tech being able to reattach one.