Zephyr

Just a wee update. Bought myself a Harley Benton PB-20 SBK; £110 as back up. I have not touch the encore since. It competes on all levels and looks so sweet. The value is off the chart as far as I am concerned. The Encore’s weight (early 90’s Indian ash) is an issue. Instead of carrying it I drag it. Gorgeous to look though!

Wow!! Thank you for the extensive explanation. It’s given me an incredible insight into the whole neck set up an issues. brilliant… thanks!

Woah laddy! Stub end and neck pocket, geez make your pushing my geeeetar vocab. Stub end/strap button end(?) but neck pocket, I get. What I do not get is how is the engineering dynamics of the process that only adds pressure to the top 3/4 inches not the whole by adding the shim. Just need to know if I undo the neck and find something there what to do next. And, as you are sound, well informed, have you ver straightened a neck without using a truss rod? It a cool looking bass, the tones alright, and just want the action sitting just that little bit lower around the 5-12 frets.

Downunderwonder, assuming an Oz, (helping an Oz) I believe your on the right track as the neck seems to be less stressed and less fret buzz already since the adjustment. Even with the bow. It is much more playable almost perfect but the for the occasional light zzz around the 7/8 fret mid strings. The bass was an unknown since buying it found it’s from late 80’s/early 90’s, encore e83. Weighs a flippin ton, but I am ok with that. BUT if does not resettle totally, and saddles being already at the hilt (highest) then suggestions will be appreciated as it would have a good life. But yes, will try your recommendations. and thx

It seems I have a conundrum. The neck of the early nineties encore bass had an arch in the top 3 frets to the nut. Need to sought it out as had fret buzz on lowest F first fret E string. Thinking it was too tight I loosened it so that it was straight from but down to third fret. Considering all the meshing around adjusting, loosening the truss rod from the heel, bridge end, I thought not a bad effort. Until I had the pick guard on again and found I had a bow from the 3/4 fret to the 15th. Now I am getting fret buzz in the middle around 5-7. Anybody know what it going on?

Just to up date on progress. The neck does bend away from the strings about the second and third fret nut end. I took off the scratch plate/pick guard and loosened the rod to get the best action I could. It’s was not that difficult a task. Quite quick and simple. I think or am thinking that the neck has a permanent arch nut end, be it in the wood or rod. You see when I loosened it enough to get that wee bend straightened at the nut end It also created a subtle dip from 2/3 to 12/15 frets. Indicating that to straighten I should tighten. And then the string note tuner did not recognise the E string. I eventually fiddle around until it did … but weird. Is it the Tuning peg or the tuner? or is the string not wound enough around the peg and slipping? It’s playable but still has that occasional buzz. recommendation please. (Not getting rid of it, just yet)

No, my intention is to slacken the bend. The bend is going back not towards the strings. But if Go too far the other way then I will loosen string when tightening. I got a second opinion regarding the straightness off the neck. Both of us believes the neck arches back around the 3/2 fret. Which we think is a bit weird. As it usually in the middle 5-7…8. Or is it? But yes I will get my Allen key out this weekend and update next week. I will investigate making a hole in the pick guard as well. So as that I do not have to remove the when there is movement. The feel of the neck is near perfect so will do all that I can to set it up to stay. The sound of the bass is good if not great for what I paid for it; £50. Played with a fender jazz, and, thought tones were comparable. But we really did not test all areas of tonality. BUT THE WEIGHT OF THE THING! Stops the blood flow resting on you thigh when playing sitting down.

Hahahahahahaha!!! Thanks very much and appreciated if though I say it with a wee bit of mucking about with pickguard and strings. But good to know it’s accessible. I have see on the old fenders that peeps have cut holes to adjust the rod down at the heel so I will take measurements when accessing and see if I can make a hole specific for Allen key or wrench. thanks again!!

Just wondering if anybody had an early 90’s Encore e83 bass as I am pretty sure the neck is too tight, arching, which is giving a bit of fret buzz. Only on the F first fret low E string. The saddles are at the hilt when I first got it (used) so I am guessing there has been an issue with the fret buzz and the previous owner had attempted to alleviate the buzz threw raising the saddles at the bridge. So I want to loosen the rod a tad. It starting to grate. But the truss rod is in the heel of the neck; bridge end. NOT nut end. So questions are Encore e83 related. Has any body been down that end and made adjustments? What size is the truss rod and wrench? Is it hex or cross head truss rod? That information is not easily available so hoping there is some one with that valuable insight and info.

A month in and realising set needs tweaking. any on know the encore truss rod wrench size.

I am thinking I should at least attempt find out what size the encore bass truss rod is so if I need to I make the adjustment. Or the size of the wrench. Does anyone know?

Not sure what you mean that the nut slot on the E may be too high. The pressure on the string is not too bad to get a noticeable bend before the fret and can get a clean sound when fingering softly without too much pressure. But receptive to all suggestions.

rmorris and Velvet, ah yes ….understood !! I will update after the bass gets a second look by a more experienced eye, than I. And all feed back appreciated. cheers

rmorris and Velvet, ah yes ….understood !! I will update after the bass gets a second look by a more experienced eye, than I. And all feed back appreciated. cheers

It is a temperamental beast. This is where I am not sure. If I play the Low F softly and fingered correctly then no fret buzz. But as soon as I give it some attitude I get the buzz, rattle. so I am going to get a second opinion regarding the neck. It may be bowing a tad. The bridge height is at its highest so I am thinking the person before me attempted correct the fret buzz by increasing height on all strings. I think it will be a matter of fiddling with the truss rod eventually or remedying the ridiculous situation of having to take the pick guard off each time you need to tweak the neck.