Rusco Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Hi all, wondered if anyone else has experienced this issue ? I took my new American Special P to my local music shop for a basic setup. Turns out the neck was like a banana however to adjust the truss rod they've chamfered the edge of the pick guard hole with a knife saying 'the special fender tool would not fit otherwise'. Not happy but before making a scene I wondered if this is normal ?. I was going to mail Fender but haven't been able to find an emil address as yet. Cheers.. R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 no that's not normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 They should have taken the neck off instead. Clowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1375307687' post='2159696'] They should have taken the neck off instead. Clowns. [/quote] +1 This. Or at the very least slackened off the strings and unbolted the neck far enough to access the adjuster. Totally unacceptable. Edit: Michael, how long have you been a Mod??! Edited July 31, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booboo Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Wouldn't be happy if this was done to my bass without asking. Having said that I took a dremmel to the body of my P so I can fine tune the truss rod adjustment without taking the neck off. There is a good reason that the truss nut moved up to the headstock end of the neck - it;s a pain in the arse taking the strings / neck off to move it 1/4 turn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 yes my old hot rod precision hat a little semi circle cut out so you could access it with the truss rod tool but if you dont have the cut out you just remove the neck its a bit of a worry if they didnt think to remove the neck they should have least asked what you wanted first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 The easiest way is to remove the pickguard, but it sounds to me they`ve gone in at an angle trying to miss that, and messed up. It takes no time to take the pickguard off. If the pickguard is removed, the Fender tool fits fine, without needing to remove neck etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1375313746' post='2159780'] The easiest way is to remove the pickguard, but it sounds to me they`ve gone in at an angle trying to miss that, and messed up. It takes no time to take the pickguard off. If the pickguard is removed, the Fender tool fits fine, without needing to remove neck etc. [/quote] This is exactly what I do when I have to adjust the truss rod on mine, though I don't have the Fender tool, I just use a screwdriver. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Oh this isn't good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1375318955' post='2159814'] This is exactly what I do when I have to adjust the truss rod on mine, though I don't have the Fender tool, I just use a screwdriver. Liam [/quote] This is what I do with my CIJ P bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Rusco' timestamp='1375307271' post='2159680'] Hi all, wondered if anyone else has experienced this issue ? I took my new American Special P to my local music shop for a basic setup. Turns out the neck was like a banana however to adjust the truss rod they've chamfered the edge of the pick guard hole with a knife saying 'the special fender tool would not fit otherwise'. Not happy but before making a scene I wondered if this is normal ?. I was going to mail Fender but haven't been able to find an emil address as yet. Cheers.. R [/quote] I would think "the neck was like a banana" only to the monkey they got to adjust it! I'd say they owe you a new pick guard & the cost of the set-up refunded + an apology! Name & Shame the shop to protect the rest of us BTW Fender UK email contact: [email protected] Edited August 1, 2013 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='Rusco' timestamp='1375307271' post='2159680'] Hi all, wondered if anyone else has experienced this issue ? I took my new American Special P to my local music shop for a basic setup. Turns out the neck was like a banana however to adjust the truss rod they've chamfered the edge of the pick guard hole with a knife saying 'the special fender tool would not fit otherwise'. Not happy but before making a scene I wondered if this is normal ?. I was going to mail Fender but haven't been able to find an emil address as yet. Cheers.. R [/quote] If they're inexperienced enough to think you need to carve the pickguard to do a setup, I would question the setup itself. Unacceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Clowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Idiots. As it happens I'm going to rout a little channel in my Jap P bass so I don't have to take the neck off anymore. But the difference is, that is my choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1375313746' post='2159780'] If the pickguard is removed, the Fender tool fits fine, without needing to remove neck etc. [/quote] As far as I can Google, the American Special P has a semi-circular access slot in the pg that allows use of a Fender ball-end hex wrench without removing the pg or unbolting the neck... I'm guessing the shop didn't have this particular tool! My custom P is vintage-style and has no such access slot either in the body or the pg, and requires the heel end of the neck to be moved upwards to clear the body and the pickguard for adjustment. Edited August 1, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) I have the same bass. I swapped the scratch plate for a black one when new that now has a fair bit of wear around the adjuster slot from where I've tweaked the neck over the past 6 years. I could easily have remedied this by taking it off or putting a cloth on it. I would expect a paid tech to do that. I'm too lazy and I'm not that bothered but it's my bass and I'm not being paid to fix it. Edited August 1, 2013 by Low End Bee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRISDABASS Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Simply unacceptable!! I'd be well pissed off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) When you next enter the shop, drill out the lock rather than turning the door handle Edited August 1, 2013 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Another vote for pickguard removal. I recently had a friend's Geddy for a setup and i only needed to take out the pickguard to access the bolt. With a simple large flat head screwdriver you can adjust the bolt 1/4 turn each time without having to take out the neck. I would ask them for a replacement brand new pickguard. those guys are idiots and don't know their way around a bass setup, stop using them and find a proper luthier or start doing your own setups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1375343958' post='2159933'] As far as I can Google, the American Special P has a semi-circular access slot in the pg that allows use of a Fender ball-end hex wrench without removing the pg or unbolting the neck... I'm guessing the shop didn't have this particular tool! My custom P is vintage-style and has no such access slot either in the body or the pg, and requires the heel end of the neck to be moved upwards to clear the body and the pickguard for adjustment. [/quote] Oh, i now see that the bolt is hex, probably my last post is a bit off and in this case it might be needed to take off the neck (or not...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1375343958' post='2159933'] As far as I can Google, the American Special P has a semi-circular access slot in the pg that allows use of a Fender ball-end hex wrench without removing the pg or unbolting the neck... I'm guessing the shop didn't have this particular tool! My custom P is vintage-style and has no such access slot either in the body or the pg, and requires the heel end of the neck to be moved upwards to clear the body and the pickguard for adjustment. [/quote] Yes, the US Standards have this cut-out as well Mark. It`s a bit awkward to do the adjustment without scraping the pickguard though, but like Ad, as it`s my bass and it`s going nowhere, I`ve not been too fussed about a bit of wear on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 This is why I skip the words pro set up in any for sale adverts! Long live the musicman wheel of fortune adjuster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1375351219' post='2160060'] Yes, the US Standards have this cut-out as well Mark. It`s a bit awkward to do the adjustment without scraping the pickguard though, but like Ad, as it`s my bass and it`s going nowhere, I`ve not been too fussed about a bit of wear on this. [/quote] Still, sloppy for a shop - 2 minutes worth of effort to remove the pickguard, if that? I'd be having a grumble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1375353091' post='2160094'] This is why I skip the words pro set up in any for sale adverts! Long live the musicman wheel of fortune adjuster [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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