david1711 Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 So here is a tragic story. Acquired a lovely Elwood from this site about a year ago. Action has never been right. Mid to upper positions appreciably higher than first position. I hate that. Neck isn’t straight. Truss rod tightens anti clockwise and was already maxed out when I bought it. Bridge saddles can’t go any lower. So being the idiot that I am, I took the neck off yesterday, loosened the truss rod then re tightened and, bang, the nut came off with an inch of rod with it. ? I will contact Adrian tomorrow, I guess my options are limited to ordering a replacement neck unless miraculously someone can fit a new nut as the break is so close to the nut..unless it’s a welded unit. if anyone has any experience of a situation like this, knows a great fixer in the London area, knows what the nut size is, or has bought a replacement neck from Adrian, I would be eternally grateful for any advice you can provide. These basses have a lovely sound and nice feel so I do want to sort unless economically stupid. Thanks, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 21 hours ago, david1711 said: So here is a tragic story. Acquired a lovely Elwood from this site about a year ago. Action has never been right. Mid to upper positions appreciably higher than first position. I hate that. Neck isn’t straight. Truss rod tightens anti clockwise and was already maxed out when I bought it. Bridge saddles can’t go any lower. So being the idiot that I am, I took the neck off yesterday, loosened the truss rod then re tightened and, bang, the nut came off with an inch of rod with it. ? I will contact Adrian tomorrow, I guess my options are limited to ordering a replacement neck unless miraculously someone can fit a new nut as the break is so close to the nut..unless it’s a welded unit. if anyone has any experience of a situation like this, knows a great fixer in the London area, knows what the nut size is, or has bought a replacement neck from Adrian, I would be eternally grateful for any advice you can provide. These basses have a lovely sound and nice feel so I do want to sort unless economically stupid. Thanks, David Martin Petersen at the Gallery is still one of the very best I have met. If somebody can fix it in the UK its definitely him. If you wanna order a new neck be aware they'll need the Body anyways. 21 hours ago, david1711 said: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I'd hazard a guess that Shuker could sort it out too... I love the idea of the worlds first Maruszczuker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david1711 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Thanks both. Appreciated. I always thought you tightened truss rods clockwise but I guess not. I wonder if I was just unlucky ( as well as being a numpty) with the neck. They are quite a soft wood so must be prone to more movement? Has anyone else had problems with low action consistent across the fretboard with Elwoods? Such a shame because as everyone says, the sound, feel, look and quality for the price is great. I have emailed Adrian. Let’s see if he has the Christmas spirit. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossiebass Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I finally have something to contribute! Just paid the deposit on my Elwood 4p Custom. Some specs 32" Medium Scale Ash body Birdseye maple neck and board Seafoam Green with matching headstock Haussel pickups with bridge humbucker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 53 minutes ago, Mossiebass said: I finally have something to contribute! Just paid the deposit on my Elwood 4p Custom. Some specs 32" Medium Scale Ash body Birdseye maple neck and board Seafoam Green with matching headstock Haussel pickups with bridge humbucker And there I was thinking I was GAS free. Damn you, sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) 18 hours ago, david1711 said: Thanks both. Appreciated. I always thought you tightened truss rods clockwise but I guess not. I wonder if I was just unlucky ( as well as being a numpty) with the neck. They are quite a soft wood so must be prone to more movement? Has anyone else had problems with low action consistent across the fretboard with Elwoods? Such a shame because as everyone says, the sound, feel, look and quality for the price is great. I have emailed Adrian. Let’s see if he has the Christmas spirit. hard to say. 1st time i hear about such problems as a dealer and a customer however if bass was bought used i suppose its hard to know what happened to it before you owned it. hard to say. 1st time i hear about such problems as a dealer and a customer however if bass was bought used i suppose its hard to know what happened to it before you owned it. 18 hours ago, david1711 said: Edited December 15, 2017 by pierreganseman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 1 hour ago, pierreganseman said: hard to say. 1st time i hear about such problems as a dealer and a customer however if bass was bought used i suppose its hard to know what happened to it before you owned it. My Cazpar and Elwood have the best actions I've ever played. I'd suspect that somewhere in its history david1711's bass has been attacked by someone with not much skill and no knowledge of reverse-action truss-rods. My basses came with a little maintenance & care booklet that explained how to adjust the action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 As y'all know, I love these basses. I do think they should come with a sticker to warn of the reverse truss, mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 I have a rattle on mine at the moment, which I think is related to the lack of tension across the A string (as I can just push it out of the slot easily, which I can't do with any other bass), and it goes away when fretted (anywhere). Action everywhere is fine though (on an elwood 3+2 24fret neck) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) 55 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I have a rattle on mine at the moment, which I think is related to the lack of tension across the A string (as I can just push it out of the slot easily, which I can't do with any other bass), and it goes away when fretted (anywhere). Action everywhere is fine though (on an elwood 3+2 24fret neck) all you need is a round file and 76 seconds. Take off the string and carefully make the nut "deeper" on the A string. Step by step ... until it goes away. I have had that 3 times on customers basses. 1st one went to a local luthier and got told it needed a refret / levelling for 300 euros. Adrian sorted it in 39 seconds at his HQ. do make sure you have enough winding around the tuning peg. Quote Edited December 15, 2017 by pierreganseman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 (edited) My two Elwood's ready to do their most awesome thing yesterday evening. Edited December 17, 2017 by Wilco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 6 hours ago, Wilco said: My two Elwood's ready to do their most awesome thing yesterday evening. Ooh that 5er is lovely. There was a time when I used to hate red basses but now I really have a thing for them - especially with maple necks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 I really have a feeling I’ll be joining this club next year. Some form of Elwood medium scale but still deciding on colours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 I'm into week 10 after paying my deposit! Keep looking at the mock-up picture... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, CameronJ said: Ooh that 5er is lovely. There was a time when I used to hate red basses but now I really have a thing for them - especially with maple necks! It is a great bass. Plays sooo very nicely - a beautiful neck. That pic doesn't really show the body wood of the 4 string, which is very nice too! Edited December 17, 2017 by Wilco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 50 minutes ago, Wilco said: It is a great bass. Plays sooo very nicely - a beautiful neck. That pic doesn't really show the body wood of the 4 string, which is very nice too! My god that is nice! The first picture really didn’t do it justice at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 5 weeks into the wait for this. Carbon rods in neck, Aguilar 60s j pickups, swamp ash body, passive electronics (I have an easy j retro sitting here waiting to go in) , luminlays. Looking forward to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 11 hours ago, mrtcat said: 5 weeks into the wait for this. Carbon rods in neck, Aguilar 60s j pickups, swamp ash body, passive electronics (I have an easy j retro sitting here waiting to go in) , luminlays. Looking forward to it. Nice! Remember to share the sofa shot when you get. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 On 15/12/2017 at 18:25, pierreganseman said: all you need is a round file and 76 seconds. Take off the string and carefully make the nut "deeper" on the A string. Step by step ... until it goes away. I have had that 3 times on customers basses. 1st one went to a local luthier and got told it needed a refret / levelling for 300 euros. Adrian sorted it in 39 seconds at his HQ. do make sure you have enough winding around the tuning peg. I have a file, and more than 76 seconds, so I will give that a try. There actually isn't much winding around that tuning peg - is that a problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 9 hours ago, Woodinblack said: I have a file, and more than 76 seconds, so I will give that a try. There actually isn't much winding around that tuning peg - is that a problem? "isn't much" is hard to say but can be yes indeed ..... so try changing strings and put enough (more?) winding around the peg before going for nut filing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Tried the string, slight improvement, filed the nut a bit, took a bit longer than 76 seconds, but all is good now as long as the string comes out from the base of the tuner. I think it is probably lacking one of those string tree things to hold it down, I suppose that is a problem with a non angled fender style neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 1 hour ago, Woodinblack said: Tried the string, slight improvement, filed the nut a bit, took a bit longer than 76 seconds, but all is good now as long as the string comes out from the base of the tuner. I think it is probably lacking one of those string tree things to hold it down, I suppose that is a problem with a non angled fender style neck. Maruszczyk standard heads are slightly angled so you specifically do not need one of those but you must have enough winding and sometimes some minutes of nut filing are needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 I think it's just their preference for a slightly shallow cut nut. My Jake headstock is angled, but no rattles and everything was fine until I played an old part with a 2nd fret bend on the A string... popped straight out. luckily it was rehearsal rather than a gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Mine is certainly not angled. Most of my basses have angled heads and there is no way the string could come out, this is like the fender and G&L, but they both have string trees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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