How to Fix a Bow in a Fender Jazz Bass Neck with Clamps and a little Persuasion.

This 2019 Made in Mexico Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe Model came into the shop needing a setup. The string action was very high and I noticed that the neck was very bowed under string tension. I used clamps and pressure to get the neck into a straight or back bow position without string tension and I was able to set up the bass and make it playable again. Enjoy the video!
-Steve Roy
Manotick StringWorks
Ottawa, Ontario
[e-mail]
Intro Music by Dave Williamson
davewilliamsonmusic.ca

[@bass-hiroshimanick2534]

I really enjoyed this video and I learned a new technique for clamping a neck into a back bow. Thanks.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@bassantiks]

Came here to say this. Great video

[@michaelk7383]

Interesting stuff -- no heated sock this time ;) Thanks for the video! :)

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

it's a common known fact amongst most Master Luthiers that all precision wood working tools are calibrated to Steve's pointer finger

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

😆

[@RobAndKim444]

this job (mechanically assisting ) is why we're glag we know you 👍

[@Captain-Nostromo]

That is a beautiful bass

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

It is a classic look- very nice... a bit heavy, though

[@frankperricone2065]

If the truss is very hard to tighten to get the neck Straight do you ever put it on a stand and drop some 3-1 oil down the truss rod and let it sit over night? I did that once and I was able to turn the next day. Another time I did that and still did not move so I dropped some more oil and this time I wrapped a heating pad around the neck and of course both times I slacked the truss rod all the way and the next day I was able to tighten it up and I was able to move the truss rod a lot more and I really cranked on it till I had a slight back bow. I waited a couple of hours before putting strings on it and set it up correctly and I got it to the way I like it. Do you think what I did with the heat and oil did the trick or did I just got lucky because I really turned the wrench a lot harder this time and was not worried about breaking anything. It was my own bass and it was a cheap Ibanez that I bought used and got very cheap because of the neck. I don't know if I would have done that on one of my Vintage Fenders. Sorry for all the questions but do you think that basses are more prone to have a bad bow on the neck then guitars do? Thanks

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Basses have more string tension so I do believe they necks can be prone to bowing... oil doesn't usually work on the nut; I would only use a little bit if it was obviously rusted

[@frankperricone2065]

@@ManotickGuitarTech Thanks you for the response.

[@danieldupuys2002]

Nice! i used this solution 5 years ago on my Squier Jazz Bass, there is a lot of friction between the groove neck and truss rod, you need to release this before adjusting with great bending. Take care to do that job. For me , heat solution is not good for frets and fretboard gluing. Good job sir!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I use the "mechanical" solution first before trying to heat up the neck.

[@charlesjaphe]

good

[@Maverick06723]

You know how I do it I tune the guitar and I hold the first fret down and I go to the bottom threats and I hold that down and I use the string as my line the guitar string in the middle is supposed to have enough gap to put a credit card through if you got back bow he probably want to make it straight are usually have my guitar slightly bowed forward and it’s depends on the guitar and if you’re still not getting a clean night I’ll get a bit of sandpaper even with the strings on and I see what’s touching and I just the threats but I Sandingham but usually I takeoff all the strings and suck down all the threats and give it to Sand each one and then I put my strings on and I see what’s touching and I fine-tune it the threats because with his strings on you can see exactly where it’s not a clean night I just loosen them up and pick out the main ones that are interfering if I do this I make the show with the guitar is fully set up the way I want it

[@bobsguitarmods]

Interesting way to fix a bow. I usually clamp it to a long aluminium beam and stick it on a heater for 10 to 30 mins. Then leave it clamped over night. Fixes it usually and stays that way.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

I told the owner that we would revisit the neck in a few months and see if it needs heat treatment

[@bobsguitarmods]

@@ManotickGuitarTech Good stuff, I hope it's worked with your method!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@bobsguitarmods so far so good

[@gaetanopellino]

Hi! I have this problem on a mexican Precision. I will do exactly what you did, brilliant solution! Only one question: why you set the truss rod at the max tension while clamping the neck? How about if once restringed the strings tension will pull the neck up again? Thank you!

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Because I am putting the neck in an extreme backbow and the truss rod will help it keep that shape when released. You can try it with the truss rod loose and see if it works for you... it might, depends on the neck.

[@gaetanopellino]

@@ManotickGuitarTech thanks for the answer. Would a middle way work? My neck is seriously bowed

[@musicalmotors]

@@gaetanopellinoA middle way?

[@larrysdinner]

How long did you keep it clamped down?

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

About 45mins

[@larrysdinner]

@@ManotickGuitarTech Cool, didn't know if you needed to do it overnight or what.

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

@@larrysdinner overnight is good if you have the time

[@Maverick06723]

Anyway I set up all my guitars and I have about 10 and I use the string to hold it down at each end and I check it and you should be able to get a credit card between the string in the middle of the guitar of the board there should be a little gap in the middle always I’ve never made market up buying back you’ll have no gap you won’t be able to get the credit card through and you have to have a credit card fitting in the middle otherwise you’ll get Threat buzz that’s one hell of an expensive guitar as well

[@glennhynes5263]

That's an ash body I believe.

[@Maverick06723]

Remember that should be a slight bow in the middle enough to get a credit card through otherwise you’ll have Threat buzz A neck of the guitar isn’t designed to be perfectly straight it’s not designed for that otherwise I wouldn’t make it movable

[@chuckshartz2722]

What’s a threat buzz? You mean fret buzz??

[@kristopherk5454]

I had threat buzz on my 1972 ovation, that was a pita!

[@Maverick06723]

He usually have trouble with a truss rod if you’re having a low profile with your strings obviously if you’re making it to slap and you having the strings up hi well nothings going to be touching that for a light set up obviously some adjustments will be made another thing I do is knock off the nut and font unit to 100th of a mil

[@grantkoeller8911]

Ash body

[@chuckshartz2722]

I am not sitting through a 30 minute video on how to do a neck adjustment. Plus, I don’t have all these tools that are needed It’s moments when I have fucking neck issues that I fucking regret ever getting into playing. If I try doing it myself , I know I will fuck ip the instrument permanently making it unplayable. And I’m not taking it to my local guitar guy, who’s been nothing but a prick lately, as most guitar guys are. They all have a serious god complex to go with their soft whispery voices that they all have.:. It’s unreal how they’re all alike 😆

[@ManotickGuitarTech]

Actually, it's only 27mins and 49 secs 😁