After four requests for cigar box basses, I guess it is time to make the leap into truss rods. I want to avoid the chunky strings/chunky neck equation. Here are some thoughts I had......
Can I inlay a length of 1/4 allthread into a 3/4" thick neck and cover it with the fretboard? If so, will I benefit from epoxying the full length? Also, do I need to be a little less aggressive when I am rounding the back of the neck, and leave a little more meat back there?
I was also wondering if I needed to put a back bow into the neck prior to epoxying the rod in, or is picking a naturally slight bow sufficient? Overkill?
Thanks in advance.
Replies
All thread alone won't give any support to counteract the string tension on a bass guitar. Truss rods can be found on Ebay for less than $20, and will be worth every penny.
AS for the shaping of the neck (meaty or slender) visit a local music shop an look at the profile of a bass guitar. You may eb surprised at how slender they are, especially up near the nut.
Thanks Scott,
Yeah, I thought this through a little more and ordered some rods. No need in reinventing the wheel. Weight weight weight!!!!!!!! I clamped a stick of allthread on a regular 3 string cbg. Can you say head heavy? Didn't plan on building lap basses.
I have used the method of embedding allthread with epoxy resin. The result was super rigid, but that was on furniture, not something you hang around your neck.
I suppose in hindsight, what I was describing, for the record, wasn't a truss rod. More like a reinforcement. Either way, bad idea.
Thanks again.