Did I break the truss rod in Peavey Cirrus?

21niko21

21niko21

Supporting Member
Jun 7, 2009
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The Adirondacks, NY
#1
I'm having such a bad bass week...

I was following the instructions given to me to remove a bolt-on neck from my bass and have it sent in to de-fret it. I didn't realize that the cirrus was a dual action truss rod or understand how it worked until now.

As I loosened it, it became more tight. Now, I know that's normal. However, it never came to a point where it moved freely either. Which would be the 'neutral' point of the dual action. It just became tighter, and I like an idiot continued 'loosening' it.

It was quite tight and then I heard a snap, the silver washer popped out of the top of the hex and it freely moved counter-clockwise. I tried to take it all the way out to look at it, but I couldn't get it past the cavity.

When I tighten it there is resistance. I put the bass completely back to together and it seems to be adjusting the neck into the same position I had it. The action may be a bit higher.

I think from what I understand from two rod, dual action truss rods that this implies that if tightening will give proper action, I haven't completely hosed my bass. However, if I ever need to adjust it opposite I'm screwed right? Or, am I jumping to conclusions and the snap I heard was the little silver washer becoming unfrozen? I don't hear anything rattling inside the bass either.
 
#5
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#7
Probably not going to be an issue for you. I have seen necks that went into back bow with the truss rod completely slackened, but very few compared to those that needed the truss to correct for too much forward bow. Unless your bass is one of those "very few" you will never need the reverse action of a two-way rod.
 
#8
OK, what I thought happened happened.

Your truss rod is the type that has the nut encased in a metal surround. When you back it off the nut pushes against the end of the surround making the rod flex in the opposite direction forcing the neck into a forward bow. What happened is you put too much pressure on the open end of the surround and popped it off. I wouldn't worry about it too much as the rod will still work just fine as a standard truss rod.


You have this type of truss rod. The metal tube holds the nut so it is stationary and forces the threaded rod backward and forwards which puts in a bow in either direction.

Yibuy-440mm-Length-9mm-Dia-Black-Steel-Two-Way-Adjustment-Guitar-font-b-Truss-b-font.jpg
 
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#10
Hopkins said:
OK, what I thought happened happened.

Your truss rod is the type that has the nut encased in a metal surround. When you back it off the nut pushes against the end of the surround making the rod flex in the opposite direction forcing the neck into a forward bow. What happened is you put too much pressure on the open end of the surround and popped it off. I wouldn't worry about it too much as the rod will still work just fine as a standard truss rod.


You have this type of truss rod. The metal tube holds the nut so it is stationary and forces the threaded rod backward and forwards which puts in a bow in either direction.

Yibuy-440mm-Length-9mm-Dia-Black-Steel-Two-Way-Adjustment-Guitar-font-b-Truss-b-font.jpg
Click to expand...

Hopkins, do you think it's possible to re-weld that part of the surround? Since only the top separated at the maximum adjustment, is it possible that there is still an amount of reverse action? I'm asking because the luthier is now refusing to work on the neck. His policy is to only work on necks in good condition, with the truss rod in working order.
 
#11
21niko21 said:
Hopkins, do you think it's possible to re-weld that part of the surround? Since only the top separated at the maximum adjustment, is it possible that there is still an amount of reverse action? I'm asking because the luthier is now refusing to work on the neck. His policy is to only work on necks in good condition, with the truss rod in working order.
Click to expand...

No, I see no possible way to weld that piece back onto the rod. There isn't enough room for such precision work. The fact is, your neck still is in working order and the truss rod still functions correctly. Most necks only have a single acting truss rod. Your truss rod is functions exactly like the truss rods that Warmoth uses.
 
#12
Hopkins said:
No, I see no possible way to weld that piece back onto the rod. There isn't enough room for such precision work. The fact is, your neck still is in working order and the truss rod still functions correctly. Most necks only have a single acting truss rod. Your truss rod is functions exactly like the truss rods that Warmoth uses.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply Hopkins, I figured that was the answer.
 
#15
Just wanted to give a little final update. The luthier accepted the neck. Then, he asked me to write some new directions on the loosening of truss rods. I'll include them here, because you guys might be interested and because I was googling as the truss rod was tightening, and if I had seen this thread, I don't think I would have broke the surround.

'For double action truss rods, place the rod at it's neutral point. The neutral point is the point where the rod is not adjusting the neck for either forward or backward bow. This point can be determined by looking at the neck as you adjust the rod and by feeling the point of least resistance to turning in either direction. Once the dual action truss rod has gone past the neutral point the resistance to 'loosening' will increase as the neck is forced into a forward bow. It is possible to break a dual-action truss rod by 'loosening' it past the neutral point and continuing to it's maximum reverse adjustment. If you feel uncomfortable adjusting your truss rod, please take the neck to a qualified professional'

All's well that end well I suppose...
 
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