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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:	GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:	Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:	KDX200::COOPER

Created:	Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3280
Total number of notes:	61432

1150.0. "Info needed on Truss Rod replacement-RD77 Bass" by BPOV02::DERRICO () Thu Feb 16 1989 16:03

      I have a Gibson RD77 Bass (RD Artist) that has a broken Truss-Rod.
    It's about 10 years old, and has been collecting dust for a while. 
    I would like to bring this from the dead and use it again. It has
    (I believe) a Glued on neck, also has an Ebony fretboard.
      I was wondering if it would be better to have the neck rebuilt
    (Possibly by a Luthier) or to source one from Gibson. That is, If
    they would still carry necks in their warehouse. Are there any 
    rough guestimations as to the cost? 
      A couple of different questions on the electrics: Last time that
    I had played it, I had noticed that there was considerable falloff
    on the volume as you got to higher notes on the G String. I was
    wondering if this is due to the limitations of the Pickups or
    the electronics. I it also has a Compressor/Sustainer built in.
    I think the loss was there regardless of the settings (on or off).
    It was also independant of the string type.
      Also,are the Pickups Low Impedance? I might want to find a 
    substitute for these if the pickups are limited, I'd have to do
    my homework on this.
    
    
                         Thanks for your time.
    
                             John

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1150.1	Hot Air On A "G" String	AQUA::ROST	She's looking better every beer	`Thu Feb 16 1989 16:48`	16
	Loss of volume on the upper part of the G string is not uncommon, partially because the string is lighter gauge. Also many basses have dead notes in the vicinity of the 5th to 12th fret on the G string. Lastly, your amplification system may be set up so that those notes are not reproduced as loudly. One thing that can help is to adjust the pickup height so that it is closest to the G string (gives more signal). Using the on-board compressor should help even out the volume differences from string to string, while the expander should make it somewhat worse. Good luck on the neck.
1150.2		RAINBO::WEBER		`Thu Feb 16 1989 17:07`	12
	If the break is on the threaded end of the rod, it may be possible to rethread it--this should cost less than $50. If the rod really needs to be replaced, it would still be cheaper than having a neck neck made, or installing a replacement neck. Be aware that the bass is not particularly valuable (perhaps $450), so you might not want to pour a few hundred into repairing it. The pickups used with Gibson active electronics are high impedance, low output that cannot be replaced with standard pickups without pro Danny W.
1150.3	????	TYFYS::MOLLER	Halloween the 13th on Elm Street #7	`Thu Feb 16 1989 17:45`	8
	I'm not sure what you mean by having a neck re-done. Usually, a luthier can pull the fret board off, replace the rod & re-glue it without too much trouble (maybe not too cheaply however). On most Gibson's, there simply is no other access to the truss rod. If the neck was broken, Gibson suggests cutting the old neck off & replacing it (not always necessary in my opinion). Jens_who_has_done_this_before_on_a_Les_Paul_model_in_the_distant_past.
1150.4	2nd note	BPOV04::DERRICO		`Thu Feb 16 1989 18:00`	13
	Back again, The Truss Rod has only one exposed end (at the Headstock). I don't think that the rod can be replaced unless the neck comes off. I think the only value in getting this fixed is just to use it again. There is no financial gain. As far as the Pickup height, I may have tried to raise it as far as was reasonable. I'd have to try this again. Obrigado. J.D.
1150.5		LEDS::ORSI	the road show from Deliverance	`Fri Feb 17 1989 11:15`	11
	Removing the neck wouldn't serve any purpose. .3 has the right idea. The truss rod is in a slot underneath the fretboard and a good repair person can remove the fretboard, replace the truss rod, and put the fretboard back on. As far as I know, Gibson uses standard truss rods in their instruments, unlike Martin and Rick- enbacker and some others. The question is not whether it can be done or not, it's more like, can you afford it. Neal