What to do when a neck get's a hump.

[thiswaythatway]

Ever have a neck where you can't set the truss rod to get the neck perfectly straight because there's a little hump? I have a guitar that has a slight hump around the 7th-8th fret and no matter how I adjust the truss rod it won't go away. I had my action set pretty low and i was hearing the G string, 2nd fret get a little buzzy or metallic sounding, and a few spots on my B string, like when i bend up on the 7th or 8th fret would get really metallic or buzzy sounding. I found i had to raise the action just a little and it took care of it.

But, it kinda bothers me that I'm somewhat forced to keep my action at a certain height. I have an Anderson Drop Top and i swear i can set the action where it's almost resting on the frets and it's still somewhat playable, although i never set it that low. On my guitar where the hump is, i have the action at a height that just does meet my liking as far as height but i don't want to go any higher as it's a little more stiff than when the action was lower.

So, when a guitar tech gets an issue like this do they just file down a few frets to compensate for a slight hump?

 

[Sixtonoize]

I believe that leveling the frets is really the only option...but don't quote me on that.

 

[sinfish]

hump it back! but seriously if there is an issue with the wood then fix the wood not compensate with a goofy fret job.

 

[Ayrton]

A slight hump can be taken out in the frets, but most times a board level and refret is needed.

 

[thiswaythatway]

hump it back! but seriously if there is an issue with the wood then fix the wood not compensate with a goofy fret job.

You know i actually do find myself gently pounding on the neck to encourage it to go down, and in the past I'd sometimes use the butt end of a screw driver to tap on frets if they were too high. Ghetto tech 101.

 

[Greazygeo]

If you have 6100, 6105 or 6000 frets and the hump is not too severe, a fret level and dress will probably take care of it. With low frets or if its severe enough, the frets will need removed, fretboard planed and radiused then refretted.

On some guitars it might be the fretboard coming loose from the neck. I've had a few ibanez necks do that. Had to remove the fretboard and reglue it. Then level and dress the frets. Those were fun.

 

[Digital Jams]

You must have bought some cheap inport or something to have a neck have that fault right???


I would use this tool myself, cheap guitars anyways right??

 

[thiswaythatway]

You must have bought some cheap inport or something to have a neck have that fault right???


I would use this tool myself, cheap guitars anyways right??

No, it's a GMW superstrat!


I'll tell you though, the worst neck i had was an Ernie Ball Musicman Axis i bought off Ebay. That neck was fucked and it was pretty obvious, i was pissed at the seller but what did it matter since they just send you bad feedback back.

The hump i have now isn't really that bad and raising the action did cure it.

 

[Rampage]

My G&L had a hump that was causing some annoying fret buzz and I had to get the board planed and refretted due to worn out wire. The luthier did tell me that a fret level can remedy the problem if you have enough material, though.

 

[Digital Jams]

I was hoping it was the LP

Get a fret level if you are keeping it, I have noticed on some of Lee's stuff a good level helps.

 

[BeZo]

The only other thing I would suggest besides a fret job is to decompress the neck. Sometimes when you get weird humps and curves in the neck, you have to take all the stress off of the neck and it will straighten itself out.

Take all the strings off of it and remove the truss rod nut. It never hurts to oil the nut while you have it out. Let the guitar sit for a few days with no stress on the neck. A lot of times what this does is allows the neck to reset itself to how it was when it was cut. Then, put the truss rod nut back on and string it back up and give it a setup. That has helped me get weird humps out of necks before.

If that doesn't work, then fuck with the frets and whatnot.

 

[TeleBlaster]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_bCKOzVbxk

..and this is a problem?

 

[gkinsingapore]

'll tell you though, the worst neck i had was an Ernie Ball Musicman Axis i bought off Ebay

I have an Axis that I love but the neck has come to the point where its adjusted one day and back to high action the next day....only option is a neck replacement from what I understand

 

[thiswaythatway]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_bCKOzVbxk

..and this is a problem?

Can i smell those strings now?