I just read you should always loosen the strings before tightening the truss rod. You raised a point I had never thought of with which side needs more ‘trussing’ and my thought it they should be equally taught but then again, Ive never had a dual rod neck......anything on the Spector site? Are they really that much different? I learned the hard way, if your truss rod is acting up, take it to a skilled luthier. It’s worth noting that a lot of my setups over the years don’t require and movement of the truss rod. Upload or insert images from URL. Fender also offers a double action truss rod adjustment wheel on all American Elite models that makes it a snap to address neck relief. A dual-action truss rod is more stable and less influenced by changes in the climate. Is there a ratio of the amount you turn a truss rod to the amount a neck is changed? Is wrapping your leg around it the only way to control it? If there is a back bow or you’re experiencing buzzing frets, it means you need to loosen the truss rod. 9,063 2,041 1. I think I learned a little reading this and a few other articles… enough to know I’ll leave it to my tech guy, lol. I picked up a pawn shop special used Squier Strat. To do a The truss rod is component of a guitar or other stringed instruments that stabilizes the lengthwise forward curvature, of the neck. The variances in steel composition, rod diameter, and manufacturing quality result in wide differences in the strength of any truss rod. Just curious on everyone’s thoughts? After you’ve done this, if you still don’t like your string action, you may need to adjust your bridge saddle heights. To properly adjust your truss rod, you need to use the properly sized tool. Is there a special tool I can buy to adjust my truss rod with the neck in-place? At this point, we’re just trying to get an understanding of whether the neck is straight or not.”.3, For a bass guitar, fret the top string (low E) at the first and at the 15th fret. It’s now in the hands of a local luthier and I’m looking at about $400 to fix it right. PRS also employs their own patented Double Action Truss Rod—the industry’s most fully adjustable neck system. Following this, a friend tried out my Strat and loved it. I recommend carrying a truss rod adjustment tool in your case, especially if you take your guitar on air travel. It seems like that frees it up and makes it easier to turn. Just bought Squier Strat to learn with very high action. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can learn how to adjust a truss rod. You’ve made some decent points there. 3. I snapped off my truss rod nut when trying to make what I thought was a routine adjustment. Your article helped me to understand how to change my truss rod tension to adjust my string height. Good job presenting the information on this topic. ← How to Prevent Guitar Humidity and Temperature Problems, adjusting the truss rod on an acoustic guitar, replacement truss rods and truss rod nuts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCENNbxLrQ8, Small scewdriver (if you need to remove a truss rod cover), Adjustment Wrench that fits your guitar’s truss rod nut, String height gauge with 1/32″ and 1/64″ markings, Electronic tuner (clamp on or rack mounted digital tuner). This helped me to understand how a truss rod works, and that I don’t have to adjust my neck when I try to do a setup. Stewmac sells longer t-handle hex wrenches that are a lot easier to use. If you have any concerns about an inability to turn a truss rod it’s time to consult with a luthier or local guitar tech. There are many types of truss rods for acoustic and electric guitars. To minimize stress on your neck, don’t turn your truss rod over a 1/4-turn in any 24-hour period. Can you explain how to adjust a double-action truss rod with an adjustment wheel? Of course, this means remounting, restringing, and retuning between each adjustment. Truss rods can feel stuck because of rust on the threads, they’ve hit the end of the threads, or there is damage to the truss rod. I'm not too worried but just looking for any advice. If nothing is happening while adjusting your truss rod, it may be a dual-action truss rod. I found this warning online and agree with it fully. Truss rods often require adjusting after changing string gauges or when temperature and humidity change the amount of bow in the neck. I cannot think of any reason as to why a world-class guitar neck would need to be bent in the direction of the string pull. To compensate for undesirable curvature in the neck you can adjust your neck up or down. Adjusting your guitars truss rod is a key part of maintaining your instrument. Loosening the truss rod will allow the strings to create more pull on the neck. I have an acoustic guitar if that matters. Always stay on the side of caution when adjusting a truss rod. Usually it is a steel bar or rod that runs inside the neck, beneath the fingerboard. Decrease Relief Tightening the truss rod by turning it clockwise influences the neck to curve upward toward the strings (convex).   You cannot paste images directly. loosen both truss rods and check relief increases - therefore truss rods are working. So far, it’s always been easy to turn. For an electric guitar, simply, fret the top string at the first and last fret. The double-acting truss rod achieves twice the amount of adjustment as the single-acting rod with the same amount of movement of the adjusting nut. I adjusted the neck relief and then leveled, crowned, and polished the frets. Make sure your adjustment tool is the right size that fits. Do not over-adjust! Go easy on adjusting a truss rod. If the slot on your bass won’t fit an Allen wrench, you’ll need to get a tool designed for your bass, which you can find at music supply stores and online. Do all acoustic guitars use the same size? This is a closeup of the uncovered mid section of the assembly. Most broken truss rods can be repaired, however; the cost to repair a broken truss rod is often more than the value of the guitar. Here’s an article to help you understand what is a bi-flex truss rod. For this article we’re going to disucss the two most common types of truss rods used for electric guitars and bass guitars. This should mean virtually no risk of over-doing it. Don’t be discouraged. ?? I’ll leave it to my guitar tech who does amazing setups. This measurement is your amount of relief. Overtightening or over loosening a truss rod can damage the neck and/or body.”. This change occurred in mid-2013 for US built models and mid-2015 for Tribute models. Now I have a junk guitar neck that lasted only a few months. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I have a Pedulla bass that needs a truss rod adjustment but I don’t have the special tool it takes. The double-acting rods use a steel nut fused to a steel rod. As a contributor to the Premier Guitar blog, Tony Nagy commented “More than likely you’re thinking about the setup because, in some way, your instrument is not performing the way you’d like. The tip to always loosen the truss rod a bit before tightening it is brilliant. Keep one in your gig bag or case, and one at home. You may need a qualified repair person to investigate. I really like the articles on your blog. Thought I could do it myself. × loosen both truss rods and check relief increases - therefore truss rods are working re-tighten truss rods to get the 10/12 thou relief - if there are still free turns on the truss rods (ideally enough to get some back-bow) then all is AOK. An important thing to note is that the full effect from adjusting your truss rod is not immediate. The neck is good and stable and at nearly 20 years old hopefuly ok for the future..  but are there any signs to lookout for heading forward? I was pleased to find this work to fix a stuck truss rod. It does not always fit well and can lead you to damage the truss rod cover screw heads. I sent a link to this article to several of my friends. Vintage and vintage-style reissue Fenders, for example, require neck removal. John LeVan, a writer, and guitar repair expert at Premier Guitar stated, ” I have at least 20 different wrenches and hex keys dedicated to adjusting guitar necks, but I still run across that one guitar that requires a tool I don’t have. people will go along with your views on this site. Powered by Invision Community. Truss rod seized. If you try to force it you can damage it and be looking at a $350-600 repair . If my truss rod (Telecaster) is adjusted at the base of the neck do I turn it the opposite way than if it was at the headstock? ? This article helped me to understand not just “how” but also “why” you do or do not adjust the truss rod. I remember doing it on 2 different 12 strings while tuned up and they straightened right out and stayed put. Can you use the truss rod to compensate for the extra tension of heavy strings? *** RESPONSE by Artisan Luthiers *** I don't want the neck to start twisting . I tightened my truss rod to the point it won’t turn but I feel the long wrench twisting. Any idea where to get a truss rod wrench for a Pedulla bass? Thanks! Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel! I bought an aluminum straightedge on eBay which helps a lot for checking the relief on my neck. This results in the neck being forced to bow backward. Where is the best place to buy a new truss rod for a PRS SE? “If you can’t correct the problem in a few full turns, stop. I've been using SP4100 lights on my D Mahogany since last fall but plan to restring with 4200 mediums, once the mediums are on I'll check the neck relief and if needed adjust to spec. When the truss rod is tightened, the fixed rod will bow forward toward the fretboard. I just bought a really cool Pedulla bass. There is an understanding that the phrase "dual-action" truss rod is frequently used to refer to truss rod systems that actually use two rods. I’m not sure if it matters but when I do a setup I try to put a drop of oil on the truss rod nut. Fender American, and most MIM’s, have the most reliable truss rods for working for many decades. I should have known better. When the truss rod is loosened, the adjustable rod will bow backward away from the fretboard. This guide will help you understand how to adjust the truss rod. The string tension definitely changes the amount of relief. At the 7th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. All Rights Reserved. It seems the concensus is to keep them even, no need to put more tension in one side or the other. Post Aug 11, 2015 #1 2015-08-11T21:59. The PRS double acting truss rod provides neck adjustment in both directions. Due to varied climate and other conditions to which your PRS guitar may be exposed during its lifetime, we have made our necks fully adjustable. This is an easy thing to do. In this video Galeazzo Frudua explains in details how to adjust the truss rod on your guitar or bass to achieve a comfortable action. Conventional truss rods can only compensate for forward neck bow. Is there a place to buy a complete set of truss rod tools for Fender, Gibson, PRS, Schector and Epiphone?   Your link has been automatically embedded. Delmar. I urge people to understand the purpose for adjusting a truss rod – don’t do it “just because” you think you need to do so. This remains the scariest thing I’ve done to a guitar. At the 7th or 8th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. Some guitars require a more specialized tool. My luthier always gives my truss rod a full turn to loosen and then reset when he does a setup. Conventional truss rods can only compensate for forward neck bow. The action is good but I'm always happy to tweak things if it could get better. May you kindly show translating Google link on this website. 3/ Tightening the truss rod counter-clockwise causes the neck to become concave (under) = more relief. Also loosen your strings to tighten the truss rod. The neck usually has a bit of a delayed response. It has a purpose, but often it doesn’t need any adjustment when doing a setup. Do you believe that you really have to make minor truss rod adjustments AND let your guitar sit overnight to let it adjust itself? on any guitar or bass. How much does it cost to replace a truss rod, and is it really worth the cost? Adjusting A Rickenbacker Truss Rod. So just curious….. I’ve been working on guitars for a long time. Adjusting a truss rod requires more tools than just a wrench. By sighting the neck, we gain insight into how the neck is reacting to the string tension and truss rod relief. The double action (dual-function) system permits accurate adjustments to the neck in both directions Obviously, taking it to a local Luthier is always a good option. PRS switched over to the double acting truss rod about halfway through the … For PRS guitar truss rod adjustments you can reference this article at the PRS website: PRS Double Acting Truss Rod Adjustment The two common truss rods are a Single Action Truss Rod and a Dual Action Truss Rod. I put all hex wrenches for my truss rod and saddles, plus a small screwdriver in a ziplock to keep it all together. My local guy (Ohio) said about 400, and that seems high to me for a typical Strat. Any thoughts to share on the StewMac truss rod rescue tools? Back to index . (You may want to capo the first string). A dual-action, aka double-action, truss rod enables you to make neck adjustments in both directions (up or down). Check the amount of relief throughout your adjustment process. It also has the advantage of being able to adjust the relief of the neck backward and forwards. Getting that experience includes a level of risk about breaking your truss rod, and stripping out or breaking your truss rod barrel nut. How can I tell what size tool I need to adjust my truss rod? Galeazzo Frudua. Two-way truss rods have adjustment points (nuts) at each end. Just turn it a little at a time and measure the relief until it gets where you want it to be. Also has a link to factory specs at this link PRS Website. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Loosening a truss rod (turning counter-clockwise) adds relief to (decreases tension on) the neck which results in increased (higher) string action height. As a guide you can use .008″ to .015″. Good article that covers the basics in decent detail. Always make certain you are using the correct wrench for your particular truss rod nut. The first truss rod patent was applied for by Thaddeus McHugh, an employee of … How do you hold a guitar to adjust the truss rod when it is hard to turn? Some are non-adjustable, but most modern truss rods have a nut at one or both ends that adjusts its tension. Don’t try to adjust your Ricky neck like you would a modern instrument. Single Action Truss Rod vs. Dual Action Truss Rod For you PRS guys doing your own setups, check out these PRS setup specs. . Truss rod adjustment: adjusting the truss rod. Like you turn the nut 1/4 turn and it moves the action 1/64″? There is not a standard type or size wrench for all guitar truss rods. If you change string sizes you may find that the change in tension can throw off what was previously a good neck adjustment. Temperature changes do some crazy things to the neck. If its a fine neck then of course leave it.....marking where the rods sit now ( I use one of those silver markers) and then slacken off to zero effect will show how much or little they are being used. Same shot as above with the nut backed out a few turns. If there has been stability for 20 years, you live in a temperate climate (Sw uk) and you're not doing anything extreme in terms of string gauges, I'd have thought you'll be reasonably safe. One of the rods is fixed and the other is adjustable in length. He says its to keep it operable and help the threads stay clean. When a quality guitar leaves the factory, the truss rod is adjusted according to the maker’s taste in setup specs. They all said it was a big help. Tightening a truss rod (turning clockwise) increases compression, thereby pushing the center of the neck away from the strings. I guess it must have been out a little ! Copyright © All the good names are taken ltd. Kennesaw, GA 30144 For anybody who doesn’t already know, adjusting the truss rod is not how you improve intonation. In this video I will explain about neck relief and truss rod adjustment to set the relief correctly After making these adjustments you need to check and adjust the intonation. Double Action Truss Rod - tightens both ways 1/ Truss rod in 'flat' (no tension) position 2/ Tightening the truss rod clockwise causes the neck to become increasingly convex (over) = less relief. Just tightening those truss rods against string tension is a good way to ruin them or cause the fingerboard to separate from the neck (which, to be fair, it can occasionally do anyway). I could then turn the truss rod a little to loosen it. Are they used to adjust string action or just change the neck’s alignment? I like the article, but I’m still not sure I want to try this task. To determine whether your guitar has this system simply examine the adjusting nut. I can’t understand the dual-action workings. The optimal amount of relief is largely a personal preference. For the latter, the nut is actually welded to the dual-action truss rod and cannot be replaced. After reading many of your articles I decided to tackle it myself. European luthier Marguerite Pastella, of Fret Not Guitar Repair, identified five types of truss rods commonly used in building electric and acoustic guitars.2. I’ve read they can rust and later make it hard to turn the adjustment nut. Delmar. This design is used by Rickenbacker®. Adjusting the truss rod with a 1/8" Allen wrench. The manufacturing tolerances in China really suck. Spot on with this write-up, including the cautions about do it only if you are mechanically inclined. All guitar truss rods are alike only with regards to their intended function, to adjust neck relief. Display as a link instead, × As you overtighten a truss rod you move toward applying more force than it can tolerate. Thanks! Dual Action Truss Rod Adjustment. It helps with reducing resistance when you make an adjustment. The post above appears to have some very sound advice (indeed, they all do). Nice article, but I’ll leave this work to the pros. Adjusting my guitar at the heel is a real pain. The double expanding rod exerts no inward pressure on the neck wood, and is so stable it rarely needs adjustment after the initial set-up. Continue to make adjustments and you will eventually see changes in the neck. If you have a “wheel type” to adjust your truss rod you may want to watch this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCENNbxLrQ8. Because the neck responds slowly, you may find that the intonation needs to be reset after a few days. Please add some information about dual-action truss rods like on a PRS guitar. Two-way truss rods have adjustment points (nuts) at each end. Alembic uses dual - single action - rods in all (nearly all?) There is no standard, single measurement that works for every guitar. I like how you wrote about Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Guide. Artisan Luthiers © 2019. How much is it to replace a truss rod in a Warwick bass. You may not need everything listed here. I don't know how to determine how loose or tight each one is .. and i'm guesssing there must be some sort of "perfect" adjustment between the two    ? If that doesn’t work, adjust the bridge to slightly raise the action. I'm not sure that this helps very much but good luck. I keep my adjustment tool in my bag so I know where it is. Neck adjustment can be accomplished as before except that a reverse bow can now be fully corrected. Now I’m looking at a $400 bill to repair my Strat. The purpose of this is generally to counteract the tension of the strings to straighten the neck. Thank you for writing this! Always loosen your truss rod about 1/4 turn before tightening it. These rods aren’t the strongest in the world. The types of forces that act on a truss rod are compression, tension, and torque. I think if you keep your guitar in good shape, with frequent minor setups, you’ll never need to adjust your truss rod more than 1/4 turn. You can watch videos and read articles but you need experience. PRS Double Acting Truss Rod Adjustment. Any plans to write a follow-up article on what to do when you have a broken truss rod? If you can learn how to do this you are well on your way to doing your own setup. Great article! It is definitely not a job for an amateur. Registered Member. I was wrong and broke the truss rod. Well written, and easy to understand article. Uniquely, dual-action truss rods can create relief with or without string tension. I done a little digging on this exact topic when I got a six-string equipped with dual truss rods. Fortunately, a local luthier used the StewMac truss rod repair kit to repair it for a LOT less than replacing the truss rod. All truss rods are made of steel, however; the composition of the steel used is not the same. of its basses and the advice there is to maintain a pretty much consistent approach when adjusting, i.e., similar adjustment for each rod.   Pasted as rich text. The PRS dual-action truss rods used to be perplexing to me. The MusicPlayers.com website describes it in this manner, "This straightens an up-bowed neck, pulling the peghead away from the tension of the strings. This means the rod has the ability, when tightened, to place pressure on the back of the neck and cause the neck to bow backward. FYI, in my local area (Kansas City), the cost to replace a truss rod on a Strat is around $300-350. I’m leaving it up to my local guitar shop guy. Some great advice biguy2017 .. After some tweaking I've actually got the neck playing nicer so very happy! The PRS double acting truss rod provides neck adjustment in both directions. Where can I get a truss rod wrench for a square-shaped end? I read the article but I’m still not feeling it. I have an old acoustic guitar without a truss rod. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most If your frets buzz above the 1st fret but nowhere else, add some slight relief by loosening the truss rod. It is anchored only to itself, and not the neck wood. Ideally, it would be great for you to know how to perform basic maintenance and adjustments. Increase Relief Loosening the truss rod by turning it counter-clockwise influences the neck to pull away from the strings (concave). The single rod style is lighter and more vintage correct, but requires seasonal adjustment. Which way you turn a truss rod depends on the desired effect. re-tighten truss rods to get the 10/12 thou relief - if there are still free turns on the truss rods (ideally enough to get some back-bow) then all is AOK. I found this thread on adjusting the truss rod on an acoustic guitar. I tried to replace my broken truss rod. Is there a good source to buy cheap truss rod tools? ), Thanks for the info on this guys.. You can post now and register later. Double action truss rod? A list of tools required to adjust a truss rod is relatively short. What is the average cost of a truss rod repair? Sometimes the access for the truss rod is at the heel of the neck. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. Check your relief again, and adjust as necessary. There are so many different tools designed for adjusting truss rods that it’s nearly impossible to have them all.”.5. Thanks and keep it up! If you have a broken truss rod should you replace it or buy a new neck? Thanks, guys! Different bass guitars may have differently sized truss rod adjustment slots, so you’ll need to use an Allen wrench that fits it. www.ArtisanLuthiers.com When adjusting a truss rod, in either direction, you are changing the force applied to the rod. I’ve been afraid I would break it but your article helped to know how to do it the right way. It also exerts a lot of inward pressure on the wood, which over time can distort a neck. (You may want to capo the first string). Start with a neck relief check to get an idea of how much adjusting is required. A possible repair option is to buy a replacement but this is not cheap and brings yet another set of issues. Even the best luthiers in the world at one time didn’t know what a truss rod was, much less how to adjust one. The patented double action of the PRS truss rod allows for tightening or loosening to compensate for climatic conditions, giving your strings more or less relief, removing fret buzz, and tightening up your overall intonation.