The PLEK returned a report that the fingerboard was perfect and needed no adjustments on two of my scanned guitars. Both of those guitars used the Hot Rod truss rod. You can see the printout and learn more about how I am able to accomplish a perfect set-up in my online guitar physics and set-up course.
One other subtle yet important tip to add here is that when you are making the truss rod access cavity, it is critical to make sure there is some extra space around the adjusting nut , even if you are using the Allen nut version of the rod. This is because when the rod is tightened to pull the neck back against the string tension, the rod can bow just a bit.
So be sure to make some extra space below the nut so it can flex back a little bit under tension without hitting the wood. I always test the truss rods before I install them into the guitar neck. If there is any chance of the guitar truss rod breaking, I want it to happen BEFORE installing it into the neck and finishing the guitar. All I do is route a slot into some scrap wood and temporarily insert the double-action truss rod into it.
I cover it with some other scrap wood and clamp it in place, leaving the nut exposed. Then I give it a good tightening, applying about as much pressure or maybe a tiny bit more than I anticipate it would ever have in the actual guitar.
If they pass this test, they are cleared to be used in upcoming guitar builds. Just as a side note: I have never had one break during testing, but I have heard tragic stories from other luthiers who did not do the testing step and had a rod break inside the neck, which is never a good thing.
It is just a simple way to make sure there will be enough neck material below the truss rod cavity before I start building. Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Tips Before you begin adjusting the truss rod of your guitar, there are a few critical points to be aware of to minimize potential problems or even truss rod breakage: Only use the correct truss rod adjustment tool —Be sure the truss rod adjustment tool Allen key, truss rod wrench, etc.
Mark the current location —Use a marker to put a line on the top of the nut, so you will know where you started from. This works as a reference for how much you turned the nut and also a way to abort the mission if you need to go back to where it was. You do not want a shocking amount of stress suddenly applied; you want the wood to adjust to its new situation gradually.
Do not accidentally torque the adjustment nut to the side —Only turn it gently clockwise or counterclockwise. Any torque to the side could bend or even break off the adjusting nut, if it is a welded nut double-action design. Regardless of whether you are adjusting an acoustic guitar or electric guitar, the truss rod adjustment itself is straightforward. That pretty much sums it up.
If you made it this far, you should now understand what a truss rod is, why it is so important, and which one is the best fit for your guitar. When it comes to adjusting, be sure to keep those guidelines in mind and take it slow and gentle, allowing the neck to react over a few hours or more if needed before making more changes … and always use the right tool for the job. Tom Bills has been hand crafting one of a kind custom guitars for the top players and collectors around the world since You can view and learn more about his guitars by visiting his website: tbguitars.
I make my own truss rods, they are single action. But, are made like the double action. I need to find out how to make them into double action. Hi Mike, the double action rod is threaded on both ends of the rod that turns with opposite threads on each end. That way it can bow the neck backward to counteract string force when turned in the usual direction, but then when turned the opposite direction it will cause the neck to bow forward too.
For me this is important when I do the fret work, so that I have full control of how I set the neck before filing the frets when I am doing the setup. I like to use the frets to make the neck strong by making the tang fit tightly into the fret slots. This can sometimes cause the neck to bow backward just a little bit, but with the double action rod, I can bring it back to the perfect position to do my fretwork and set up.
Hi Tom. All Rights Reserved. Truss Rod Types and Mechanisms Explained. In this article, we explore the role they play and discuss the different types that are used. The basic idea of putting a threaded rod into a channel running down the center of the guitar neck, under the fingerboard is core principle behind almost all modern guitar truss rods.
This design was not immediately adapted by all guitar makers. Martin started using a steel T bar to reinforce their guitar necks in 1. They later changed to a hollow square steel tube for reinforcement 2.
Guitars with adjustable truss rods are sometimes referred to as having adjustable necks. This has caused mis-understandings among some new guitar players. The truss rod has nothing to do with the neck angle on your guitar. It turns out that a very slight bow is desirable and the second purpose of the adjustable truss rod is to set this properly. Where do you adjust your truss rod? A fretboard usually is either placed right up against the nut at the top of the neck just below the headstock.
The most common frets to have marked on a fretboard are the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and on up in that pattern. Often this portion of the neck is still called the fretboard or fingerboard. By this arrangement of parts, I am also enabled to use wood which has not been heretofore considered satisfactory for the manufacture of necks, on account of its not having sufficient strength and rigidity, and further, great care in selecting stock is not necessary.
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