That being said ...you must have an understanding of what other issues can cause an instrument to buzz when using this as your gauge. Starting with a dead flat neck I increase neck relief slightly until the instrument plays without buzzing. Good luck. You need tools to measure action to know when it’s correct. The purpose of this is generally to counteract the tension of the strings to straighten the neck. At first, the truss rod would not turn at all. Why bother? I have personally never done that when tightening one and I have never had a problem…. On some instruments this may result in a noticeable change in relief, in others it may not. I’m glad he thinks ahead about these things. Fret the string at the 1st and last fret. Common problems associated with, but not exclusive to, neck relief are: Ideally we are adjusting the truss rod to render the neck as flat as possible without creating too much string buzz. If a neck has too much relief (upward bow) tightening the truss rod will straighten the neck. Go slow, try 1/4 turn at a time. Any plans to write a follow-up article on what to do when you have a broken truss rod? If no gap is seen between the bottom of the string and the top of the fret then either the neck is dead flat or it is back bowed. Truss rod nuts located at the heel end of the neck are often accessible thru a hole just beneath fingerboard extension and thru the top brace. So just curious….. I’ve been working on guitars for a long time. These rods are designed to be tightened, thereby increasing pressure on the back of the neck. This technique is useful because it eliminates the bridge and nut (the overall string height, or action) from the … The neck usually has a bit of a delayed response. I bought a cheap Chinese replacement neck on eBay. I put some penetrating oil in the pocket and left if standing up for a couple of days. Like you turn the nut 1/4 turn and it moves the action 1/64″? For those that have not done this, if you check your neck straightness before you string it up, you need to check it again after the strings are on and tuned. Great article! The number one reason people won't touch the truss rod is that they are afraid of making a mistake and damaging it. Thanks, guys! If I'm moving up one gauge, I know I have to turn the screw about 1/8 rotation, but which way? Don’t forget that when you tighten your strings the tension will change the amount of relief – adjust accordingly. Where can I get a truss rod wrench for a square-shaped end? I can’t understand the dual-action workings. Also loosen your strings to tighten the truss rod. You’re dealing with an engineered system and need to understand truss rod design and how a truss rod works. Turn the truss rod no more than 1/8 of a turn. Nut too high, nut too low, Fret problems. I had a similar issue, only with open strings, got a lot of different answers, took it to a luthier, nut was too high, fixed it in 10 seconds for 5 bucks. I keep my adjustment tool in my bag so I know where it is. The optimal amount of relief is largely a personal preference. "turning left" a.k.a. It is important to understand that there is no single measurement that will be correct for all acoustic guitars. Start by making small adjustments, say 1/8th of a turn. **Starch resistance and creaking sounds can be a sign that the truss rod should not be adjusted further and is more than enough reason to stop and seek help. 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. I can’t wait to try this out. Tightening a truss rod (turning clockwise) increases compression, thereby pushing the center of the neck away from the strings. If it's bowing toward the strings, loosen the truss rod. Then set action. >>> Thanks in advance, folks. I put all hex wrenches for my truss rod and saddles, plus a small screwdriver in a ziplock to keep it all together. >>> Do I still turn the rod clockwise to lower the action? I’m always afraid I will feel it snap. How? Artisan Luthiers, LLC I’m glad you included a note to not tighten it too much at one time. 11/23/2019 The truss rod will put some bend into the neck immediately, and then take many hours to full affect - this is why you only make small adjustments and wait, and why you have to do it with the strings at full concert tension. Be sure to use the correct wrench! Thought I could do it myself. Turn it about an eighth or quarter of a turn at a time and observe what happens to this string/fret relationship. How do you hold a guitar to adjust the truss rod when it is hard to turn? Check your relief again, and adjust as necessary. One-way rods straighten the neck against string tension and upbow; two-way rods not only straighten the neck against upbow, but can also force a backbowed neck into either a straight or upbowed configuration. meaning most guitars end up just hanging on a wall. Thanks! The types of forces that act on a truss rod are compression, tension, and torque. To pinpoint any problems, we need to look at all the factors that affect your instrument’s overall playability, sound, and function.”.4. Fender R&D guitar development director Chris Fleming offers up tips on adjusting your instrument's truss rod to straighten out a bowed or back-bowed neck. Tune it, capo it, check it out. Please add more info on adjusting a double-action truss rod like on a PRS guitar. 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. If nothing is happening while adjusting your truss rod, it may be a dual-action truss rod. If you can learn how to do this you are well on your way to doing your own setup. 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? On rare occasion one … Is there a place to buy a complete set of truss rod tools for Fender, Gibson, PRS, Schector and Epiphone? Start by making small adjustments, say 1/8th of a turn. For you PRS guys doing your own setups, check out these PRS setup specs. I keep a log of what I do. Usually the direction to turn (left), as shown in the picture above is to tighten the truss rod and the opposite direction (Right) is to losen the truss rod. Luckily I have an inexpensive guitar that is teaching me these helpful skills. I adjusted the neck relief and then leveled, crowned, and polished the frets. Before turning the bolt, make a mark of where the truss rod … If you break it, it will cost a fortune to repair and probably trash the neck. The distance between the top of lets say the 7th fret and the bottom of our straightedge can be measured with a feeler gauge to give us an exact measurement. There is no standard, single measurement that works for every guitar. Even the best luthiers in the world at one time didn’t know what a truss rod was, much less how to adjust one. USING AN INCORRECT SIZED WRENCH CAN DAMAGE YOUR TRUSS ROD NUT. Changing string gauges may require a truss rod adjustment as this changes the tension on the neck.. Finding a balance between the tension exerted by the strings and by the truss rod is how we control the amount of relief. If you work on your own guitar I’d recommend buying 1-2 extra hex wrenches. Truss rod adjustments are made to alter the straightness (flatness) of the neck. . Do not over-adjust! Common Truss Rod Nut Sizes I was wrong and broke the truss rod. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most The PRS dual-action truss rods used to be perplexing to me. I could then turn the truss rod a little to loosen it. The two common truss rods are a Single Action Truss Rod and a Dual Action Truss Rod. A little truss rod adjustment goes a long way, as you can see by measuring your string height before and after with a string action gauge . Now I’m looking at a $400 bill to repair my Strat. Fortunately, a local luthier used the StewMac truss rod repair kit to repair it for a LOT less than replacing the truss rod. Adjusting my guitar at the heel is a real pain. After making these adjustments you need to check and adjust the intonation. Are they used to adjust string action or just change the neck’s alignment? Give it a slight turn to the left to loosen it a little so it'll be easier to turn. These often require specially shaped wrenches which will snake around the top brace and back up to the heel of the neck. String gauge, playing style, neck and top stiffness can vary from one guitar to the next and as a result, so can ideal neck relief. What does it mean if there is no gap? With a straightedge placed between the D and G strings, bow will become apparent. Stewmac sells longer t-handle hex wrenches that are a lot easier to use. That is why truss rod adjustments are normally done in conjunction with a set up. Artisan Luthiers © 2019. On the RBX170 bass, the neck is not required to be removed to adjust relief. If you bought a used guitar with G-Force Tuners (like I did), you may be interested in downloading the G-Force Tuner Owners Manual. Do I need to adjust my truss rod once in a while or only when I get a guitar setup? back bows are more common this time of year, due to the low humidity from heaters, This should mean virtually no risk of over-doing it. Keep one in your gig bag or case, and one at home. I used some info you provided in another article and his guitar is much easier to play. 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. I don’t want to buy a lot of the wrong tools. Clockwise "tightens" the truss rod, which will straighten a neck with a normal bow in it. All truss rods are made of steel, however; the composition of the steel used is not the same. Is there anything I can do to get more out of my truss rod? Maybe you need another article just for PRS, lol. All Rights Reserved. If a neck is too flat or backbowing, loosening the truss will add relief. Keep in mind that a professional guitar setup costs around $55-$90. I have a Pedulla bass that needs a truss rod adjustment but I don’t have the special tool it takes. No mystery. Truss rod. You can watch videos and read articles but you need experience. There are many types of truss rods for acoustic and electric guitars. Read how to check neck relief, find the truss rod nut, determine the correct measurement and avoid common problems. After you’ve done this, if you still don’t like your string action, you may need to adjust your bridge saddle heights. Just curious on everyone’s thoughts? Lot of PRS questions on here. Truss rod nuts are located at either the peghead or the end of the neck. A little truss rod adjustment goes a long way as you can see by measuring your string height before and after with a string action gauge. I like how you wrote about Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Guide. I found this warning online and agree with it fully. I’ve been afraid I would break it but your article helped to know how to do it the right way. A few instruments have truss rod nuts at the heel that are not readily visible. You probably should turn the wrench counter clockwise as you're looking toward the neck. When turning the truss nut, turn in very small increments. The PRS double acting truss rod provides neck adjustment in both directions. Fender American, and most MIM’s, have the most reliable truss rods for working for many decades. Do you know of a way to remove and replace the nut from a dual-action truss rod? Some guitars require a more specialized tool. Always stay on the side of caution when adjusting a truss rod. How many types of guitar truss rods are there? If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can learn how to adjust a truss rod. As you overtighten a truss rod you move toward applying more force than it can tolerate. Overtightening or over loosening a truss rod can damage the neck and/or body.”. 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. PRS switched over to the double-acting truss rod about halfway through the 1992 production year. A dual-action, aka double-action, truss rod enables you to make neck adjustments in both directions (up or down). What happens if you overtighten a truss rod? Continue to make adjustments and you will eventually see changes in the neck. Depends on which way it's bowing. A lot of us need to know what we can do. For an electric guitar, simply, fret the top string at the first and last fret. turning the truss rod clockwise (looking down from the nut toward the bridge) tightens the truss rod. Types of Truss Rods. When making truss rod adjustments I first assess the instrument's action and playability along with the players aggressiveness and playing style. Too much risk for me. In general these will require an allen head wrench which will pass thru the hole and straight into the nut. With a properly functioning truss rod, you probably won’t need more than 1/8-turn in either direction to get what you’re after. I’ve read conflicting opinions on truss rods. It helps with reducing resistance when you make an adjustment. Do all acoustic guitars use the same size? Copyright © Fret Not Guitar Repair Inc. Is there a special tool I can buy to adjust my truss rod with the neck in-place? Again, making sure the adjustment tool is properly inserted and fully engaged, turn the nut 1/4 turn COUNTER CLOCKWISE from about 6 o’clock to 3 o’clock. Not all truss rod nuts are replaceable, some are welded to the rod. This measurement is your amount of relief. The amount the rod must be turned will vary according to the type/quality of truss rod and amount of adjustment necessary. I should have known better. Go easy on adjusting a truss rod. Then play the instrument and adjust one, or both, to taste/feel. Site Map | Privacy, Use the appropriate sized wrench/socket (if in doubt check the manufacturer's website), Start by loosening the rod a little first*. >>> -S- >> >> >> I remember it by thinking of the truss rod as - >> - countering the pull of the strings, on the neck - >> therefore tightening the rod pulls against the strings - >> loosening the rod gives way to the strings pull. If you need to clamp it in a vise to get it to turn, you're probably going to break something. If you change string sizes you may find that the change in tension can throw off what was previously a good neck adjustment. The largest gap is usually towards the center of the neck. To properly adjust your truss rod, you need to use the properly sized tool. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If your frets buzz above the 1st fret but nowhere else, add some slight relief by loosening the truss rod. Any thoughts to share on the StewMac truss rod rescue tools? My local guy (Ohio) said about 400, and that seems high to me for a typical Strat. It has a purpose, but often it doesn’t need any adjustment when doing a setup. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. professional guitar setup or professional bass setup you want the neck to be level (flat). This reduces relief, lowering the string action (height of the strings over the frets). Truss rod too tight, you want to turn it to your right to loosen it, if you are looking at the guitar, body towards your feet. Kennesaw, GA 30144 .004"- .006" is probably best for light pickers, jazz musicians and instruments strung with medium gauge strings. Thank you for writing this! This is why the instrument should be tuned to pitch before adjusting the truss rod in most cases. There are two styles of adjustable truss rods: single-action (“one way”) truss rods, and double-action (“two way”) rods. A tiny adjustment can make a huge difference when you're adjusting a truss rod. If you’re not comfortable adjusting your truss rod, consult a qualified repair technician. Adjusting the truss rod with the instrument tuned to pitch will allow us to gauge our progress and continue re-checking relief before making further adjustments. So far, it’s always been easy to turn. Any idea where to get a truss rod wrench for a Pedulla bass? I bought an aluminum straightedge on eBay which helps a lot for checking the relief on my neck. This force effectively becomes torque that shears (twists off / breaks) the rod or the adjustment nut. I like the article, but I’m still not sure I want to try this task. Which way you turn a truss rod depends on the desired effect. By sighting the neck, we gain insight into how the neck is reacting to the string tension and truss rod relief. To loosen the truss rod to add relief, the strings pulling tension actually help you make this adjustment, so don’t detune them. *** RESPONSE by Artisan Luthiers *** This article helped me to understand not just “how” but also “why” you do or do not adjust the truss rod. On some instruments this may result in a noticeable change in relief, in others it may not. At the 7th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. How? It seems like that frees it up and makes it easier to turn. He says its to keep it operable and help the threads stay clean. Charlie Longstreth, Martin Warranty Repairman, McKenzie River Music, Eugene, Or. Taylor & similar small nuts 1/4" socket. The depth at which this nut is located can vary which means some instruments will require a longer wrench than others. Which way one turns a truss rod depends on the desired effect. I mean very small too much loosening will cause major warp-age. Relief is actually created by string tension, once a truss rod has been completely loosened the strings not pull relief into the neck with less resistance. BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING TO YOUR TRUSS ROD you need to have a reasonably good understanding of truss rods. Research it, go slow and learn how to adjust your truss rod. (strings are too high) Counterclockwise will loosen the neck, which will straighten it, if it has a "backbow" in it. "turning up" loosens the truss rod. tightening too much will cause it to snap. In 18 years of working on guitars, I’ve had the worst problems working on cheap import guitars. Possibilities are hex wrench, box wrench, nut driver or screwdriver. I’m struggling with adjusting my new PRS. 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. It is definitely not a job for an amateur. Well written but maybe add a few graphics or photos. Before tightening your truss rod it’s always a good idea to give it a short counter-clockwise turn to loosen it. Start with a neck relief check to get an idea of how much adjusting is required. I use a Fender strat, so the screw is right above the nut, pointing the the left if you are playing the guitar horizontally (I'm a righty) This results in the neck being forced to bow backward. – “I’m not sure which way to turn it“ THE most common statements I’ve heard regarding truss rod adjustments for years. Thanks! Don’t use the truss rod to change action. "turning down" tightens the truss rod. Untightening the Truss Rod If you do want to fix a case of back bow and give some neck relief, then you would turn the truss rod the other way (counterclockwise) to loosen it. Is there a good source to buy cheap truss rod tools? Using the wrong sized wrench/socket may permit it to round out the threads and ruin the nut. These are truss rod adjustments. After reading many of your articles I decided to tackle it myself. The amount the rod must be turned will vary according to the type/quality of truss rod and amount of adjustment necessary. A list of tools required to adjust a truss rod is relatively short. Getting that experience includes a level of risk about breaking your truss rod, and stripping out or breaking your truss rod barrel nut. Yamaha put a slot at the heel that can fit a wrench in there to make adjustments. It does not always fit well and can lead you to damage the truss rod cover screw heads. Traditional ‘One Way’ or ‘Single Action’ Truss Rod. It’s now in the hands of a local luthier and I’m looking at about $400 to fix it right. 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. (You may want to capo the first string). Truss rod wrenches are made in metric and SAE (Imperial) sizes. I was pleased to find this work to fix a stuck truss rod. And remember, a little bow on your neck is good. To compensate for undesirable curvature in the neck you can adjust your neck up or down. To do a How much is it to replace a truss rod in a Warwick bass. I remember doing it on 2 different 12 strings while tuned up and they straightened right out and stayed put. Tightening a truss rod (turning clockwise) rises compression, thereby pushing the center of the neck away from the strings. Is there a ratio of the amount you turn a truss rod to the amount a neck is changed? If that doesn’t work, adjust the bridge to slightly raise the action. If you are comfortable taking on the project as a DIY effort, you should look into the “truss rod rescue tool” sold by StewMac. Single-action truss rods are the most common truss rod in commercially manufactured instruments. I just learned that yesterday. Also has a link to factory specs at this link PRS Website. To compensate for undesirable curvature in the neck you can adjust your neck up or down. Measure the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. Added new strings and now it’s now playing perfectly. Can you explain how to adjust a double-action truss rod with an adjustment wheel? Unfortunately, this isn’t straight forward as the type of tool you need depends on the guitar. “If you can’t correct the problem in a few full turns, stop. I sent a link to this article to several of my friends. There is not a standard type or size wrench for all guitar truss rods. The single-acting rods used a brass adjusting nut threaded onto a steel rod. Adjusting a truss rod requires more tools than just a wrench. ← 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). It’s worth noting that a lot of my setups over the years don’t require and movement of the truss rod. Interesting comments I think. There tends to be a good reason we address setup stages in distinct steps. The measurements above serve as simple guidelines and starting points to those still learning about neck relief. Always make certain you are using the correct wrench for your particular truss rod nut. Following this, a friend tried out my Strat and loved it. Loosening the truss rod will allow the strings to create more pull on the neck. I’ve found with a lot of cheap guitars you can never find a hex wrench that fits very well. When i hold down the strings between the 3rd and 17th frets i wanna decrease the gap between the string and the fret as its qite big and i think my neck isnt that straight. Anyway, the guitar used for the example in the picture above has an up bow neck and the way to rectify it is to tighten the truss rod. You’ve made some decent points there. As a guide you can use .008″ to .015″. What is the average cost of a truss rod repair? Is it really necessary to remove a neck if the truss rod screw is at the heel? I found this thread on adjusting the truss rod on an acoustic guitar. I think this is one of the best articles on the subject. I snapped off my truss rod nut when trying to make what I thought was a routine adjustment. What size hex wrench do I need for a Taylor acoustic? You can “tighten” or “loosen” a truss rod, and depending on which way you turn, you can adjust the distance between the strings and the guitar neck. This is the simplest type of truss rod which has been in use in most Fender and Gibson guitars since the 60’s. To add relief to the neck, you’ll want to loosen the truss rod or turn the truss rod nut counter-clockwise. I’d like to be able to dial it in quickly.