Obviously, taking it to a local Luthier is always a good option. I found this thread on adjusting the truss rod on an acoustic guitar. It seems the concensus is to keep them even, no need to put more tension in one side or the other. How many types of guitar truss rods are there? Any thoughts to share on the StewMac truss rod rescue tools? By I’m glad he thinks ahead about these things. Key Point: The Fodera Dual Action Truss Rod allows you to properly adjust the neck of your bass in almost any climate condition, however, at certain times of year and/or in extreme weather conditions, you may have to remove the truss rod and turn it upside down in order to adjust your bass’ neck optimally. people will go along with your views on this site. 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. AllParts is a good source for replacement truss rods and truss rod nuts. Thank you all for your input on this.. Are they used to adjust string action or just change the neck’s alignment? Interesting comments I think. Go easy on adjusting a truss rod. My luthier always gives my truss rod a full turn to loosen and then reset when he does a setup. Nice article, but I’ll leave this work to the pros. 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. The purpose of this is generally to counteract the tension of the strings to straighten the neck. Any plans to write a follow-up article on what to do when you have a broken truss rod? If there is a back bow or you’re experiencing buzzing frets, it means you need to loosen the truss rod. Stewmac sells longer t-handle hex wrenches that are a lot easier to use. Thanks! The first truss rod patent was applied for by Thaddeus McHugh, an employee of … I have an old acoustic guitar without a truss rod. Two-way truss rods have adjustment points (nuts) at each end. You need tools to measure action to know when it’s correct. Any idea where to get a truss rod wrench for a Pedulla bass? The neck usually has a bit of a delayed response. 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. There is not a standard type or size wrench for all guitar truss rods. Neck adjustment can be accomplished as before except that a reverse bow can now be fully corrected. Just curious on everyone’s thoughts? 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. Why is everyone obsessed with adjusting their truss rod as some type of cure-all? You’ve made some decent points there. Check your relief again, and adjust as necessary. Truss rod nuts I keep a log of what I do. Why bother? I used some info you provided in another article and his guitar is much easier to play. In a 2019 article, the folks at Sweetwater Sound discussed the importance of being able to also sight a guitar neck before adjusting a truss rod. The string tension definitely changes the amount of relief. Uniquely, dual-action truss rods can create relief with or without string tension. 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. Following this, a friend tried out my Strat and loved it. Truss rod adjustment is still confusing to me. Truss rods often require adjusting after changing string gauges or when temperature and humidity change the amount of bow in the neck. The double-acting rods use a steel nut fused to a steel rod. It is anchored only to itself, and not the neck wood. Because the neck responds slowly, you may find that the intonation needs to be reset after a few days. This article helped me to understand not just “how” but also “why” you do or do not adjust the truss rod. He gave me his Fender acoustic to adjust. Each truss rod design has its own characteristics. Thanks! A single action truss rod is only threaded on one end, but a dual action truss rods are threaded on both ends. He says its to keep it operable and help the threads stay clean. Do all acoustic guitars use the same size? Sometimes the access for the truss rod is at the heel of the neck. Loosening a truss rod (turning counter-clockwise) adds relief to (decreases tension on) the neck which results in increased (higher) string action height. I’m always afraid I will feel it snap. If this is an issue, the neck design/build schedule/program is faulty. 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. loosen both truss rods and check relief increases - therefore truss rods are working. 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. Should I buy it from PRS or a online seller like StewMac? I don’t want to buy a lot of the wrong tools. The single rod style is lighter and more vintage correct, but requires seasonal adjustment. Is there a good source to buy cheap truss rod tools? Good info. The entire reason for a dual-action truss rod is to be able to bend the neck in the direction of the string-pull, because a single-action rod cannot. Galeazzo Frudua. When the truss rod is at the bottom of the neck do you turn it the same way to add or decrease relief? I don't want the neck to start twisting . Is there a ratio of the amount you turn a truss rod to the amount a neck is changed? A possible repair option is to buy a replacement but this is not cheap and brings yet another set of issues. A lot of us need to know what we can do. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can learn how to adjust a truss rod. Copyright © All the good names are taken ltd. So just curious….. I’ve been working on guitars for a long time. A dual-action truss rod is more stable and less influenced by changes in the climate. Loosening the truss rod will allow the strings to create more pull on the neck. Research it, go slow and learn how to adjust your truss rod. No tension, so the rod … Adjusting A Rickenbacker Truss Rod. Do not over-adjust! All guitar truss rods are alike only with regards to their intended function, to adjust neck relief. Is there more tension on the lower strings? If that doesn’t work, adjust the bridge to slightly raise the action. The majority of instruments made today have single action truss rods. It’s worth noting that a lot of my setups over the years don’t require and movement of the truss rod. Which way you turn a truss rod depends on the desired effect. Always stay on the side of caution when adjusting a truss rod.