The two common truss rods are a Single Action Truss Rod and a Dual Action Truss Rod. Adjusting the truss rod with a 1/8" Allen wrench. Decrease Relief Tightening the truss rod by turning it clockwise influences the neck to curve upward toward the strings (convex). Please add more info on adjusting a double-action truss rod like on a PRS guitar. Which way you turn a truss rod depends on the desired effect. To do a How can I tell what size tool I need to adjust my truss rod? I bought a cheap Chinese replacement neck on eBay. It seems the concensus is to keep them even, no need to put more tension in one side or the other. The optimal amount of relief is largely a personal preference. Now I have a junk guitar neck that lasted only a few months. Well written but maybe add a few graphics or photos. The single-acting rods used a brass adjusting nut threaded onto a steel rod. A dual-action, aka double-action, truss rod enables you to make neck adjustments in both directions (up or down). Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!   You cannot paste images directly. One of the rods is fixed and the other is adjustable in length. 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. I’ve been afraid I would break it but your article helped to know how to do it the right way. 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. 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. 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. Where is the best place to buy a new truss rod for a PRS SE? I’m afraid I might break my truss rod so I just get my tech to do it. 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). of its basses and the advice there is to maintain a pretty much consistent approach when adjusting, i.e., similar adjustment for each rod. The post above appears to have some very sound advice (indeed, they all do). Read how to check neck relief, find the truss rod nut, determine the correct measurement and avoid common problems. When the truss rod is loosened, the adjustable rod will bow backward away from the fretboard. I learned the hard way, if your truss rod is acting up, take it to a skilled luthier. I like the article, but I’m still not sure I want to try this task. Paste as plain text instead, × All truss rods are made of steel, however; the composition of the steel used is not the same. Here you can see that the active bar is welded to the sleeve, which is free to slide up and down the passive rod as the nut is adjusted. Getting that experience includes a level of risk about breaking your truss rod, and stripping out or breaking your truss rod barrel nut. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. Interesting comments I think. If you change string sizes you may find that the change in tension can throw off what was previously a good neck adjustment. I’m struggling with adjusting my new PRS. Do all acoustic guitars use the same size? For this article we’re going to disucss the two most common types of truss rods used for electric guitars and bass guitars. 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. Registered Member. The first truss rod patent was applied for by Thaddeus McHugh, an employee of … No tension, so the rod … There is no standard, single measurement that works for every guitar. I have a spector q6 that I got a year or so back that has two truss rods .. It has a purpose, but often it doesn’t need any adjustment when doing a setup. If there is a back bow or you’re experiencing buzzing frets, it means you need to loosen the truss rod. The majority of instruments made today have single action truss rods. I was wrong and broke the truss rod. × 9,063 2,041 1. I don’t want to buy a lot of the wrong tools. Thanks! Research it, go slow and learn how to adjust your truss rod. For example, not every guitar has a truss rod cover, so there’s no need for a screwdriver. Nice article, but I’ll leave this work to the pros. The third time I tried to adjust the truss rod, the nut snapped off. Display as a link instead, × Two-way truss rods have adjustment points (nuts) at each end. I done a little digging on this exact topic when I got a six-string equipped with dual truss rods. Fender also offers a double action truss rod adjustment wheel on all American Elite models that makes it a snap to address neck relief. I adjusted the neck relief and then leveled, crowned, and polished the frets. Upload or insert images from URL. Truss Rod Tip: Some bass guitars will have specific tools designed to adjust the truss rod. Truss rod nuts A dual-action, aka double-action, truss rod enables you to make neck adjustments in both directions (up or down). You may need a qualified repair person to investigate. Feeling proud, lol, Go slow, a little at a time and you’ll get the hang of it. This reduces relief, lowering the string action (height of the strings over the frets). Turn the nut clockwise to tighten the rod."1. Thanks for great articles with info people can really use. How much does it cost to replace a truss rod, and is it really worth the cost? At the 7th or 8th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. The PRS double acting truss rod provides neck adjustment in both directions. To pinpoint any problems, we need to look at all the factors that affect your instrument’s overall playability, sound, and function.”.4. I’m always afraid I will feel it snap. (You may want to capo the first string). To determine whether your guitar has this system simply examine the adjusting nut. I put all hex wrenches for my truss rod and saddles, plus a small screwdriver in a ziplock to keep it all together. Loosening a truss rod (turning counter-clockwise) adds relief to (decreases tension on) the neck which results in increased (higher) string action height. By sighting the neck, we gain insight into how the neck is reacting to the string tension and truss rod relief. As a guide you can use .008″ to .015″. 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. “If you can’t correct the problem in a few full turns, stop. Lot of PRS questions on here. There are so many different tools designed for adjusting truss rods that it’s nearly impossible to have them all.”.5. When a quality guitar leaves the factory, the truss rod is adjusted according to the maker’s taste in setup specs. The string tension definitely changes the amount of relief. Any idea where to get a truss rod wrench for a Pedulla bass? I snapped off my truss rod nut when trying to make what I thought was a routine adjustment. Neck adjustment can be accomplished as before except that a reverse bow can now be fully corrected. 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. A long threaded nut at the other end provides adjustment and focuses the truss action away from the unmovable heel joint. So just curious….. I’ve been working on guitars for a long time. Also loosen your strings to tighten the truss rod. If that’s the case, depending on the design, you may have to remove the neck to adjust the rod (Fig. Is there any way to adjust the neck on this thing? For the latter, the nut is actually welded to the dual-action truss rod and cannot be replaced. I found this warning online and agree with it fully. Any thoughts to share on the StewMac truss rod rescue tools? My luthier always gives my truss rod a full turn to loosen and then reset when he does a setup. 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    ? Check the amount of relief throughout your adjustment process. It seems like that frees it up and makes it easier to turn. Stewmac sells longer t-handle hex wrenches that are a lot easier to use. Some guitars require a more specialized tool. Single Action Truss Rod vs. Dual Action Truss Rod USING AN INCORRECT SIZED WRENCH CAN DAMAGE YOUR TRUSS ROD NUT. These rods aren’t the strongest in the world. Unfortunately, this isn’t straight forward as the type of tool you need depends on the guitar. Artisan Luthiers © 2019. Go easy on adjusting a truss rod. I tightened my truss rod to the point it won’t turn but I feel the long wrench twisting. 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. ?? *** RESPONSE by Artisan Luthiers *** I should have known better.   Pasted as rich text. The PRS double acting truss rod provides neck adjustment in both directions. PRS switched over to the double-acting truss rod about halfway through the 1992 production year. This change occurred in mid-2013 for US built models and mid-2015 for Tribute models. It also exerts a lot of inward pressure on the wood, which over time can distort a neck. I’m glad you included a note to not tighten it too much at one time. 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. Should I buy it from PRS or a online seller like StewMac? If that doesn’t work, adjust the bridge to slightly raise the action.   Your previous content has been restored. Warning about using the Phillips-head end of the standard Gibson truss rod wrench. I remember doing it on 2 different 12 strings while tuned up and they straightened right out and stayed put. ? This measurement is your amount of relief. Truss rod adjustments are made to alter the straightness (flatness) of the neck. This allows us to counteract the tension of the strings and straighten the neck. I think this is one of the best articles on the subject. This measurement is your amount of relief. By I’m glad he thinks ahead about these things. Is there a place to buy a complete set of truss rod tools for Fender, Gibson, PRS, Schector and Epiphone? Of course, this means remounting, restringing, and retuning between each adjustment. (You may want to capo the first string). Some great advice biguy2017 .. After some tweaking I've actually got the neck playing nicer so very happy! For you PRS guys doing your own setups, check out these PRS setup specs. Thank you! If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I don’t have to worry about messing it up too much because it’s not an heirloom or something haha. Don’t forget that when you tighten your strings the tension will change the amount of relief – adjust accordingly. Post Aug 11, 2015 #1 2015-08-11T21:59. Why is everyone obsessed with adjusting their truss rod as some type of cure-all? 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. A truss rod’s job is to counteract that tension and allow the player to adjust how much (or how little) the neck bows. You may not need everything listed here. I’m leaving it up to my local guitar shop guy. 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. I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most Please add info an adjusting a dual-action PRS truss rod. I just read you should always loosen the strings before tightening the truss rod. A dual-action truss rod is more stable and less influenced by changes in the climate. Don’t be discouraged. If you work on your own guitar I’d recommend buying 1-2 extra hex wrenches. 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. For anybody who doesn’t already know, adjusting the truss rod is not how you improve intonation. Are they used to adjust string action or just change the neck’s alignment? FYI, in my local area (Kansas City), the cost to replace a truss rod on a Strat is around $300-350. You’ve made some decent points there. 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 has always been confusing for me. Truss rod wrenches are made in metric and SAE (Imperial) sizes. After making these adjustments you need to check and adjust the intonation. In this video Galeazzo Frudua explains in details how to adjust the truss rod on your guitar or bass to achieve a comfortable action. It is anchored only to itself, and not the neck wood. Should I try to put a drop of oil on my truss rod threads? I understand the truss rod thing much better now. What happens if you overtighten a truss rod? I usually make incremental adjustments, wait a day to re-measure and keep going until I get it right. I’ve found with a lot of cheap guitars you can never find a hex wrench that fits very well. How many types of guitar truss rods are there? It is definitely not a job for an amateur. 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. Keep one in your gig bag or case, and one at home. Conventional truss rods can only compensate for forward neck bow. I keep my adjustment tool in my bag so I know where it is. These rods are designed to be tightened, thereby increasing pressure on the back of the neck. Is there more tension on the lower strings? Truss rod seized. If you can learn how to do this you are well on your way to doing your own setup. Truss rods often require adjusting after changing string gauges or when temperature and humidity change the amount of bow in the neck. He gave me his Fender acoustic to adjust. Good info. Great article! Should that rod (b string side) be tighter? If nothing is happening while adjusting your truss rod, it may be a dual-action truss rod. 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. 3. This remains the scariest thing I’ve done to a guitar. Alembic uses dual - single action - rods in all (nearly all?) Overtightening or over loosening a truss rod can damage the neck and/or body.”. Check your relief again, and adjust as necessary. I read the article but I’m still not feeling it. 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. Copyright © All the good names are taken ltd. If you are comfortable taking on the project as a DIY effort, you should look into the “truss rod rescue tool” sold by StewMac. Fender American, and most MIM’s, have the most reliable truss rods for working for many decades. The single rod style is lighter and more vintage correct, but requires seasonal adjustment. 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? BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING TO YOUR TRUSS ROD you need to have a reasonably good understanding of truss rods. Loosening the truss rod will allow the strings to create more pull on the neck. This article helped me to understand not just “how” but also “why” you do or do not adjust the truss rod. Possibilities are hex wrench, box wrench, nut driver or screwdriver. I recommend carrying a truss rod adjustment tool in your case, especially if you take your guitar on air travel. Truss rod adjustment: adjusting the truss rod. Is there a good source to buy cheap truss rod tools? Delmar. The truss rod is component of a guitar or other stringed instruments that stabilizes the lengthwise forward curvature, of the neck. Do not over-adjust! Ideally, it would be great for you to know how to perform basic maintenance and adjustments. 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. Spot on with this write-up, including the cautions about do it only if you are mechanically inclined. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can learn how to adjust a truss rod. The neck usually has a bit of a delayed response. Your article helped me to understand how to change my truss rod tension to adjust my string height. If you have a broken truss rod should you replace it or buy a new neck? Before tightening your truss rod it’s always a good idea to give it a short counter-clockwise turn to loosen it. Good stuff. Dual Action Truss Rod Adjustment. European luthier Marguerite Pastella, of Fret Not Guitar Repair, identified five types of truss rods commonly used in building electric and acoustic guitars.2. Is it really necessary to remove a neck if the truss rod screw is at the heel? professional guitar setup or professional bass setup you want the neck to be level (flat). Your truss rod needs adjustment when the neck of your guitar has too much or too little upbow or too much backbow. Fortunately, a local luthier used the StewMac truss rod repair kit to repair it for a LOT less than replacing the truss rod. Because the neck responds slowly, you may find that the intonation needs to be reset after a few days. Also has a link to factory specs at this link PRS Website. The types of forces that act on a truss rod are compression, tension, and torque. 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 have personally never done that when tightening one and I have never had a problem…. 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. To compensate for undesirable curvature in the neck you can adjust your neck up or down. Tightening a truss rod (turning clockwise) increases compression, thereby pushing the center of the neck away from the strings. I found this thread on adjusting the truss rod on an acoustic guitar. I just learned that yesterday. 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. Can you use the truss rod to compensate for the extra tension of heavy strings? This guide will help you understand how to adjust the truss rod. Why does truss rod strength matter? Thanks! Back to index . Clear editor. This article makes me want to go adjust my truss rod just to do it, lol. Find a reliable guitar tech and you’ll always be far ahead. 9,063 2,041 1. I keep a log of what I do. Conventional truss rods can only compensate for forward neck bow. Don’t laugh this off. How do you hold a guitar to adjust the truss rod when it is hard to turn? The tip to always loosen the truss rod a bit before tightening it is brilliant. It helps with reducing resistance when you make an adjustment. This force effectively becomes torque that shears (twists off / breaks) the rod or the adjustment nut. A nut at one end of it (often accessible at the headstock end of a guitar with an Allen wrench, although it’s sometimes at the butt end of the neck), allows it to be tightened or loosened as necessary. This is a closeup of the uncovered mid section of the assembly. www.ArtisanLuthiers.com After reading many of your articles I decided to tackle it myself. My local guy (Ohio) said about 400, and that seems high to me for a typical Strat. The manufacturing tolerances in China really suck. 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. Please add some information about dual-action truss rods like on a PRS guitar. 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. Single-action truss rods are the most common truss rod in commercially manufactured instruments. If your frets buzz above the 1st fret but nowhere else, add some slight relief by loosening the truss rod. Tightening or loosening the adjustment nut adds or lessens pressure on the rod and neck. Copyright © All the good names are taken ltd. Too much risk for me. I have a Pedulla bass that needs a truss rod adjustment but I don’t have the special tool it takes. Are they really that much different? Do I need to adjust my truss rod once in a while or only when I get a guitar setup? It does not always fit well and can lead you to damage the truss rod cover screw heads. Don’t try to adjust your Ricky neck like you would a modern instrument. They specifically stated, “The first step in any setup is to take a look at the neck and see what correction we may need to make. I can’t understand the dual-action workings. 7). What size hex wrench do I need for a Taylor acoustic? 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. At the 7th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. I’ve read they can rust and later make it hard to turn the adjustment nut. Reverb is a great place to find replacement truss rod tools at a decent price. 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. He says its to keep it operable and help the threads stay clean. Finden Sie Top-Angebote für 9x440mm Schwarz Stahl Zwei Weise Dual Action Anpassung Guitar Truss Rod bei eBay. The action is good but I'm always happy to tweak things if it could get better. Well written, and easy to understand article. 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. You need tools to measure action to know when it’s correct. I was pleased to find this work to fix a stuck truss rod. Thank you for writing this! On a vintage-style truss rod, the relief can only bow the neck, which can be a hard repair if the neck needs straightening. Vintage and vintage-style reissue Fenders, for example, require neck removal. Following this, a friend tried out my Strat and loved it. Adjusting your guitars truss rod is a key part of maintaining your instrument. Delmar. 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. Is there a special tool I can buy to adjust my truss rod with the neck in-place? Adjusting my guitar at the heel is a real pain. I picked up a pawn shop special used Squier Strat. Broken truss rod repair costs from $60-$300 and up to can’t be repaired. Even the best luthiers in the world at one time didn’t know what a truss rod was, much less how to adjust one. Phone: 678-402-6739. I’d like to be able to dial it in quickly. A lot of us need to know what we can do. Maybe you need another article just for PRS, lol. A list of tools required to adjust a truss rod is relatively short. Different bass guitars may have differently sized truss rod adjustment slots, so you’ll need to use an Allen wrench that fits it. A single action truss rod is only threaded on one end, but a dual action truss rods are threaded on both ends. The double-acting rods use a steel nut fused to a steel rod. 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? Can you explain to me how a PRS truss rod works? For an electric guitar, simply, fret the top string at the first and last fret. Here’s an article to help you understand what is a bi-flex truss rod.