Which way tightens truss rod

To lower the action on an acoustic, you usually need to file the bridge saddle down, not the nut. However, a thorough setup does often involve filing the nut and saddle lower, as well as an adjustment to the truss rod. Only try to lower the action at the nut if you find that it feels too high down there in the first couple frets. I find that about 0. This is the distance between the top of the fret and a straight edge laid with care!

Seems to work for me. Hi Richard. Some necks do need a good amount of relief. On my electrics I usually aim for. Your email address will not be published. Bobby Davis is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.

Hi Greg! In a article, the folks at Sweetwater Sound discussed the importance of being able to also sight a guitar neck before adjusting a truss rod. By sighting the neck, we gain insight into how the neck is reacting to the string tension and truss rod relief. For a bass guitar , fret the top string low E at the first and at the 15th fret.

At the 7th or 8th fret, measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 7th fret. There is no standard, single measurement that works for every guitar. As a guide you can use. The optimal amount of relief is largely a personal preference. After making these adjustments you need to check and adjust the intonation. Because the neck responds slowly, you may find that the intonation needs to be reset after a few days. Always stay on the side of caution when adjusting a truss rod.

A list of tools required to adjust a truss rod is relatively short. You may not need everything listed here. There is not a standard type or size wrench for all guitar truss rods.

Possibilities are hex wrench, box wrench, nut driver or screwdriver. Truss rod wrenches are made in metric and SAE Imperial sizes. Some guitars require a more specialized tool. Always make certain you are using the correct wrench for your particular truss rod nut. Ideally, it would be great for you to know how to perform basic maintenance and adjustments. You can watch videos and read articles but you need experience. Getting that experience includes a level of risk about breaking your truss rod, and stripping out or breaking your truss rod barrel nut.

If you are somewhat mechanically inclined you can learn how to adjust a truss rod. Nice article. Thanks for the tip! Go easy when adjusting your truss rod. If you mees up, the cost to replace a truss rod can exceed the value of the guitar or bass. A broken truss rod is really expensive to fix. I tried to replace my broken truss rod. It is definitely not a job for an amateur. This has always been confusing for me.

This is an easy thing to do. Just turn it a little at a time and measure the relief until it gets where you want it to be. So just curious….. I just read you should always loosen the strings before tightening the truss rod. I have personally never done that when tightening one and I have never had a problem…. I remember doing it on 2 different 12 strings while tuned up and they straightened right out and stayed put.

When the truss rod is at the bottom of the neck do you turn it the same way to add or decrease relief? I bought a cheap Chinese replacement neck on eBay. I should have known better. The third time I tried to adjust the truss rod, the nut snapped off. Now I have a junk guitar neck that lasted only a few months. I just bought a really cool Pedulla bass. Where can I get a truss rod wrench for a square-shaped end?

I have an old acoustic guitar without a truss rod. Is there any way to adjust the neck on this thing? I checked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site. I picked up a pawn shop special used Squier Strat.

At first, the truss rod would not turn at all. I put some penetrating oil in the pocket and left if standing up for a couple of days. I could then turn the truss rod a little to loosen it. Then I added a little more oil and started to tighten it. I was pleased to find this work to fix a stuck truss rod. I snapped off my truss rod nut when trying to make what I thought was a routine adjustment.

Fortunately, a local luthier used the StewMac truss rod repair kit to repair it for a LOT less than replacing the truss rod. Go easy on adjusting a truss rod. Is there anything I can do to get more out of my truss rod? The manufacturing tolerances in China really suck. My luthier always gives my truss rod a full turn to loosen and then reset when he does a setup.

He says its to keep it operable and help the threads stay clean. Good article that is easy to understand. Keep one in your gig bag or case, and one at home.

How do you hold a guitar to adjust the truss rod when it is hard to turn? Is wrapping your leg around it the only way to control it? If you can learn how to do this you are well on your way to doing your own setup.

Research it, go slow and learn how to adjust your truss rod. Why is everyone obsessed with adjusting their truss rod as some type of cure-all? 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. Your truss rod needs adjustment when the neck of your guitar has too much or too little upbow or too much backbow.

This truss rod setting needs loosening to get the necessary forward bow. Turn your truss rod adjuster nut clockwise and you will add more pressure onto the neck pulling it into back bow. Turn it anti-clockwise and you will loosen the truss rod allowing the strings to pull the neck into a forward bow. Some forward bow is needed for sure. Use the 0. For this player who is using standard tuning and 0.

Feed the feeler gauge in between the string and 7th fret.