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Having just switched the strings I had on my electric from 9s to 10s, I've noticed the strings are very high off the fretboard. Now I know there is an adjusment you can make but I've heard you have to take your guitar to the shop to get it fixed. Can I make this adjusment myself and save the hassle of going to the shop?

Neck adjustment is not hard, you just need to be very careful. People do damage by overtightening. If you want to make an adjustment, loosen the strings and turn to the left. Just like any other nut, righty-tighty lefty-loosey. Loosening the nut will give reduce the forward bow, tightening increases it.

When I do adjustments on a new guitar, or one that has been sitting for a while, I loosen the nut completely. It allows you to kind of start from scratch. If you do this, loosen your strings ALOT. If you don't you will get an extereme bow forward bow in the neck and possible damage. Do not make more than 1/4 turn or less at a time. Tune to pitch and check the straightness of the neck. If you need to add more bow, loosen the strings and repat the process. The object is to get a straight neck, or slightly forward bowed. Sight the neck by looking down the the nut end, you will be able to check the straightness. You will only do damage if you overtighten.


Originally Posted by big_blackNeck adjustment is not hard, you just need to be very careful. People do damage by overtightening. If you want to make an adjustment, loosen the strings and turn to the left. Just like any other nut, righty-tighty lefty-loosey. Loosening the nut will give reduce the forward bow, tightening increases it.

Yep this is the truss rod you are adjusting however I believe you may have mistyped. When you tighten the rod it straighten the neck and loosening the rod lets it bow more. The neck bows because the strings are pulling it forward, when you tighten the truss rod, this offers resistance and straightens the bow.

I would research this more since this is something sensitive. Two things to keep in mind. Small adjustments have noticable impact, take a bit of time for each adjustment to settle in a little, as it is wood. And if you hear a pretty distinct squeaking notice, more then just the wrench turning the nut, stop. This noise can mean you can crushing some of the wood that the rod is set against.

Oops! Sorry you are right. Do an search on the 'net you will find more detailed info.

Thanks for the info guys.

try adjusting the bridge first before messing with the truss rod.

Accually in a setup, you want to adjust the neck first. Adjust saddle height and then intonation.