software

Here's the deal, see: truss rod adjustments have been discussed before as parts of other threads, but we need something that is Vault-worthy that adequately addresses this setup.

Describe how to adjust a truss rod.

Define some of the terminology (e.g., 'relief').

Share the precautions that should be taken when making this adjustment.
Thanks in advance, tonebros.

I'll do it (I'll edit my post when I'm done typing)

Ok I'll give this a try. Everyone keep in mind that I am a beginner but I've done this and it always worked fine, and I've researched a lot. If I'm writing this it's as much to help as to be corrected.

The first thing I can say is a word of warning: it is an operation that may damage your guitar. Should you hesitate or be unsure of what to do, ask a professional (this works for any guitar tech stuff that may result in a loss of value of your guitar or damage to it)
There are several rules of thumbs that apply to truss rod adjustments but the first one is: like girls, each guitars are different. Keep this in mind when your guitar doesn't react as expected. The other most important would be, for me, that there are MANY factors that influence whatever it is that you are trying to solve. There is a different solution to every problems.
Here are a few 'laws' that people should, I think, remember:
No more than a quarter of a turn at a time
Righty, tight - lefty, loosy (when facing the body of the instrument, looking from the neck. Clockwise = tightening, counter clockwise = loosening)
Tightening it allows less movement to the wood. It will straighten and give less relief (upwards bow) to the wood
Loosening it allows it to move more freely. With the strings on, it will bow more.
ALWAYS ADJUST AND MEASURE IN PLAYING CONDITIONS as much as you can. Gravity has a lot of influence which you do not want.
The right amount of relief is good. Too much relief is not. Backbow is not. Straight necks can sometimes work out well (ask Jeff Beck)
A 'typical' relief is the thickness of a business card (between .10 and .15 if I recall correctly but I'm not good with proper values)
Personally I say that you should wait at least an hour before another adjustement. Adjust once, tune until it doesn't change tuning, apply a little pressure on the neck in the direction in which you did the adjustement (loosening: make the center of the neck go down, tightening, press on it so in an upwards strength), let it rest 10 minutes, play it to see how it is. I hear that 10 minutes is enough, but I'm cautious by nature.
To adjust it, you will need a socket (usually 6, 7 or 8 mm) and most truss rods adjust at the peghead, under a cover (though not always)
Some adjust at the heel of the neck. You may need to loosen the neck enough (at the bolt on screws) so that you can lift it to access the adjustement screw: be careful not to damage the pickup or pickguard or wood with the screwdriver, or you may need to take the neck off.
Once again: no more than a quarter of a turn at a time. An eighth is also a good measure. It makes a big difference.
Keep track of your measures. It may be handy in future cases.

Mhmm ok I could write some basic things about maintenance but I think it's not my domaine yet. Can someone do the compressed wood, over tightened nuts and things like this, and correct my mistakes if I did any? Thanks

Truss rod adjustment.

The truss rod is an adjustable metal rod that goes through the inside of the neck and keeps it strait against the tension of the strings. How do you know if it needs to be adjusted?

Hold the guitar in playing position on your lap (note: if you don't hold it in playing position, this won't work!). Press down a string at the first and last frets and note the height at the middle of the neck (around the 7th or 8th fret). There should be a small amount of space between the string and the fret (the actual metal fret). How much depends on preference, you generally if you put a .60 mm pick in there, it should stay comfortably. You don't want too much space (the pick would slide out) or too little space (the string hits the fret).

The truss rod can be accessed from a few different places depending on the guitar. Most have a small plastic cover on the headstock by the nut. Under it you will find the end of the truss rod sticking out. Some guitars, like older Fenders, have the adjustable end at the heel of the neck. Sometimes it can be accessed from the side, sometimes you have to take the neck off to get to it. On an acoustic, the end may be inside the soundhole.

If you have too much of a gap using the above test, you have too much relief and your neck has a forward bow. Using either an allen wrench or a socket (it should be obvious which you need), turn the rod clockwise. You generally want to go about 1/4 turn at a time and let the neck rest for 20 minutes between 1/4 turns. After 20 minutes, check to see if the neck is strait. If not, repeat until it is!

If you have too little space between the string and the fret, you have a back bow and need more relief. Do the same as the paragraph above but turn counterclockwise.

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Anybody have an additions or corrections?

Great posts!

-I would add that I think 20-30 minutes between adjustments is best. 10 minutes may not be enough time for the wood to fully take to the adjustment...but then again every guitar is different. Know your guitar. I would also only go A MAXIMUM of 1/4 turn. LESS IS BEST, be safe!

-You will do not damage by loosening the nut, provided the guitar is significantly detuned. You will only do damage by over tightening the nut. I like to remove the nut completely when I get a new guitar. I put some machine oil on the threads of the truss rod. This will ensure the nut moves smoothly on the threads for a long time.-When you are tightening the truss rod (straightening), it is a good idea to detune the strings a bit. This allows the adjustment to set more quickly. It also prevents the truss rod from having to fight the tension of full tuning. I don't know if this is harmful to the neck (probably not very), but if you like to baby your guitar...

-Gibson guitars take a 5/16 socket for adjustment.

Thanks to mnbaseball: I had forgotten some quite important points!

becase i feel like adding some reference sites
here one site is
and another
heres one with pictures
this one has some kewl diagrams

Ok I had typed it all here but it's not the best idea. The main place where I put the article is here:
from : localhost/
I'll do a bit edit tomorrow with more pictures and maybe diagrams, and post it here. Anyone can (and I'd quite like you guys to) read it and comment if I made any mistakes/or on what to add. Thanks

Also when tightening the rod, if you hear squeaking, that means you are most likely crushing some of the wood againts the truss rod. (From my the Erlewind book).


Originally Posted by PierreThanks to mnbaseball: I had forgotten some quite important points!

I thought you nailed it pretty good Pierre.

It is the strings that pull the relief into the neck, not the adjustment of the truss rod, so a loosened truss rod allows the strings to add relief. A tightened truss rod adjustment flattens the neck, removing bow. Pretty darn difficult to get rid of a back bow (one where the neck bends into the strings) because the strings are pulling the neck in the wrong direction.

Once you had the main idea Pierre, there are many details that can be added, like listing all the steps in tuning a FR. No matter how many details you add, someone can add a few more. So it is important to concentrate on the main idea.

I also let the neck sit for a long time following each adjustment. But, multiple guitars afford one to let one sit in a state of repair.

I second the lubing of the truss rod nut. This makes me think of a joke..

Nah..

The PRS truss rod is double something or another. If you are adjusting a PRS, a very little twist goes a very long way.

Use the correct size wrench. Nothing worse than stripping a nut.

^^ double expanding truss rod ? i think the warmoth necks have those ( at least some do, i know mine does.. )

here's a link to the info on their site :
from : localhost/www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/...ion=truss_rods

from : localhost/
Ok I think I finished it.
I wrote on this forum 3 articles dealing with Floyd Roses and I'm planning on writing at least 2 or 3 more. I'd be interested in starting a website to store these articles, does anyone know how to find a free webspace that I can easily change? I don't know much HTML...


Originally Posted by Colma^^ double expanding truss rod ? i think the warmoth necks have those ( at least some do, i know mine does.. )

here's a link to the info on their site :
from : localhost/do have double expanding truss rods, but if that's what Scott's talking about I don't see that it really makes it any more sensative. I had to give my Warmoth a good turn and a half before it was all said and done. Granted, it was pretty loose to begin with...

And pierre, yours was excellent. The only reason I posted was because yours wasn't up yet when I started typing!

Hehe yeah, thanks Yours had some great points too!
I'm doing a tripod website with all my articles.
from : localhost/pierreott.tripod.com/

Not great all but it's my first website... If anyone has tips or would be kind enough to help, I'd be happy

So, are we Vault-worthy yet