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I am attempting my first setup on my Ibanez RG570 w/ a Edge Trem.
My problem is the trussrod, though. When I loosen the nut, the nut comes undone and just moves on down the threading. The neck does not follow. In case I am not explaining, here is a picture. You can see the gap. What am I doing wrong?
The nut is doing what it is supposed to do. You loosen the nut if you want more releif (bow). Tighten the nut if you want more straightness. The trussrod counters the pull the strings put on the neck. Since it is loose right now, put some oil on the threads. Make sure your strings are slackened when you loosen the nut that much or you may do severe damage to the neck under full string tension.



truss rod adjustments are only done in small increments- 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn and you can't see the neck moving. you can check your adjustments by measuring the neck relief(about .010quot; to .012quot; would be okay) with the guitar in tune of course. it seems that you completely loosened the truss rod.

the problem is, my strings are still touching the frets. i have it loosened all the way and the strings are literally sitting on the frets. there is like ZERO curve to my neck with it loosened all the way

You can loosen the nut as long as the strings are slacked. It gets obvious something is wrong real quick. The real damage is done when you over tighten the nut. It is good to loosen the nut all the way every now and then. Just loosen the strings and releive the tension.


Originally Posted by nahfutenthe problem is, my strings are still touching the frets. i have it loosened all the way and the strings are literally sitting on the frets. there is like ZERO curve to my neck with it loosened all the way

Tuned to pitch?

Drop-D, one *half* step down (C#)

I'm no luthier, but that sounds bad...

I was hoping nobody would say that.........

If you have an emergency room close, I'd go stat!

is there a way to know for sure that the trussrod is broken?

Well, I can tell you the trussord is not working.

use heavier strings maybe?

damn pawnshop guitar... it played fine in standard tuning.......

too bad i bought it for the purpose of being my quot;odd tuningquot; guitar

I would take it to the shop.

see, it works in the other direction though
i can tighten it and bring the strings all the way down... would that happen if the trussrod were broke?


Originally Posted by nahfutenthe problem is, my strings are still touching the frets. i have it loosened all the way and the strings are literally sitting on the frets. there is like ZERO curve to my neck with it loosened all the way

I thought you said the strings were already down?

When you loosen the trussrod under tuning pressure you will see an extreme curve in the neck. With the nut as loose as you have it in the picture you should have ZERO pressure countering the string pull. You have tension, so the truss rod in not moving. Maybe it wan overtightened at some point? I would PM JohnJohn, Blueline, or Zerbus. Those are the resident luthiers here I can think of off the top of my head.


Originally Posted by big_blackI thought you said the strings were already down?

They are down when fretting anything. doing the old quot;fret on 1 amp; 14quot; gives me a gap of ZERO on the 6th fret.

I can tighten the trussrod further and bring the strings closer, but cannot loosen to take the strings further away


Originally Posted by nahfutenThey are down when fretting anything. doing the old quot;fret on 1 amp; 14quot; gives me a gap of ZERO on the 6th fret.

I can tighten the trussrod further and bring the strings closer, but cannot loosen to take the strings further away

It doen't sound right to me. PM those guys I told you about, they could give you a more precise answer as to what might be happening, or take it into a local shop. They should be able to at least evalute it for free.