Truss rods

[Parlourman]

Hi,

Has anyone used the StewMac "hot rods"?

and would anyone give there opinion on having the adjuster at the neck heel end, or the peghead end?

Thanks all.

Parlourman.

[kiwigeo]

Havent used Stewmac hot rod but I use an LMI equivalent in my acoustics. I always fit my rods with adjuster at heel end of neck. I reason that having the adjustor at a weak point on the neck (headstock/neck transition) is not a good idea.

[bobthebuilder]

I have to agree with Martin. Mine always go in the heel. Also is I prefer to have a clean headstock without a cover plate sitting proud.
Cheers, Bob.

[Allen]

I've done a couple of guitars with fully adjustable necks that require the truss rod to go at the headstock.

Using 2 CF rods on either side of the truss rod and extend them into the headstock, as well using a back graft makes for a very strong joint. While nothing is unbreakable, if you broke that one you would really be doing something.

The rest of the design elements are a personal choice.

[Nick]

And just to confuse your decision from Bob & Martin's thoughts I always come at it from the headstock end, you can actually make a feature of the cover if you wish. I built (and still do on the odd occasion) electrics for years before moving into acoustics, which were easier to have adjustment from the headstock so it's just a habit I've gotten into. One advantage is quick adjustment, the strings don't need to come right off or loosened too much to get your mit into the sound hole, one disadvantage is that you are removing extra wood from around an area that is quite small already. Having said that I've never had a neck 'snap' on me through this area, either electric or acoustic.
I used to use the hot rods exclusively but have switched to the Allied rods of late, they don't require as deep a groove in the neck (but have darn near the same width) thereby giving you a bit more meat through that weaker nut area of the neck.

[Mark McLean]

I haven't tried the Stew-Mac ones, but most of their stuff is very decent. The most widely used truss rods by ANZLF members seem to be the double action truss rods from Allied Lutherie. We have had a couple of ANZLF group buys and many of us have stocked up on them. They have a 6:1 gearing which means that there isn't so much load on it when you are trying to crank on it, and the adjustments are more gentle. I really like them.

Martin and Bob give a good justification for the Martin-style placement of the bolt at the heel end. On the other hand, many players find that hard to access (that is if they even know what the truss-rod is for). The Gibson/Taylor-like arrangement of adjuster at the nut end is easier to use. If you hold the truss-rod cover in place with small magnets instead of screws it can look really elegant.

It is another decision to make with practical and aesthetic implications, but no "correct" answer. One of the things that makes lutherie fun!
cheers
Mark

[jeffhigh]

With a modern style, allen key adjustable truss rod, there is a lot less removal of material than the old Gibson pockets which had to accept a socket around the nut.
Actually the worst I have seen was an old japanese acoustic which had an access slot ACROSS the width of the headstock so that you could use an open end spanner. There was so little material left that it was lucky to be still intact.

[kiwigeo]

Another justification for heel placed truss rod adjustment.......the better hidden it is the less chance of owners f***ng with it. I cant for the life of me work out why many manufacturers now supply an allen key in the guitar case with new guitars....surely a recipe for disaster. The number of times Ive had a guitar presented to me where the owner has tried to adjust action by tweaking the truss rod.

[bobthebuilder]

Go Martin, and for the I use Allied Rods and Loooove them

[jeffhigh]

I always appreciate finding a tool in the case, no need for trial and error/metric or imperial?
Especially with Larivee's with their weird J shaped truss tool.

[Nick]

Another justification for heel placed truss rod adjustment.......the better hidden it is the less chance of owners f***ng with it. I cant for the life of me work out why many manufacturers now supply an allen key in the guitar case with new guitars....surely a recipe for disaster. The number of times Ive had a guitar presented to me where the owner has tried to adjust action by tweaking the truss rod.

I think on some of the more 'expensive' guitars such as Martin's, Larivees, Taylors & the such like the owners are a little more savvy as to what's required nowadays but in the other cases where they're either idots with $ or just plain ignorant ("Ohhhh I wonder what happens when I do this?") you have a point but then that's all good news for us that are after a bit of extra beer money!

[rocket]

Sometimes you don't have much choice which end of the neck you put the adjustment nut, i always laminate a veneer on the back of the headstock to give a bit more support.
Cheers,,,

Rod.

[Parlourman]

Thanks very much everyone. Great advice.

ParlourMan

[simso]

I have used stewmacs dual action truss rods, and there just a tad too large IMO. by the time you channel the neck to accept theres not much meat left over

[simso]

Speaking of truss rods,

This person didnt like the thickness of there bass neck so they sanded the back down to make it a bit more comfortable,

Whats that under the skunk stripe, a truss rodm, whoops, they then removed the rest of the skunk with I have no idea and now given to me to fix.

Yay....

This is before I start machining

[Allen]

Idiots. I hope you slug them good for there F*^@K up.

[kiwigeo]

Idiots. I hope you slug them good for there F*^@K up.

+1

[charangohabsburg]

and now given to me to fix.

Just paint that bldy neck. Black or pink or whatever. They will love it.

[simso]

If it wasnt for the fact its a vintage fender original bass neck, I would have told them to bin it.

[charangohabsburg]

That sounds good Steve. Let them know that vintage Fender neck repairs are extremely expensive.

[simso]

Yeh got a mortgage payment coming up, sounds kind of a familiar number

You can see the modified side profile on this shot, duhhh

[Allen]

Shite !......I want one of those

[simso]

Super cool for cutting fret slots, you can turn the head to 90 degrees and mount a 20" thick circular saw blade in it, then the digital readout tells you exactly where to place the cross sled.

Im still paranoid as hell however standing in front of it when its spinning a circular saw blade.

[J.F. Custom]

Shite !......I want one of those

For a moment there I thought you were talking about the, erm, "modified" Fender neck !!


Jeremy.

[kiwigeo]

That sounds good Steve. Let them know that vintage Fender neck repairs are extremely expensive.

Anyone who attacks a vintage Fender neck with sandpaper should have the instrument taken off them.