Truss rod adjustment position

[ozziebluesman]

G'day everyone!

The past few acoustic guitar builds I have positioned the truss rod so adjustment is through the soundhole of the guitar. I was thinking may be the next acoustic I will try with adjustment at the headstock.

What are the pros and cons doing this?

Do you need to have a fingerboard extension?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Alan

[Puff]

The mechanics of it are no different.
In instruments, with big round sound holes at the end of the fingerboard, adjustment at the neck block is simple and the headstock is less cluttered, With some other sound port configurations getting at the neck block can be difficult so it is much easier to take the adjustment to the other end.
An advantage of the headstock adjustment is it being easier to work with whilst using a straight-edge for initial setup or when the instrument is strung up.

[Kim]

Pro headstock is accessibility as Puff suggest and some prefer the look of a TR cover. A con is that carrying the slot through to the headstock further weakens that area of the neck most pron to snapping when the guitar is knocked over. Other than that there is not that much in it.

Cheers

Kim

[Allen]

You can run come CF rods through into the headstock to help strengthen that area if you're so inclined. I do it on all of mine. Just make sure that if you are doing a slot head that you stop them before the area where the slot and ramp will expose the ends of the CF.

[jeffhigh]

Not really a problem IMHO if you are using the allied rod or similar
The standard Gibson style with a huge recess..............a recipe for disaster.

[Dominic]

I like the look of a TR cover on the head stock. Like Allen I run the CF all the way through and cut them off at the same angle as the headstock before gluing on the headstock plate. I also cut the TR slot all the way through but I glue in a filler. Then all you need to access the TR adjuster is a small 6.5mm hole which I drill with a home made pocket hole jig. And I use magnetic covers but if done right the hole can look very nice. Also very strong and easy to adjust.
With sound hole adjustment you can't help but damage the srtings with the allen key.
Dom

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks to you all for your thoughts.

Two of my acoustic guitars I built together following the Scott Antes plan I didn't cut the truss rod channel deep enough at the neck block end so the rod touches the flat brace in front of the transverse on both guitars. Damn! I notice that many don't use that brace and make the transverse a little bigger. I will do that next time as well. Thats what got me thinking about positioning the truss rod adjustment at the headstock. The tip on using CF rods to strengthen that area is a good one.

Cheers

Alan