Truss rod Adjustment

[Sinmastah]

I havn't messed around with the truss rod on my guitar, an Epiphone g-400. Is there any point to changing the setting onthe truss rod, like what would it do for me? Any tips on what it does and how to adjust it.

[Rico]

Unless the neck is bowed, you shouldn't have to touch it.

[WhippingPost]

You know that old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? They were talking aobut truss rods when they coined that.

Now, seriously, if your guitar plays fine, then there's no sense in adjusting the truss rod. The truss rod is most commonly used to adjust for the neck's tendancy to bow or warp - to curve toward or away from the strings - by tightening or loosening the truss rod nut. However, it can also be used to add controlled relief between the strings and frets to accomodate for fret buzz.

Adjusting the truss rod is best left to a professional in most cases, as it has the serious possibility of ruining a perfectly good instrument if you're careless. Also, truss rod adjustments are part of any good professional set up, so if you're paying a pro to set up the guitar, let them adjust the rod.

Take it easy,
Fred

[Sinmastah]

Alright thanks guys, sounds like a plan. I fixed the little fret buzz this guitar had by wrapping the strings over the tailpeice and raising the action a hair. To be honest, I don't think its worth paying 50-100 bux for a professional to set up a guitar that only costs 400 dollars, espicially when I can change the action etc by myself. The only real thing I could see doing is refretting or the truss rod etc. I plan to install pots and Pups by myself too. Doesn't seem too hard.

[Stretchy]

Dont forget setting the intonation, that can be a little harder than setting up action, which often kinda mess up the intonation.

[WhippingPost]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Alright thanks guys, sounds like a plan. I fixed the little fret buzz this guitar had by wrapping the strings over the tailpeice and raising the action a hair. To be honest, I don't think its worth paying 50-100 bux for a professional to set up a guitar that only costs 400 dollars, espicially when I can change the action etc by myself. The only real thing I could see doing is refretting or the truss rod etc. I plan to install pots and Pups by myself too. Doesn't seem too hard.

Where was the fret buzz located? I mean, where on the fretboard did it buzz, and what fret did you have depressed at the time?

Actually, there are several good guitar repair and maintenance books out there that will talk you through your own setups, including action, relief (truss rod), and intonation. Not that any of it is actually hard, but I found it handy to have a reference when I started bringing my old beater back to life. Most of the books also cover everything up to complicated repair work.

Stretchy (welcome aboard, by the way) is right, though: Don't forget to set the intonation if you adjusted the action. Intonation isn't a hard adjustment, but it can be a pain.

[diceman]

My Gibson dealer does a full setup (adjust action, intonation, truss, fret polish, fret board oiled) for $15 plus the cost of strings. I don't know how some of these shops get away with charging so much... I've gathered that prices here aren't the norm, though!

I personally don't screw with the truss rod on my main guitars. I occasionally screw around with setups on some of my older axes that I rarely play, but wouldn't want to risk screwing up one of my favorite guitars just to save a few bucks!

[Sinmastah]

I think I need another dealer than GC then. I'll try to find a local one. The fret bux was mainly on the 5th string on the 2nd or 4th fret, can't really remember, was about a month ago. Intonation was easy to do, just kind of annoying at a couple times, like when I turn the screw and the note doesn't change pitch, at all.

[Robster]

Check your local craigslist. I am a guitar tech, and I get a ton of business from CL. I charge about 40 bucks for a full setup, including strings.

Good luck!

R