4mm Truss Rod adjustment? Ya right Epiphone!

[warmachine]

I don't know why it is again with a recent Epiphone Les Paul that a 4mm allen wrench doesn't grab despite the walls being not being stripped in the allen hole of the rod. If there was such a thing as a 4.25mm allen wrench that would probably be perfect. Makes me wonder if it's lousy tolerances in the manufacture of their truss rods. Also i see what looks like casting residue near the bottom, but up high enough it could restrict more reach of the allen wrench.

Anyone else experience this? I might buy one of those specialty tapered allen wrenches Stew Mac sells to tackle problem allen rods.

Ugh.

 

[ARandall]

Undersized allen keys are actually pretty common too

 

[rbraad68]

I have both metric and imperial sized allen keys. I am not 100% sure but I think the imperial size fits right in takes up that extra slack the 4 ml leaves. I will try here in a little bit make sure i am correct...

 

[DrBGood]

4mm is a tight fit for my 6 Epiphone from 2006 to 2021. It's sometimes hard to have it perfectly aligned before pushing it in.

You're sure you're not using an imperial size ?

 

[rbraad68]

4mm is a tight fit for my 6 Epiphone from 2006 to 2021. It's sometimes hard to have it perfectly aligned before pushing it in.

You're sure you're not using an imperial size ?

Yeah mine too, I must be using the metric alen then?? I thought i was using the imperial alen size though? I have no troubles with any of my 12 epi lps.... But you do have to make sure you get the alen down in there ...

 

[CB91710]

Not actually casting residue, it's the "tulips" formed by the broaching process that cut the hex form into the blind hole.

Avoid using ball-end hex keys. The truss rod holes are often tapered slightly and it is very easy for the ball ends to slip.

 

[warmachine]

I have both metric and imperial sized allen keys. I am not 100% sure but I think the imperial size fits right in takes up that extra slack the 4 ml leaves. I will try here in a little bit make sure i am correct...

So there is another option being Imperial I should but? I only have metric 4mm. The only two brands of guitars I've had trouble with allen keys is Epiphone and BC Rich. Really annoying.

 

[warmachine]

I have both metric and imperial sized allen keys. I am not 100% sure but I think the imperial size fits right in takes up that extra slack the 4 ml leaves. I will try here in a little bit make sure i am correct...

Oh I think Imperial is the 5/32nds. Im assuming that SAE and Imperial are the same thing?

Im tempted to buy a Snap-On 4mm cause cause their specs should be as good as it gets.

Of the three 4mm non branded i got lying around none do the job.

 

[rbraad68]

Oh I think Imperial is the 5/32nds. Im assuming that SAE and Imperial are the same thing?

Im tempted to buy a Snap-On 4mm cause cause their specs should be as good as it gets.

Of the three 4mm non branded i got lying around none do the job.

I would imagine sears craftsman or even the lowes alen keys would work fine as well. I don't know what brand mine are but their not even that good...

 

[moreles]

Personally, I just keep buying more metric and imperial Allen keys in and around the sizes used for saddles, and for truss rods. I also have the flip-out sets of keys in both imperial and metric. I just got way tired, way long ago, of trying to hunt down the best-fitting key for every guitar crossing my path, and I sue as heck was not going to wear or even strip the socket on a truss rod by using a mis-fit key. Now I just dig into my bag of loose, quality keys and find the right one. Ditto for sockets to fit Gibson and Gibson-style truss rod nuts. I wish everyone used heel-end, wheel adjusters.

 

[DrBGood]

I wish everyone used heel-end, wheel adjusters.

What does that look like ?

 

[CB91710]

What does that look like ?

Think "TinkerToy"
Like the EVH models have.

 

[warmachine]

I ordered a 4mm Snap-On and should be here this week. Was $7.50. I have other guitars that use that size so if the Epiphone Les Paul still doesn't work with it I'm gonna get a Gripper truss rod wrench from Stewmac.

 

[rbraad68]

I ordered a 4mm Snap-On and should be here this week. Was $7.50. I have other guitars that use that size so if the Epiphone Les Paul still doesn't work with it I'm gonna get a Gripper truss rod wrench from Stewmac.

You should be good to go. Just make sure you are getting the alen key all the way down into there and its seated tightly ...

 

[DrBGood]

Think "TinkerToy"
Like the EVH models have.

View attachment 682271

Ah ... I'll go to bed less dumb tonight. Thanks.