Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

[ledzepp29]

Hey, on my les paul classic when I bend up the strings that are past the 12th fret the note will just go dead, or go out of pitch/really sharp. My friend told me that the trussrod should be slightly tweaked. Is this correct? If so, can I do it myself? Which way do I turn it and how much? And after I adjust the trussrod do I have to adjust the saddles? Thanks guys

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

One way you could check to see if your neck is straight is to, make sure the guitar is to the tuning you use, push down the low E at the first fret while also pushing down the low E string on the highest fret. If you have a gap between the low E and the 12th fret, tighten the truss rod little by little and tune in between making slight turns until you have the smallest gap possible at the 12th. A word of advice, if your truss rod will not budge with a small to medium pressure, DO NOT FORCE IT!!!! I would get a friend to help, get your friend to push downward on the headstock while you turn the truss rod. This is relive some of the pressure and keep you truss rod from breaking. If you strings are touching the frets in the middle while you have the E strings fretted, loosen the rod. All of that should get you in the ballpark. remember, righty tighty, lefty loosy.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

alright thanks!!

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

If that dosent work, you may have other issues, just ask.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

question: I just checked it and there is a gap, but when you say smallest gap possible, you mean like as close to the 12th fret as possible without touching it right? Cause mines close but it could be closer.

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

Yep. Just make sure you tune it alot. The slightest amount of string tension will make a difference on alot of guitars.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

I don't need to detune it while I adjust the rod do I?

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

Not usually, it may help a little though unless you have a buddy to put tension on the headstock like I mentioned before. I will not do either unless the nut is hard to turn.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

Hey, I adjusted it so that when I do the first/last fret thing the string is super close to the 12th fret and I have no improvement...its starting to get on my nerves because of the dead/clanky notes. Any help is heavily needed and appreciated

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

I've been playing it and I noticed it is even worse now that I've done that trick, every single note goes dead when I bend it!

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

screw it, I'll just take it to the luthier! haha

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

Either your action could be high or your frets might have an issue. I would have to look at it to tell you exactly what it is though. I agree, take it to a luthier.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

I was just thinking that it could be an action issue...I gotta change my strings so I'll mess with the action...right now the action is really slinky, its really easy to bend and really easy to play...so I'm guessing I should raise the action? Now that I've got the trussrod in the right place can you give me an estimate on how high I should put the action, its got an abr-1 tune o matic, whats the measurement on your paul?

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

o ya and my intonation looks correct with the fretted 12th/harmonic trick through a digital tuner. so it has to be my action

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

I was just thinking that it could be an action issue...I gotta change my strings so I'll mess with the action...right now the action is really slinky, its really easy to bend and really easy to play...so I'm guessing I should raise the action? Now that I've got the trussrod in the right place can you give me an estimate on how high I should put the action, its got an abr-1 tune o matic, whats the measurement on your paul?

I cant give you an exact measuremnt that will work. Every guitar is different and I just leveled my two so I am sure it will probally be lower.

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

o ya and my intonation looks correct with the fretted 12th/harmonic trick through a digital tuner. so it has to be my action

If you intonate with a harmonic your note will flatten out. Intonate your guitar with a fretted note at the 12th fret using your standatd pressure you use to push down the string. The only time intonating with harmonics would be correct is if you play only harmonics on your guitar. I dont know anybody who does that or would want to do that. I play almost all fretted notes, I am sure you do the same.

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

I was just thinking that it could be an action issue...I gotta change my strings so I'll mess with the action...right now the action is really slinky, its really easy to bend and really easy to play...so I'm guessing I should raise the action? Now that I've got the trussrod in the right place can you give me an estimate on how high I should put the action, its got an abr-1 tune o matic, whats the measurement on your paul?

It could be any number of things. I would have to personally look at your guitar to tell what to do to it. Otherwise I would be shooting at the hip or shooting in the dark.

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

my frets are in good shape...and when I said harmonic I also meant the open string, I tried both, which way should my action go, up or down? I'm thinkin up because if the it got worse by the trussrod getting adjusted(strings closer to neck) than it would have to go up...come to think of it...when I first bought it the action was much higher because when I first saw it it looked much higher than my flat topped paul, but the classic played liek butter. I guess from all the string changes and accidental twists of the discs it got too low

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

One way you could check to see if your neck is straight is to, make sure the guitar is to the tuning you use, push down the low E at the first fret while also pushing down the low E string on the highest fret. If you have a gap between the low E and the 12th fret, tighten the truss rod little by little and tune in between making slight turns until you have the smallest gap possible at the 12th. A word of advice, if your truss rod will not budge with a small to medium pressure, DO NOT FORCE IT!!!! I would get a friend to help, get your friend to push downward on the headstock while you turn the truss rod. This is relive some of the pressure and keep you truss rod from breaking. If you strings are touching the frets in the middle while you have the E strings fretted, loosen the rod. All of that should get you in the ballpark. remember, righty tighty, lefty loosy.

This is the best and simplest description of how to adjust a truss-rod that I have read. I actually understand how to do it now. The only thing I would add, based on other things I've read, is don't go more than a quarter turn at a time and wait a day before making more adjustments to the trussrod. The neck needs time to adjust to the new setting.

 

[theodie]

Re: Help me with adjusting my trussrod.

This is the best and simplest description of how to adjust a truss-rod that I have read. I actually understand how to do it now. The only thing I would add, based on other things I've read, is don't go more than a quarter turn at a time and wait a day before making more adjustments to the trussrod. The neck needs time to adjust to the new setting.

I agree. It will take a little time to settle. Thank you for the compliments. This is a simple way, it will get you in the ballpark anyway.