Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

[BigAlTheBird]

I decided to adjust the truss rod on my Green guitar for the first time, it has never had big setup problems but I put new strings on the other day. So the guitar needed a setup (as it were). I adjusted the truss rod, but the nut is 45 years old. So the metal was very very malleable. It started off mostly stripped, and now is cmopletely stripped - a far as I can tell. So the good news is that I shouldn't have to adjust it for a while, the bad news is I need a new nut. I see nuts on Stewmac.com, how does one go about replacing a nut? Thanks!

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

Nothin huh?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

this sounds like you will nut some special help for that one..... once the nut is stripped it could be a lost cause... I'd take it into a shop with some quality guitar makers/repair guys.... i'm sure over the years they have found ways to get stripped truss rod issues delt with....

But if you can get the nut out it is just like any nut and bolt... or should be anywyas.... could be metric threads, could be imperial threaded.. As long as you can get it out it can be replaced easy

I grease the truss rod threads on my guitars every few years... just so years down the road i don't run into the issue you are having... either the rust took over and you stripped the nut because it would not budge..... or you used the wrong size wrench... On older guitars with truss rods that have not been turned in years i apply a little oil over a few days before even trying to turn the nut.... 3-4 days sometimes... sometimes i leave them longer..

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

Well that's the thing, the nut turned fine, and I actually was able to adjust the rod. I turned it quite a bit (relatively speaking). And then, it just slipped once. I looked, and the threads in the nut (not even all of them - only one side actually) were slightly stripped. I put the allen wrench back in nd tried to turn it, but when I realized it was going to come out again, I didn't try to turn it. I don't want to strip it more.

What is involved with taking the nut out? Best case scenario?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

Well that's the thing, the nut turned fine, and I actually was able to adjust the rod. I turned it quite a bit (relatively speaking). And then, it just slipped once. I looked, and the threads in the nut (not even all of them - only one side actually) were slightly stripped. I put the allen wrench back in nd tried to turn it, but when I realized it was going to come out again, I didn't try to turn it. I don't want to strip it more.

What is involved with taking the nut out? Best case scenario?

without seeing the guitar with my own eyes and have it in my hands it is hard to say over the net what is best to do... but if it's like all other truss rods they just turn all the way out like any nut and bolt works. Counter clock wise. But if your nut is stripped you will have to be careful not to wreck the threads anymore. (Once you loosen the truss rod off there could be a small washer in there as well so be careful that does not come off and fall in the hole)

I hope the threads on the rod itself are in good shape.... If the rod itself is OK it's an easy fix as long as the old nut comes out all the way....

If there is a good repair shop in your area it would not hurt to have them at least look at it. Should not cost much at all.

WhoFan

 

[J Moose]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

I second the motion that it's IMPOSSIBLE to diagnose this without having the guitar in-hand for evaluation. Maybe you can grip it with pliers and slowly back the nut off. Probably a hipper idea would be to cut grooves into it with something like a Dremel so the tool of choice has something to bite into for extraction...BUT...it'd also be real easy to cause more damage.

Bring it to a tech. Don't just leave the guitar there for them to "fix", but ask them HOW they're going to fix it. Ask a bunch of 'em until you find someone with an answer that resonates well with you.

Good luck!

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

The old rod works fine and should be fine. The nut was solid on the rod. It's just the actual inside of the nut is stripped, and not completely. I know for a fact that it can still be turned, but I don't want to do it.

Thank you very much for your help! I'll take it to a shop.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

I just read your post Moose. Thank you too! We only have 2 real luthiers in the area, and I know one of them very well - he seems to know his stuff, I've had many things done there.

 

[big_black]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

If the rod is OK and the threads are fine, you can unscrew the nut like any other nut - just make sure you loosen the strings as you loosen the nut. You can safely remove the nut completely, it will not harm anything as long as the strings are completely slack. Whenever I buy a new guitar I always remove the nut and put a few drops of machine oil down the shaft.

 

[Ellum]

Re: Nut on truss rod stripped, solutions?

Stew-Mac kit #5680. It's alot of dough, but it'll save your old rod.