Re: Truss Rod adjustments
Ok I'll give this a try. Everyone keep in mind that I am a beginner but I've done this and it always worked fine, and I've researched a lot. If I'm writing this it's as much to help as to be corrected.
The first thing I can say is a word of warning: it is an operation that may damage your guitar. Should you hesitate or be unsure of what to do, ask a professional (this works for any guitar tech stuff that may result in a loss of value of your guitar or damage to it)
There are several rules of thumbs that apply to truss rod adjustments but the first one is: like girls, each guitars are different. Keep this in mind when your guitar doesn't react as expected. The other most important would be, for me, that there are MANY factors that influence whatever it is that you are trying to solve. There is a different solution to every problems.
Here are a few 'laws' that people should, I think, remember:
No more than a quarter of a turn at a time
Righty, tight - lefty, loosy (when facing the body of the instrument, looking from the neck. Clockwise = tightening, counter clockwise = loosening)
Tightening it allows less movement to the wood. It will straighten and give less relief (upwards bow) to the wood
Loosening it allows it to move more freely. With the strings on, it will bow more.
ALWAYS ADJUST AND MEASURE IN PLAYING CONDITIONS as much as you can. Gravity has a lot of influence which you do not want.
The right amount of relief is good. Too much relief is not. Backbow is not. Straight necks can sometimes work out well (ask Jeff Beck)
A 'typical' relief is the thickness of a business card (between .10 and .15 if I recall correctly but I'm not good with proper values)
Personally I say that you should wait at least an hour before another adjustement. Adjust once, tune until it doesn't change tuning, apply a little pressure on the neck in the direction in which you did the adjustement (loosening: make the center of the neck go down, tightening, press on it so in an upwards strength), let it rest 10 minutes, play it to see how it is. I hear that 10 minutes is enough, but I'm cautious by nature.
To adjust it, you will need a socket (usually 6, 7 or 8 mm) and most truss rods adjust at the peghead, under a cover (though not always)
Some adjust at the heel of the neck. You may need to loosen the neck enough (at the bolt on screws) so that you can lift it to access the adjustement screw: be careful not to damage the pickup or pickguard or wood with the screwdriver, or you may need to take the neck off.
Once again: no more than a quarter of a turn at a time. An eighth is also a good measure. It makes a big difference.
Keep track of your measures. It may be handy in future cases.
Mhmm ok I could write some basic things about maintenance but I think it's not my domaine yet. Can someone do the compressed wood, over tightened nuts and things like this, and correct my mistakes if I did any? Thanks
