Truss rod is totally slack

[Sleeping Martyr]

I've been working on the action of my strat and now the truss is totally slack and loose (I've loosened it, its not like its broke or anything) and turns REALLY easily. I like the action (though there is still some buzz) I am just curious if it is bad for the guitar to have the truss rod so slack?? Plus, what else could i do to eliminate the buzz I have on the A string between the 3rd and 5th frets now that the truss rod is slack?? Thanks guys

 

[darnright]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

I would turn it enough to have some tension on the truss rod. As far a the buzz goes, may need a fret filing. Maybe one is high or slightly out. Just my NON-trained opinion.


-dave

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

Is there anything I can do myself to file the frets or should I take it to be done??

 

[darnright]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

Unless you've filed frets before and know what you're doing, I would suggest taking it to a "qualified" guitar tech. It would be very easy to do a lot of damage and then have to have major repair work done.

-dave

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

Cool, thanks man . . . so I should tighten the truss rod a bit just to have a little tension on it??

 

[darnright]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

Cool, thanks man . . . so I should tighten the truss rod a bit just to have a little tension on it??

I am NOT a guitar tech, but I would tighten it if it were my guitar. Don't try to adjust it, just to where it makes good contact and isn't loose. I think you would want a little tension on it.

-dave

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

part of the issue maybe the truss rod is hung up... This does happen... after a neck has been under truss rod tention for a while it takes some time for it to relief itself fully... so in some cases you can loosen a truss rod off all the way yet the neck will stay in it's shape.. a slight CPR push on the middle of the neck with the guitar laying flat on a table may help free it up...

or the other option is the nut was just lossened off past the adjustment stage... but i've seen more then a few truss rod nuts go loose after only a little bit of turning it because the neck/truss rod is hung up where it has sat for ages under tention...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Truss rod is totally slack

you can keep the rod with no tension on it but make sure you dont loose the nut. finger tight should keep it on without effecting the neck.

if the rod is sticking, with no tension on it it will eventually unstick itself. nothing to really worry about, just keep an eye on it