Truss Rod Issue.

[Lucius Paisley]

Some of you may have seen my latest "creation"...



Now, I'm not sure if it's because the neck was separate from a body for so long or that the truss rod just hasn't been adjusted ever, but now I've put strings on it, there's some pretty high action going on - 5mm at 12th fret. (22 fret neck, 648mm/ 25½" scale)

I've used my handy Ibanez tool to take a crack at adjusting it myself, and I'm getting some cracking noise as I go. I don't imagine there's a way to oil the damn thing, so I'm wondering if it's just a case of keep adjusting until it's at a manageable level or live with high strings?

 

[StoRMiE]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

If it's cracking don't keep turning it, were you adjusting it under string tension?

 

[greekdude]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Problem could be with the neck heel sitting in the pocket, maybe it needs shimming. Maybe the action at the bridge is darn high. Maybe the nut is too tall.

But, what you definitely must do is measure the neck relief properly. Use some online guide, there are a gazillion out there , prefer ibanezrules.com, has a really nice write up :

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/truss.htm
http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/action.htm

About the truss rod itself, first check that this is operating good. I agree, if you hear the cracking noise, stop. Maybe its the wood compressing.
What I'd suggest is loosening this all the way, till ideally you can remove it from the neck and check its status. Note : if the design does not allow you won't be able to do so.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

If it's cracking don't keep turning it, were you adjusting it under string tension?

Yes, figuring that I'd be able to hear changes in pitch as I go to check that the adjustments being made were actually doing anything. The neck didn't seem to change at all at the 12th, but on the first few frets there was a slight but obvious change.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

The truss rod won’t affect much around the 12th fret. It mostly adds or subtracts relief around the middle of the neck...7th fret approx.

You need to clean and lube that truss rod nut and thread.

Petroleum jelly works.

Look up some Dan Erlewine videos on truss rod issues and watch them.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Do this

Capo first fret
Then fret the low E string at the fret that meets the body
The space between the two is where the truss rod works

Look about halfway between the two points
This is your trussrod action

If the height of both e strings is within 1/16 of an inch
That's just off the fret in the middle
Then adjusting the truss rod aint gonna help

The neck would need to be shimmed

If you have a bunch of space
Then tighten the truss rod with strings slack
Tune to pitch and recheck

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Do this

Capo first fret
Then fret the low E string at the fret that meets the body
The space between the two is where the truss rod works

Look about halfway between the two points
This is your trussrod action

If the height of both e strings is within 1/16 of an inch
That's just off the fret in the middle
Then adjusting the truss rod aint gonna help

The neck would need to be shimmed

If you have a bunch of space
Then tighten the truss rod with strings slack
Tune to pitch and recheck

Looking at a photo of the guitar with its original neck, it is raised slightly higher than the neck I have in now which sits precisely on the edge of the pickguard (the rosewood fretboard sat slightly above the pickguard and closer to the neck pickup), the nut is the same height as the nut in my Ashton guitar whose strings are quite low to the body and I haven't changed the height of the saddles on the Ibanez body at all, so I'm thinking maybe it's a neck shape situation and shimming may be the solution.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Lower the saddles. Then check the contour of your neck relief. It's a system.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Looking at a photo of the guitar with its original neck, it is raised slightly higher than the neck I have in now which sits precisely on the edge of the pickguard (the rosewood fretboard sat slightly above the pickguard and closer to the neck pickup), the nut is the same height as the nut in my Ashton guitar whose strings are quite low to the body and I haven't changed the height of the saddles on the Ibanez body at all, so I'm thinking maybe it's a neck shape situation and shimming may be the solution.

Photo of the original neck is irrelevant
It has a different one now
Let's work on this one

The string forms a straight edge to check the bow of the neck
Check that first

If the neck is fairly straight
Lower the saddles and pickups

You may have to shim the neck
Or not

Focus on one thing at a time

In order

It will all be fine

Exhale

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

If the neck is fairly straight
Lower the saddles and pickups

Well, the saddles are REALLY low now, almost to the base, but I have close to 2.5mm height on the 12th - it would be easier to tell if my digital caliper's battery weren't flat, however.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

what is the height with the first string capoed
and the last fret where the string meets the body

that tells you how the truss rod is set up

start there

exhale

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Doesn't look too bad. Maybe the new neck sits lower. Is the new bow ok?

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

what is the height with the first string capoed

This is where we run into capo issues, because I don't have one.

But holding the string down on both frets with a finger, it looks like the string is almost resting across all the frets in between, but wouldn't that be the case anyway?

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Doesn't look too bad. Maybe the new neck sits lower. Is the new bow ok?

Yeah, it sits much lower, but with the fretboard practically resting inside the cavity of the pickguard it just looks better.

Still, I should have paid closer attention to how the original neck looked, but I took that off as soon as I got the guitar home, and now it's been sold.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

So it's in the ballpark! If you like the neck straight, leave it. If you like some bow, 1/4 counterclockwise. Fine tune with the saddles.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

It should have some relief in the center
If the strings rest on the frets it could be a back bow
Should be just the tiniest bit of space in the middle on both e strings

Just a bit

I don't use a capo either
Hold the first fretwith left hand
Right pinky on the fret at body
Right thumb stretches to the center and taps on the string to check for movement

But once it's straight, then you may have to shim the neck.like greekdude said

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

It should have some relief in the center
If the strings rest on the frets it could be a back bow
Should be just the tiniest bit of space in the middle on both e strings

Just a bit

It's almost imperceptible to the eye, but I can definitely feel the gap.

But once it's straight, then you may have to shim the neck.like greekdude said

I'll retune and see how it feels. A shim might be nice, some extra height to lose the cheesegrater saddle screws on the bridge.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

So it's in the ballpark! If you like the neck straight, leave it. If you like some bow, 1/4 counterclockwise. Fine tune with the saddles.

A little more saddle height might be nice. My strumming hand doesn't go near the screws, but those ends are kind of jagged. Or I could just find some shorter screws.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

I chop screws.

Once I chopped a pot shaft lol.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Truss Rod Issue.

Shim. With an angle.