Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Part 1

Note: The following factory specifications are minimum specs, and are meant only to guide you. They should not to be taken as hard and fast rules. If you want your action higher, set it higher!

Truss Rod Adjustment

String tension exerts a tremendous bending force on the neck of

The instrument. The adjustable steel truss rod in the neck employs a counter-force to the pull of the strings. If these two opposing forces are not in harmony with each other, the result will be a poorly play­ ing instrument.

Note: A truss rod that is too loose wiJ/ result in a concave neck bow and high action (Figure A). A truss rod that is too tight will result in a convex neck bow and buzzing strings (Figure B).

Figure A. Concave "Bow" (Exaggerated View)

Figure B. Convex "Hump" (Exaggerated View)

Figure C. Measuring relief with Feeler gauge
To check the adjustment of the truss rod, first tune your instrument
to pitch. Next, install a capo at the 1 st fret. For electric guitars and basses, depress the "E" string at the last fret. For acoustic guitars depress the "E" string at the lAth fret. With the feeler gauge, check the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the 8th fret (Figure Cl. Note: It's a good idea to loosen the strings prior to making any truss rod adjustment. If you don't have feeler gauges, don't give up. You can approximate the gap, which is about the thickness of a regular business card and a piece of paper put together.

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