How to Adjust your Truss Rod

A Truss Rod is a long metal rod that runs the length of the guitar neck.  It anchors at each end so that when you tighten or loosen the nut on one end it will straighten or bow the neck of the guitar, changing the distance between the frets and the strings.

From time to time you may need to make adjustments to your guitar to straighten your neck.  If you switch from a light gauge to a heavy gauge string there will be more tension pulling on the neck which will bow it slightly.  Conversely switching from heavy to light gauge strings will have the opposite effect, releasing tension and bending the neck too far backward.  Changes in humidity and temperature have an effect on how straight your neck will be through expanding/compressing wood.

  If you find that your action is too high, or some frets are buzzing the first thing to do is check your neck and make adjustments to your Truss Rod if necessary.  This is a quick 5 - 10 minute process and is easy when you follow this simple guide:

 

 

Step 1.

Tune your guitar

 

Step 2.

Hold down first and last fret

 

Step 3.

Look at the 8th fret.  Is there any gap?

YES there's a large gap = Tighten the truss rod in small increments until the string is almost touching.

NO the string is touching --> loosen the truss rod slightly so that the smallest of gaps appears.

**Note: only move tighten the truss rod in small increments or you may cause damage

 

Step 4.

Once you're happy with the amount of gap between the depressed string and the 8th fret tune the guitar again.

 

Step 5.

Repeat step 3 and 4.

 

Step 6.

Enjoy your perfectly aligned neck! 

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I hope this article has helped. if you need any assistance please email:

sales@artistguitars.co.nz or call us on 0800 025 467

 

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