Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment Diagram

Understanding your truss rod.

Guitar truss rod adjustment diagram.

When tightened it counteracts the tension created by the strings the strings pull the neck forward. It seems that there is an unspoken rule that truss rod adjustments can only be performed by professionals with years of experience. M ost guitar players are very reluctant to use the truss rod adjustment tool that comes with their guitar. Adjusting a guitar truss rod is a key part of maintaining optimal playability.

When a quality guitar leaves the factory the truss rod is adjusted according to the maker s taste in setup specs. Adjusting guitar truss rods. Diy truss rod adjustment. The truss rod is a thin steel rod fitted into a curved channel within the neck of electric and acoustic steel stringed guitars and basses see the diagram below.

Typically a properly adjusted truss rod will leave a neck. Truss rod adjustments are made to alter the straightness flatness of the neck truss rods often require adjusting after changing string gauges or when temperature and humidity change the amount of bow in the neck. Guitar truss rod adjustment guide this article provides a top level view of how a truss rod works and how to adjust a truss rod. The truss rod pulls the neck backward.

Before you do anything to your truss rod you need to have a reasonably good understanding of truss rods. Its purpose is to help counteract the forces on the neck from the tension of steel strings. And slightly worn frets simply by adjusting the truss rod. But a change in string gauges climate especially a change in humidity or simply the player s taste may require an adjustment even on a new guitar.

Different manufacturers put them in different places but they re usually at the headstock under a cap just behind the nut or where the neck joins the body just under. The neck of most guitars has what s known as a truss rod which is a one or two piece adjustable metal rod that goes down the inside of the center of the neck. You can adjust the truss rod with a nut located at one end.