Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment

Adjusting the truss rod of your guitar alters your guitar s neck relief the amount of bow in the neck measured by the distance between the strings and the frets.

Guitar truss rod adjustment.

The video below provides a great overview of what a truss rod is and the purpose they serve. You can assess the results by playing the guitar. All córdoba guitars come equipped with a lightweight two way truss rod that allows you to adjust the amount of relief in your guitar s neck or the amount of natural bow in the neck. Its sole purpose is to allow you to adjust your guitar neck against the pull of your guitar strings.

Some bow is necessary for a guitar to play well but you don t want it to be bowed too much. 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. 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. A truss rod is an interior metal bar running the entire length of a guitar s neck.

You can adjust the truss rod with a nut located at one end. Adjusting guitar truss rods. The truss rod pulls the neck backward. While the amount of relief is a matter of personal preference most guitars play well.

Depending on the type of guitar adjusting the truss rod may require the use of a large crosshead screwdriver a socket wrench or an allen key. This allows you to tweak a truss rod while the neck is under tension. When tightened it counteracts the tension created by the strings the strings pull the neck forward. A truss rod is the adjustment bar inside your guitar neck also referred to as a tensioning bar.

A little truss rod adjustment goes a long way as you can see by measuring your string height before and after with a string action gauge. Occasionally manufacturers supply the necessary tool inside the case. Understanding your truss rod. 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.

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. On the ibanez rg we re using as a test subject the truss rod s under the truss rod cover no surprise. Adjusting a guitar truss rod is a key part of maintaining optimal playability. Look in the pockets of your case your guitar often comes with the right tool for the job.

You might also want to check out the setup specs of famous players in the last chapter of how to make your electric guitar play great. These have been around since the early 20s.