Adjusting the truss rod on a Martin?

[Honga Man]

I have a Martin D-16GT that needs a truss rod tweak to reduce neck relief.

I have no problems adjusting truss rods in Fender necks and in other acoustic instruments but I don't want to screw up a nice guitar with my own ignorance.

The truss rod adjuster (nut?) is accessable through the soundhold but is way down deep inside the neck. I put an allen wrench way down in there that seemed to fit, but it was the long end of the wrench so I couldn't get enough torque on the short side of the wrench to turn it. Also, I wasn't 100% sure that the wrench was fitting exactly and it bothered me that I couldn't see down into the nut(?) to make sure it was an allen and not a phillips, torx, or who knows what.

Martin's website says to take it to a tech for truss rod adjustment. I just might but first I was hoping someone could clue me in.

Thanks,

A Martin newbie

[charlie cash]

Try the UMGF (unofficial Martin guitar forum) website. Lots of knowlegable, nice folks there that can tell you everything you need to knowabout your Martin.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by Honga Man

... Martin's website says to take it to a tech for truss rod adjustment. ...

Nonsense, a typical Martin truss rod is no different from any other single action truss rod found in a typical Fender - and all guitarists should know how to adjust a guitar/bass truss rod. What you'll do is no different than what a guitar tech or luthier will do, and if a rod or nut is gonna bust it's just gonna bust - and that's VERY rare.

Put the long end of the Allen key into the nut, put a nut driver onto the short Allen end and use that as leverage to move the Allen key and truss nut. If ya don't have a nut driver screwdriver, look around and I'm sure you'll find something longish that'll fit over the Allen key short end. In a pinch you could use a small Vice Grips to clamp on and give you the needed leverage to move the truss nut.

If you wish to be extra cautious, first remove the nut and lube the threads and washer face (the washer side facing the nut) with a *tiny* amount white lithium grease or plain ol' Vaseline. To do this without destroying the strings, put a capo up around the 1st or 2nd frets, loosen the strings a LOT, pull the string slack up and out from the capo, pull the bridge string pins, remove the strings.

Now, replace the nut and snug it up (but not tight), put the strings back and tune to concert pitch, check the neck relief (put a capo on the first fret, a finger on the 19th or 20th fret, and view the distance between the bottom of the lowe E string and the top of the 10th fret), adjust the truss to suit the neck relief you require.

I do all of the above just about daily, with all manner of acoustics.

[Honga Man]

Thanks guys.

Rob, thanks for the info. I'm used to truss rod tweaks but I was a little nervous about this one because I can't see the truss rod nut, it's the nicest and newest guitar in the house, and most importantly, it's my wife's guitar!