truss rod question

bad porcupine · June 27th, 2008, 03:40 PM

In the TDPRI resources is a page all about adjusting your Tele's truss rod, and it shows this picture of what to do if your out of adjustment room:

So, this might be a stupid question, but do you just unscrew the exposed end of the truss rod until it pops off, then put a washer in there? I'm a little unclear on how this actually works. How does putting in a washer give you more adjustment room?

Lance · June 27th, 2008, 04:27 PM

You got it!

Stevie 202 · June 27th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad porcupine

How does putting in a washer give you more adjustment room?

I'm guessing, bit I think it effectively lengthens the rod.

Lance · June 27th, 2008, 06:58 PM

Yes....that's the idea. When you run out of threads and can't tighten the rod any more, adding the washers allows more turns.

Vizcaster · June 27th, 2008, 07:17 PM

Right. it's actually as if the rod were shorter and now pulls again. If you've bottomed out the nut at the end of the threads, it won't turn anymore (or turns a little and springs back because you're twisting the rod). Yet in this condition sometimes it isn't exerting enough pressure to straighten the neck. SO, the spacer helps the nut to exert pressure on the bottom of the recess even before the nut gets to the end of the threads and now you gain some room.

This works for vintage heel-adjust rods and single action neck-adjust bullets but it's a little more complicated for biflex rods. On necks with biflex trussrods (American Standards and some models dating back for instance the '83 P Bass Elite) there's a little metal gate or plate under the string nut that you have to remove, and in order to get the nut out you have to first grind out the walnut plug.

bad porcupine · June 27th, 2008, 07:48 PM

got it... thanks guys!

June 27th, 2008, 03:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
bad porcupine Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 47 Posts: 279 9 Photos	truss rod question In the TDPRI resources is a page all about adjusting your Tele's truss rod, and it shows this picture of what to do if your out of adjustment room: So, this might be a stupid question, but do you just unscrew the exposed end of the truss rod until it pops off, then put a washer in there? I'm a little unclear on how this actually works. How does putting in a washer give you more adjustment room? __________________ My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. -- Vladimir Nabokov

June 27th, 2008, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,180	You got it! __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

June 27th, 2008, 06:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,180	Yes....that's the idea. When you run out of threads and can't tighten the rod any more, adding the washers allows more turns. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

June 27th, 2008, 07:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Vizcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glen Head, NY Posts: 711	Right. it's actually as if the rod were shorter and now pulls again. If you've bottomed out the nut at the end of the threads, it won't turn anymore (or turns a little and springs back because you're twisting the rod). Yet in this condition sometimes it isn't exerting enough pressure to straighten the neck. SO, the spacer helps the nut to exert pressure on the bottom of the recess even before the nut gets to the end of the threads and now you gain some room. This works for vintage heel-adjust rods and single action neck-adjust bullets but it's a little more complicated for biflex rods. On necks with biflex trussrods (American Standards and some models dating back for instance the '83 P Bass Elite) there's a little metal gate or plate under the string nut that you have to remove, and in order to get the nut out you have to first grind out the walnut plug. __________________ "Why don't you just make 10 louder, and make 10 be the top number, and make that a little louder?"

June 27th, 2008, 07:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
bad porcupine Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 47 Posts: 279 9 Photos	got it... thanks guys! __________________ My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. -- Vladimir Nabokov