1973 Telecaster truss rod position?

[Mickzep]

Hey guys,

Is it normal for a truss rod to be protruding at the heel of the neck?

Cheers

 

[netgear69]

Have you checked to see if it is screwed in ? if it is screwed in then it might be a replacement for a chewed out nut and might be slightly too long hopefully it is not the thread on the rod that is stripped
if there is no issue with it and it bugs you just take it out and file it down to size

 

[Antoon]

Depends on the neck (forward- or back-bowed) and how tight the nut is screwed in. Protruding *might* indicate a fully loose nut.

Usually on old Fenders the nut is flush. But if the neck is straight under string tension and the truss rod works then there is no problem

 

[Mickzep]

It’s screwed back in but the neck doesn’t seem to have changed?

Any thoughts?

 

[Boreas]

It’s screwed back in but the neck doesn’t seem to have changed?

Any thoughts?

Unless it is actually putting pressure on the wood, it will have no real effect on the neck geometry. It is likely still "loose". Again, nothing wrong with that if the neck is where you want it. Are you having an issue with the neck??

BTW, a slack nut can cause rattling and funky buzzing noises. Best if there is at least some tension on it.

 

[Mickzep]

Thanks guys!

 

[Antoon]

Have you switched to lighter strings recently?

 

[blue metalflake]

This is my ‘73 - you can see how the truss rod sits in

 

[fenderchamp]

Unless it is actually putting pressure on the wood, it will have no real effect on the neck geometry. It is likely still "loose". Again, nothing wrong with that if the neck is where you want it. Are you having an issue with the neck??

BTW, a slack nut can cause rattling and funky buzzing noises. Best if there is at least some tension on it.

I think you should take it to a luthier if you're worried. there is a certain feel to a trussrod, beyond it's screwed in or not. It's nothing like a machine screw. "It's screwed in but the neck hasn't changed" perhaps doesn't really bode well for your guitar and you messing with the trussrod, if that is your reflection on the experience of tightening it up, simply because it seems to be sticking out.

 

[Matthias]

Some of those ’hard rock maple’ necks from the 70s stay straight without much help of the truss rod. It’s possible someone’s just backed it off. There’s barely any tension on my ‘73 Deluxe and that neck is skinny.

 

[kinkstah]

As stated above it may be backed off (no tension) or, maybe, there are some washers under the nut?

 

[Fretting out]

As stated above it may be backed off (no tension) or, maybe, there are some washers under the nut?

Didn’t think about that but it’s totally possible it was maxed out and someone put something in there to grab

Maybe the O.P will come back at some point and say what they found out

 

[Paul G.]

Didn’t think about that but it’s totally possible it was maxed out and someone put something in there to grab

Maybe the O.P will come back at some point and say what they found out

This is my guess, too.

 

[takauya]

A CBS era neck means anything is possible. I wouldn't be surprised if the hole itself was not deep enough to sit the rod nut flash to the surface of the neck.