Truss Rod Nuts - USA Standard Tele

[Anguish68]

I have a 2001 USA Standard Telecaster with a truss rod that can’t be adjusted due to the bolt either being cross threaded or rounded out by the previous owner, or even leaving the factory like that - I’ve had the guitar 12 years and never had it set up professionally, till I played some others and realised the difference !



I had it serviced locally (London UK) to have the frets cleaned and set up better than it is, however the lack of truss rod adjustment means the action can’t be set the way it should be. They told me that they couldn’t do the work without the right tools from America, and as they had no experience of performing this task, they didn’t want to take it on, so cleaned and set up as best they can.



Wanting to get this Tele to the right place where it should be - does anyone have first hand experience of this and maybe even the rough costs involved ?



I’d rather not replace the neck if I don’t have to.

 

[Freeman Keller]

Without a whole lot more information its pretty much impossible to recommend a course of action. StewMac does sell a kit that allows you to hog out wood around the end of the truss rod and then rethread the rod. If its a two piece neck (neck and separate fretboard) it is possible to split the seam and replace the rod from the top. The usual Fender skunk stripe rod is very hard to replace from the back of the neck.

If the neck is really stable it is possible to pull the frets and level sand it, then refret (remember that vintage Martin necks do not have adjustable rods). It might be that the best solution is just to put a replacememnt neck on it, there are many choices

I know that isn't very helpful, but I do also want to welcome you to TDPRI.

StewMac Truss Rod Rescue Tool Sets - StewMac

Repair a broken or cross-threaded truss rod. These tools will save your neck!

www.stewmac.com

(I've seen people jury rig something like this out of stuff in their shop)

 

[toanhunter]

it might actually be cheaper to buy a new fender neck than have it repaired, I presume it's a one way truss rod? is it a one piece maple neck? it's probably been cranked too hard, do not attempt it yourself unless you are confident with tools, one slip with a power router and it could ruin it easily. If you are lucky it might be the nut and the thread just needs cutting again, it is possible to take them out and re-cut threads.

 

[LostGonzo85]

Unfortunately, I see this fairly often on older American Standard series Fenders, and it does seem to be a drawback of the headstock-style adjustment. It's more convenient, and you can easily make on-the-fly adjustments, but while you pretty much have to relieve the tension to adjust the truss rods on vintage style necks, this isn't necessary on the newer ones, and that increases the likelihood that someone will try to muscle it, perhaps with the wrong sized wrench, and then bingo! - you've got a stripped truss rod nut. I'd suspect this is what happened while the previous owner had the guitar.

Before you give up, it might be worth trying a gripper truss rod wrench from Stew Mac, made specifically for this purpose. I was able to rescue an '89 American Standard Strat's neck with one of these. Take the strings off to completely eliminate the tension, take the neck all the way off the guitar, put it on a flat surface, and apply pressure to the middle of the neck while you attempt to turn the nut clockwise. You're not going to break anything, and this will give the truss rod a bit of an assist so there's less resistance while attempting to turn the nut.

Gripper Truss Rod Wrenches - StewMac

Allen truss rod nut too worn to adjust? These wrenches save the day!

www.stewmac.com

 

[LostGonzo85]

it might actually be cheaper to buy a new fender neck than have it repaired, I presume it's a one way truss rod? is it a one piece maple neck? it's probably been cranked too hard, do not attempt it yourself unless you are confident with tools, one slip with a power router and it could ruin it easily. If you are lucky it might be the nut and the thread just needs cutting again, it is possible to take them out and re-cut threads.

American Standards actually have a "bi-flex" two-way truss rod. Anything beyond the gripper wrench is going to be a luthier job, and probably moving into the realm of questionable financial viability vs replacement, especially if the neck, being 24 years old, is getting close to a refret. I definitely get wanting to keep a guitar original though.

 

[Anguish68]

American Standards actually have a "bi-flex" two-way truss rod. Anything beyond the gripper wrench is going to be a luthier job, and probably moving into the realm of questionable financial viability vs replacement, especially if the neck, being 24 years old, is getting close to a refret. I definitely get wanting to keep a guitar original though.

Definitely a bi-flex, and a luthier job for me, have e mailed for a quote from a London based luthier, had good video on exactly this…frets still have plenty of life, so if I can keep original… thanks for the advice !

 

[Anguish68]

Unfortunately, I see this fairly often on older American Standard series Fenders, and it does seem to be a drawback of the headstock-style adjustment. It's more convenient, and you can easily make on-the-fly adjustments, but while you pretty much have to relieve the tension to adjust the truss rods on vintage style necks, this isn't necessary on the newer ones, and that increases the likelihood that someone will try to muscle it, perhaps with the wrong sized wrench, and then bingo! - you've got a stripped truss rod nut. I'd suspect this is what happened while the previous owner had the guitar.

Before you give up, it might be worth trying a gripper truss rod wrench from Stew Mac, made specifically for this purpose. I was able to rescue an '89 American Standard Strat's neck with one of these. Take the strings off to completely eliminate the tension, take the neck all the way off the guitar, put it on a flat surface, and apply pressure to the middle of the neck while you attempt to turn the nut clockwise. You're not going to break anything, and this will give the truss rod a bit of an assist so there's less resistance while attempting to turn the nut.

Gripper Truss Rod Wrenches - StewMac

Allen truss rod nut too worn to adjust? These wrenches save the day!

www.stewmac.com

Thank you that is much appreciated - and the link too !

 

[badinfinities]

Definitely a bi-flex, and a luthier job for me, have e mailed for a quote from a London based luthier, had good video on exactly this…frets still have plenty of life, so if I can keep original… thanks for the advice !

Yep, you'll definitely find someone in the UK who can fix this. Good luck!

 

[Peegoo]

@Anguish68

Call Fender Customer Service USA, (844) 202-0924, and ask for the names of shops in the London area that are Fender Authorized Service Centers. They will have the tools and the know-how to get your guitar back into proper trim.

 

[Tuxedo Poly]

Fender have a UK support number.
0333 200 8765
This may help

Removing a Truss Rod Plug and Adding Washers

Depending on how this went I was prepared with an alternate title: How to wreck your Strat in 5 easy minutes. Instead this method worked really really well. I’m some kind of magnet for bad tr…

chrisporro.wordpress.com

 

[Anguish68]

Fender have a UK support number.
0333 200 8765
This may help

Removing a Truss Rod Plug and Adding Washers

Depending on how this went I was prepared with an alternate title: How to wreck your Strat in 5 easy minutes. Instead this method worked really really well. I’m some kind of magnet for bad tr…

chrisporro.wordpress.com

Thank you - nice pictures too…