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Post subject: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 3:25 am
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Hey. I've got a mexican fender stratocaster bought about 10 years ago. I've been playing it rather intensively the last couple of weeks, and noticed that the neck had a really noticable up-bow.

I dug out my tools and started adjusting the truss rod according to the official fender guide (http://www2.fender.com/en-RU/support/ar ... tup-guide/). However, I'm not seeing any results. It's got more than a 4 mm gap between the 6th string and the 17th fret. No matter how much I turn the wrench (clockwise), it's not getting better. It even stays in tune all the time. In fact, I think, it even made it worse, as I'm now having trouble playing it due to the string height :cry:

I don't get it. The guide says to tighten it clockwise. Is it actually wrong? Is my truss rod reversed or something?


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 3:59 am
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depending on how bad the bow, and how long it's been there, it could take a few days.


note that truss rod adjustments, are not usually more than 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn to yield some results so I'm not sure how much adjusting you've tried.

if it's not working at all, even after all this, it could be two things...

1: truss rod is not working effectively, for a number of reasons.
2: the wood has settled in that bowed position and it could need to spend some time at a luthiers to straighten the neck (they have a neck clamp that applies heat, and re-shapes the neck to be straight again.)


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:19 am
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Just to be sure, have you released the string tension in order to allow the neck to relax?

As I understand your post, you have to much relief in your neck measured at the 7th fret with both the nut and bridge out of the equation(capo the 1st fret/depress 17th fret).
You should see results w/in 24 hrs imho; if not then your neck may have achieved some permanent relief that would require a luthier to attempt to straighten the neck using force(in a jig). As you said it seems to be getting worse, so I'd assume the truss is working properly.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:13 am
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The fact that the guitar has higher action is irrelevant.
Bridges will move around (if they are set to float) when you start monkeying around with trussrods.
It's not a problem, that stuff can all be adjusted afterward.
The first and primary concern is the relief.
You say you're checking as per the official instructions.
Let's just double check to make sure you are.

Please confirm the following:
- You are placing a capo on the first fret when you check.
- You are fretting a string somewhere between the last fret and the 15th fret or so.
(There likely will not be any movement of the neck in the thick bolting-flange section)
- You are measuring with a feeler gauge somewhere around the 6th to 9th fret wherever it seems like the most gap; usually 7, sometimes 8.
- You are noticing the relief measurement with the feeler gauge is actually increasing, rather than decreasing.

I don't mean to insult by treating you like a child or anything.
It's just that lots of times people say they're doing something according to "the book" when they actually are not.
Please take the time to type out exactly what steps you took and how you made your measurements and observations.

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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 1:10 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:

I don't mean to insult by treating you like a child or anything.
It's just that lots of times people say they're doing something according to "the book" when they actually are not.
Please take the time to type out exactly what steps you took and how you made your measurements and observations.



+1000,

Neck move can take few hours. And it could need 12 to 24 hours to stabilize.

Turn 1/8 turn and wait few hours ,
Take mesurements as BMW-KTM write.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 2:17 pm
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I've never known truss rod adjustments on Stratocasters to provide anything but immediate results. I'm not saying that those who say wait a few hours are wrong - but having adjusted dozens of different Strats - made in U.S., Japan and Mexico - the most significant results have always been without delay. If the guitar is staying in tune and at the correct pitch after you turn the truss rod a good quarter turn or more, that suggests the truss rod is spinning freely - at least through the initial part of it's travel. How is that fixed? I haven't had to deal with this but I do see a youtube instruction on truss rod's that do nothing. I'm sure there are others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEXdLN20Joo


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 2:36 pm
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Some truss rod adjustment give fast result, some not , it is a case by case.
Our friend have not experience, he his better to wait and see to be sure the neck do not go convexe ( hump )

I too,I've done lots of guitars truss rod adjustment.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 3:29 pm
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agent_catnip wrote:
Is my truss rod reversed or something?


If I had a dollar for every time I've seen this comment posted .......
Why would there ever be an exception to all the other Strats in the world having a standard screw thread?

Don't take this the wrong way, but take your guitar to a qualified professional before you properly screw it up.
It sounds as though you've messed up the adjustment nut already.

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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 11:44 pm
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so what's the story? It's been about 24 hours. Any update?
by the way, did you notice any symptoms that coincided with the upbow that made you start adjusting? I ask because like you probably already know, if it feels good and plays nice, then you shouldn't worry if there's more or less of a curve relative to what fender specs dictate. choking, buzz, crossing frets, etc? anything?
just curious.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:57 am
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Thank you all for your responses.

KidBlast wrote:
note that truss rod adjustments, are not usually more than 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn to yield some results so I'm not sure how much adjusting you've tried.


I've tried small turns, checked my tuning every time, rinse repeat. Overall, I think, I've made about 3 full turns to no result.

sfceric64 wrote:
You should see results w/in 24 hrs imho;


It's weird that some people say it's instant, and others advise waiting. It's been two days now, and the up-bow is still there.

BMW-KTM wrote:
Please confirm the following:
- You are placing a capo on the first fret when you check.
- You are fretting a string somewhere between the last fret and the 15th fret or so.
(There likely will not be any movement of the neck in the thick bolting-flange section)
- You are measuring with a feeler gauge somewhere around the 6th to 9th fret wherever it seems like the most gap; usually 7, sometimes 8.
- You are noticing the relief measurement with the feeler gauge is actually increasing, rather than decreasing.


Fretting at the 1st and the 17th, the height at the 8th fret is 2mm. It was actually the same when I started the adjustment.

JakTors wrote:
by the way, did you notice any symptoms that coincided with the upbow that made you start adjusting? I ask because like you probably already know, if it feels good and plays nice, then you shouldn't worry if there's more or less of a curve relative to what fender specs dictate. choking, buzz, crossing frets, etc? anything?
just curious.


I noticed that the intonation was off. And my bends were sliding my fingers under other strings. It was bothering me as I know that my other guitar doesn't have such problems and feels great to play all along the neck.

Anyway, I guess it's time to take this thing to a professional. Didn't do it because there is none around my area, sigh.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 3:17 am
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Truss rod nut is worn out because somebody use the wrong allen wrench.

Is it a second hand guitar ?


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 3:22 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Truss rod nut is worn out because somebody use the wrong allen wrench.

Is it a second hand guitar ?


It was brand new when I bought it. It went through a truss rod adjustment at a workshop 6 years ago, I believe. Not sure if they could mess it up there. :?


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 4:35 am
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That doesn't sound good.
The truss rod might have snapped.
The guitar hasn't been knocked over, has it?

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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 4:54 am
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stratmangler wrote:
The guitar hasn't been knocked over, has it?


I don't think so, I am gentle to my instruments.


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Post subject: Re: Need help with truss rod adjustment
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 5:14 am
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Let's go back a few steps.
You have a 4mm gap at the 17th fret when you have the low E string fretted together at the 1st fret and the 21st/22nd fret?

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