It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:09 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:10 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Planet Hell
On a recent string change, I needed to adjust the truss rod ever so slightly and I believe the hex nut is stripped. Has anyone ever replaced one of these? If so, could you offer a DIY play by play?

_________________
I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:33 am
Posts: 1247
I don't know if you're a luthier but I would in no way recommend a DIY!!!

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:12 pm
Posts: 15
This happened to me a couple of years ago. I took it to the local luthier who fixed it while I waited. He very carefully carved out the mahogany truss rod plug at the base of the headstock. Then he was able to back the hex nut all the way out of the neck and replace it with a new one. The whole process didn't take any more than an hour and I think it cost me around $50. It really wasn't that difficult a repair but I wouldn't try it myself. The luthier had very specialized tools that he used to carve out the plug and took care not to damage the maple around it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:49 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:10 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Planet Hell
I should have clarified that this was the truss nut at the body/neck joint. But thanks guys, because I'm thinking no way I should do it myself!

_________________
I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:55 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:01 am
Posts: 183
Location: Riverwest
unionave wrote:
This happened to me a couple of years ago. I took it to the local luthier who fixed it while I waited. He very carefully carved out the mahogany truss rod plug at the base of the headstock. Then he was able to back the hex nut all the way out of the neck and replace it with a new one. The whole process didn't take any more than an hour and I think it cost me around $50. It really wasn't that difficult a repair but I wouldn't try it myself. The luthier had very specialized tools that he used to carve out the plug and took care not to damage the maple around it.


What model guitar was it? I've heard that at least on the "Bi-Flex" truss rods found in the American Standard series, the nut is actually welded on. Definitely worth knowing whether or not this is the case before diving in.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:10 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Planet Hell
I'm not sure if you were asking,about my axe, or the guy's axe you quoted. So, mine is an '88American Standard. Had the TBX control on the second tone knob.

_________________
I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:50 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:12 pm
Posts: 15
ExiledonMainSt wrote:
unionave wrote:
This happened to me a couple of years ago. I took it to the local luthier who fixed it while I waited. He very carefully carved out the mahogany truss rod plug at the base of the headstock. Then he was able to back the hex nut all the way out of the neck and replace it with a new one. The whole process didn't take any more than an hour and I think it cost me around $50. It really wasn't that difficult a repair but I wouldn't try it myself. The luthier had very specialized tools that he used to carve out the plug and took care not to damage the maple around it.


What model guitar was it? I've heard that at least on the "Bi-Flex" truss rods found in the American Standard series, the nut is actually welded on. Definitely worth knowing whether or not this is the case before diving in.



Mine is a 1988 American Standard with a B-Flex truss rod. The luthier had no trouble removing it so it didn't seem to be welded..


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:58 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
FWIW, the walnut ring didn't have to be bored out. Rather, the ring could have been heated where the glue holding it in would have loosened and then the ring could be slid out for servicing the truss rod. And no, those rod nuts are not welded.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:39 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:12 pm
Posts: 15
Martian wrote:
FWIW, the walnut ring didn't have to be bored out. Rather, the ring could have been heated where the glue holding it in would have loosened and then the ring could be slid out for servicing the truss rod. And no, those rod nuts are not welded.


That's a great idea. I wish I had thought of it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:53 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
unionave wrote:
Martian wrote:
FWIW, the walnut ring didn't have to be bored out. Rather, the ring could have been heated where the glue holding it in would have loosened and then the ring could be slid out for servicing the truss rod. And no, those rod nuts are not welded.


That's a great idea. I wish I had thought of it.


Hopefully, there won't be a next time but if there is...

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:23 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:05 am
Posts: 667
If your truss rod adjustment nut is at the neck/body joint, then replacing the nut is simple. Buy a new one, and then just back the old nut all the way off the rod, and thread on the new nut :) www.stewmac.com has the truss rod nuts you are talking about.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:10 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Planet Hell
That's what I was wondering, thanks! Follow up question, do the screws in the back plate also screw into the neck, keeping it in place? I'm assuming that I'd have to remove the strings to perform this mend.

_________________
I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:19 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:36 pm
Posts: 412
Location: Southern California
To the first guy who wrote on here. Let me guess. Is your guitar one of the cheap chinese Teles? (Notice I spelled chinese with a small "c") Not being disrespectful or prejudice, the quality control for chinese musical gear imported is total crap! I speak from experience, I have many guitars and amps. I have one chinese amp, an Epiphone Valve Junior that hums like a son of a gun, ( tone on it ain't bad though). I also have a chinese Tele and I too have a stripped junk truss rod nut (or whatever it is called). I have not been able to move it much. I have done setups on many electrics and one acoustic, and they always come out the way I want them! I use the Dan Erlewine method and it works bitchen! I'll buy musical instruments from just about anywhere in the world except from China. The people and the culture are wonderful but their exports (in musical stuff) is garbage. I don't want to offend anyone here! I'm just expressing my opinion on this topic to all our brothers and sisters on this site.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:14 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:10 pm
Posts: 86
Location: Planet Hell
JACSTRAT wrote:
To the first guy who wrote on here. Let me guess. Is your guitar one of the cheap chinese Teles? (Notice I spelled chinese with a small "c") Not being disrespectful or prejudice, the quality control for chinese musical gear imported is total crap! I speak from experience, I have many guitars and amps. I have one chinese amp, an Epiphone Valve Junior that hums like a son of a gun, ( tone on it ain't bad though). I also have a chinese Tele and I too have a stripped junk truss rod nut (or whatever it is called). I have not been able to move it much. I have done setups on many electrics and one acoustic, and they always come out the way I want them! I use the Dan Erlewine method and it works bitchen! I'll buy musical instruments from just about anywhere in the world except from China. The people and the culture are wonderful but their exports (in musical stuff) is garbage. I don't want to offend anyone here! I'm just expressing my opinion on this topic to all our brothers and sisters on this site.


No, my guitar is an '88 American Standard Strat. Grafitti yellow with amazing tone. I've done most of the tweaking myself, so I prolly stripped the hex nut.

_________________
I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stripped truss rod bolt
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:54 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
jobe6970 wrote:
That's what I was wondering, thanks! Follow up question, do the screws in the back plate also screw into the neck, keeping it in place? I'm assuming that I'd have to remove the strings to perform this mend.


Yes to your first question.

To your statement about removing the strings, the original idea was to be able to adjust the rod with everything intact. This is why that little cutout in the pickguard by the rod is there. Unfortunately, one will immediately mar the pickguard, the pickup cover and usually the nut and a portion of the wood underneath it by doing it this way. Some relax the strings and then loosen the neck to get a total access to the rod nut, approximating how much to turn it and hope for the best where others will continue with multiple attempts until they get it exactly correct. And then there's some who, with a lot of experience will just know how much to turn the rod and can get it right the first time.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 26 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: