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Post subject: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:36 am
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I have a 1990 Strat Plus with a truss rod broken at the point it attaches to the anchor in the heel of the neck. I could take it to a pro or buy a new neck but am leaning toward putting that money towards a different guitar (build). So I keep coming back to doing the repair myself.

If I obtain a truss rod, can I remove it and install the new one, without resorting to removing the skunk stripe? I've seen a number of threads like http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/116597-truss-rod-replacement.html, and this seems well within my skill level.

The only part I am not sure of is getting the truss rod out of the cavity and then inserting the new one with the anchor pre-attached - the concerns being the curve of the channel and whatever lurks under the 7th fret (see here http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/95999-truss-rods-how-they-work-including-bi-flex.html and here http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/jwells393/Neck%20Building/StratNeckBlueprint.jpg. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:51 am
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Would you ever fully trust any neck with a repaired/replaced truss-rod, assuming you could in fact do it?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:59 am
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A neck that needs this sort of repair should be trashed.

Cheers

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:07 pm
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I bought a MIM that had the rod broken. The previous owner thought he could dig it out from the peg-head. Well, he tore up the plastic liner and part of the rosewood fretboard down to the first fret and then gave up.

I know yours is different, but I just put a new neck on rather that go through it all the right way. I still plan on fixing it some year. Maybe.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:50 am
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Are you absolutely certain it's a broken/detatched truss rod? Here's a video from my favourite guitar tech on youtube, maybe there's still hope but honestly, if it's a broken truss rod then the neck's really a strong candidate for replacing.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:36 am
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There a some pictures on the french forum , I try to find them .

IMO it is easy that we think when know how.

You must remove the plug ,


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:02 am
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Wouldn't try to replace it myself, but then again: if somebody assembled the neck, someone else can take it apart...

Here's a YouTuber on what it may require: Truss Rod Replacement Pt 1 of 8

A couple of other interesting truss rod stories (not for the faint-hearted, the pics are cruel...):
'54 neck
Lite Ash Tele truss rod


Last edited by jmattis on Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:32 am
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48Crosley wrote:
So I keep coming back to doing the repair myself.

Hi 48Crosley, welcome to the Forum.

I've never done this repair myself so I can't speak from experience. But if the alternative is binning the neck then what do you have to lose? In your place I'd have at it. If it works, great. If it doesn't, buy another neck (and send the old one to me so's I can try my hand at it :D ).

Good luck, and if you feel like sharing photos of your progress several here would be glad to see.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:37 pm
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Here are the adress of french forum , no need to know french just look photos.

Truss rod repair by a qualified luthier;

forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=63506&p=784683


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:53 pm
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The Strat Plus has a bi-flex truss rod. When these break it is called "the kiss of death." very hard to repair, not worth the money or the time and should be sold "as is" or trashed. See my website on page two Strat Plus Guitars to see a pict.

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:05 am
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Can a normal truss rod be fitted.. If the fingerboard is removed with a heat gun and a new truss rod inserted and new fingerboard over the top.. Assuming of course your neck is fitted with a rosewood board. I have seen this done on repairs where a fingerboard has been replaced along with new frets, dot position inlays and side markers on either ebony or bubinga.

This may be an option however a very costly one. It'd be better to sink your money into a replacement neck, however if you had the time, tools and the know-how this could be an option.

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:29 am
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Blertles wrote:
Can a normal truss rod be fitted.. If the fingerboard is removed with a heat gun and a new truss rod inserted and new fingerboard over the top.. Assuming of course your neck is fitted with a rosewood board. I have seen this done on repairs where a fingerboard has been replaced along with new frets, dot position inlays and side markers on either ebony or bubinga.

This may be an option however a very costly one. It'd be better to sink your money into a replacement neck, however if you had the time, tools and the know-how this could be an option.



Easier to put the same truss rod
Look these photo on french forum. I give the adress on my post here in january 13

If this happened to me sure I will try to do. It is only a delicate wood work.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:12 am
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I had a trussrod problem with my resonator. The trussrud nut was screwed!

Unfortunately the nut of that trussrod could not be replaced, so I had to have the whole trussrod exchanged (well, it was 1 out of 30 worldwide, so to me it was worth it!!).

I found a guitar tech online (a guitar builder actually, who also does repairs).
I sent in the guitar.

Since he tried to get access to the nut through the first 2 frets, the fretboard was damaged.
Instead of filling the holes, he decided to make a whole new rosewood fretboard.

So, here goes:

- disassembling guitar (glued in neck!!)
- trying to get access to the nut
- ordering the proper two way trussrod
- removing fretboard
- installing new trussrod
- making new fretboard from scratch
- assembling neck and fretboard
- re-finishing neck in original color
- re-assembling guitar & neck

14 days waiting time, 200 Euros!! (about 260 US dollars)

A strat neck is not glued in, that saves a lot of time and money!
Strat necks have "standard" measurements! You don't have to make a new one, just grab an existing replacement fretboard!

If you search thouroughly, you can get the trussrod fixed for about 200 dollars, I'd guess.
A new neck costs more, feels different but is exchanged more quickly.
A used neck costs about the same and could be damaged by previous owner.

With a strat (unless it's a high value guitar with limited numbers made), I would not get through the trouble of that repair, I guess I'd simply get a new one.

I would even consider to get it custom made (i.e. Warmoth), to get it made to my preferred specs if I have to exchange the neck anyway. Probably more expensive, but it might be worth it.
I payed 450 dollars for my custom made neck (V-shape, black block inlays, compound radius, 6105 frets, neck adjustment at the side of the neck heel, black binding, maple fretboard, vintage tuner holes).

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:02 am
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smoking frets,

No need to remove fretboard on a Fender neck to replace truss rod.

I don't why people on this forum don't go to see the pictures how to fit new truss rod I talk about .

You will see it is no so difficult.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus truss rod repair options
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:15 am
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I just do not see how any luthier can do a job like this for around $200. I would not touch it at all for that money and I do luthier work. Using heat to remove the fretboard when wood warps so easy? High risk. Then the whole refinish job on the the back as it often has a maple stain on in the wood grain. One has to strip the finish all the way down to the stain, re-stain and refinish? Wow. I guess one has to be good at both woodworking and refinishing. And then talk of even then making a new fretboard? :?

Here is what a bi-flex trus rod looks like. Nothing like an older one piece type rod. If someone has one of these replaced (not a one piece type found in a Gibson or older vintage Strat) please share with us. I would rather just find a new (used) neck and bolt it on and be done. Too many "what ifs...."

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