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Tension Rod question

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Paravillintiniay
Posted 2008-08-31 8:56 PM (#22862)
Subject: Tension Rod question


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 15

Location: Tampa, FL
So I own a 2078T (as some of you know :) ), and I just moved from light to medium gauge, so now I need to adjust the rod... the action isn't so much bad as it is inconsistent, since it's warped a little bit.

But in any case, here's what's up. I occasionally hammer away on this guitar, so I can't afford to have any fret buzz, so I'm not looking to adjust the saddle and everything to get really low action, I just need it to compensate for the gauge change.

The book that came with the guitar isn't very clear, so I figured I'd ask on here. When I open up the back, and I'm holding the guitar with the top facing down, there is one nut facing down (up if you're holding it strings-up), and two facing towards the neck of the guitar. Which of these do I turn clockwise to get this to work?
I figured I could try, but I'd rather not mess up something.

Thanks.

(And yes, I know I could go to a good technician, but I don't know any around Orlando (just moved here from college), and would rather not take it to Sam Ash or Guitar Center to have them do it.)
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TAFKAR
Posted 2008-08-31 9:07 PM (#22863 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Is there a truss rod cover on the head of the guitar, like this one ? If so, that is where you adjust the neck. Remove the little screws to see the truss rod adjustment.

Otherwise, it will be an allen key bolt which faces towards the bottom strap button (i.e. directly away from the neck when you are inside the bowl).

I'm not an expert on this, but most people say that shims are for adjusting action height and the truss rod is to get the neck straight.
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CanterburyStrings
Posted 2008-08-31 9:17 PM (#22864 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683

Location: Hot Springs, S.D.
If you've gone to medium from light strings, the increased tension will cause the neck to warp a little. Whether the truss rod adjustment is in the peghead, or inside the body, remember: "righty tighty". So you need to turn no more than a quarter turn at a time, to the right. You should leave it overnight, even if a quarter turn doesn't do the job, because as it sits overnight, the wood on the neck will slowly move in response to the truss rod adjustment. The next day, (or even the day after) if it still needs tightening, repeat the process.
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Paravillintiniay
Posted 2008-08-31 9:56 PM (#22865 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 15

Location: Tampa, FL
The adjustment is inside, not on the head.

And now looking at it from the end, the headstock of the guitar definitely needs to come down to get even with the whole thing - the strings are close, then get far away, then close. So it is warped a little bit, so I'll tighten the truss rod a little tonight and figure it out from there.

Thanks.
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Paravillintiniay
Posted 2008-08-31 10:47 PM (#22866 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 15

Location: Tampa, FL
Note: the nut facing straight away from the neck of the guitar could not turn (at least not with my strength), but the one facing the roundback could.
So I take it that's it. It does make sense when I look at it.
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-08-31 10:56 PM (#22867 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
That's gotta be a Thai name... No?
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Jonmark Stone
Posted 2008-08-31 11:52 PM (#22868 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1553

Location: Indiana
Note: the nut facing straight away from the neck of the guitar could not turn (at least not with my strength), but the one facing the roundback could.
I'd have thought all 2078T's would have the LX neck.
If it's internally adjustable, it's a Kaman Bar and the truss rod adjustment would be the hex nearest the top/fretboard.

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an4340
Posted 2008-09-01 12:07 AM (#22869 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389

Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands
righty tighty
lefty loosey
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Paravillintiniay
Posted 2008-09-01 1:15 AM (#22870 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 15

Location: Tampa, FL
Jonmark - that is indeed what it looks like, but the truss adjustment faces up/down, whichever way you're holding it, instead of facing out.

:)
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2008-09-01 1:36 AM (#22871 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Whoa Now!... If this is a 2078T contour bowl, it should have a TRC like this...


If for some very weird reason it does not, and the adjustment in inside the bowl, and it has a Kaman Bar... Make sure you adjust the allen bolt for the truss-rod. If you adjust one of the bolts this hold the neck on, you get This!

But a 2078T should have a Truss Rod Cover on the Headstock! :confused:
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-09-01 7:44 AM (#22872 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
Originally posted by Paravillintiniay:
Jonmark - that is indeed what it looks like, but the truss adjustment faces up/down, whichever way you're holding it, instead of facing out.

:)
This makes no sense to me....

Are you saying the head of the bolt points to your belly if you were holding the guitar in playing position?
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FlySig
Posted 2008-09-01 10:30 AM (#22873 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4025

Location: Utah
My daughter's 2078T (all black, not the Sweetwater T), has the truss rod cover on the headstock. The neck is the same all maple T neck that is on her sister's 1778T, also with the truss rod accessed at the headstock.
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2008-09-01 2:03 PM (#22874 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7210

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
We need some pictures here.. put digital camera in macro mode in stick inside the read access panel.
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2008-09-01 3:47 PM (#22875 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Originally posted by FlySig:
My daughter's 2078T (all black, not the Sweetwater T), has the truss rod cover on the headstock. The neck is the same all maple T neck that is on her sister's 1778T, also with the truss rod accessed at the headstock.
I hope my photo does not confuse anyone.
The Sweet T is just a 2078T with no special designation on the sticker.
They just grabbed some 2078T's off of the line and routed in the Koa.
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MWoody
Posted 2008-09-01 10:13 PM (#22876 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
Here is the innerds of a 1778T and a Koa 14 fret.






Not all ANS necks have dual Truss Rods or they buried them. Bolt ons are the way to go though.
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MWoody
Posted 2008-09-01 10:14 PM (#22877 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
Also note that some of the rock Maple necks tend to split at the base of the heel.

That's why I'm plastering this one.
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-09-01 10:26 PM (#22878 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
So that explains the bolt Para'niay describes but, not why he can't find, what I think would be very obvious, the bolt end under the TRC...


I suspect alcohol is involved.
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TAFKAR
Posted 2008-09-01 11:42 PM (#22879 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
So that explains the bolt Para'niay describes
But what does that perpendicular bolt do? The other two obviously attach the neck to the body. Does this align with a guiding hole in the top of the guitar?

Thanks for all the pictures guys, it makes it a lot clearer.
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MusicMishka
Posted 2008-09-01 11:54 PM (#22880 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563

Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
Dude, don't take a chance and muck up your guitar:

(And yes, I know I could go to a good technician, but I don't know any around Orlando (just moved here from college), and would rather not take it to Sam Ash or Guitar Center to have them do it.)
They're called "The Yellow Pages"; you know "let your fingers do the walkin"....
Call, Ask, GO!

BTW, Welcome to the club! :D
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MWoody
Posted 2008-09-01 11:54 PM (#22881 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
"But what does that perpendicular bolt do?"

It keeps the end of the Fretboard from "humping".


M(here it comes)Woody
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2008-09-02 12:06 AM (#22882 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Originally posted by MWoody:
Also note that some of the rock Maple necks tend to split at the base of the heel.

That's why I'm plastering this one.
Oh? I'm not the only one?
And all this time I was assuming the previous owner was clumsy.
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TAFKAR
Posted 2008-09-02 1:26 AM (#22883 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by MWoody:
It keeps the end of the Fretboard from "humping".
Will it work on my dog?
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MWoody
Posted 2008-09-02 9:12 AM (#22884 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
"And all this time I was assuming the previous owner was clumsy."

It's the cut of the grain as the heel extends. Most really pretty Maple is real close to self destruction.
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an4340
Posted 2008-09-02 9:29 AM (#22885 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389

Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands
So highly flamed maple is not suitable for necks?
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MWoody
Posted 2008-09-02 10:18 AM (#22886 - in reply to #22862)
Subject: Re: Tension Rod question



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13983

Location: Upper Left USA
Hold on thar Barbalewis!

Flame Maple or any wood needs to be dried and stabalized appropriately. The curl, flame and extravagant grain can make selection difficult. It also makes it luscious

Maple and Alder may have deeper "Rays" that open up. Mahogany doesn't do that.

Its just that I have seen 5-7 heels open up like this.
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