Truss Rods (1 Viewer)

[mackle]

Lately I've noticed that certain frets on my guitar have been giving out an awful buzz. Would this be due to the truss rod needing realigned possibly? Is it expensive to get a truss rod realigned?

 

[Kenny Fuckpole]

That could caused by a few different things.
Check out 'The Guitar Player Repair Guide' by Dan Erlewine. Pretty sure it's still available in Waterstones/hodges figgis, probably the suffolk street music place too.

On the other hand if you just want to enjoy a little experimentation with your rod, there's no harm in that at all. Here's a few tips though.

Make sure you use the right sized allen key. Slightly too small might fuck up the little bolt.
Best to adjust it with the neck 'under tension' i.e. with all the strings tuned to pitch. This sometimes isn't possible the bolt is at the body end of the neck (like with Fender basses).
Don't overtighten! Get it finger tight then begin to tighten in 1/4 turns. Oh yeah, here's what you're trying to achieve...
The purpose of the fuck pole, sorry, truss rod is to counteract the effect of string tension bending the neck away from you. The tighter it is the more it (the rod) pulls the neck back towards you.
A well adjusted neck isn't actually straight at all, it has some straightness, and also 'relief' and 'fall-away', best to check the book on this stuff, lots of illustrations etc.


1 or 2 frets buzzing could be that they're popping out of their little slots, or perhaps other frets are excessively worn (they'll feel indented). Probably needs to go to a repairdude then. Derek Nelsen (in Marley Park) is great. I've heard he's a bit pricey now though.
Bye now,
Ken

PS Another great book is this one by Adrian Legg (I think he's also the well-known acoustic playing guy). Anyway it's full of info about pickup wiring and fitting mercury tilt switches so your guitar switches itself off when placed upright. I'd say it's out of print but the Trinity College Library (the arts block one) has it. I photocopied the whole fucking thing back in '93 when I happened to be in that college for 6 months

 

[mackle]

Thanks man!
​

 

[pete]

fitting mercury tilt switches

probably not what someone in norn iron wants to go shopping for....

 

[kthozoid]

it's the whole explosive guitar solo angle, i think

 

[Kenny Fuckpole]

Actually that's funny because back in the day when I'd be unfurling some elaborate bebop tendrils in some restaurant or other, and I felt it was time to 'take out the big guns' and go to octaves, I used to smear a little slightly warmed (not too warm!!) semtex on my left hand fingertips for increased maneuverability around the finger board. Of course I'd have to wash my hands with onion juice before going home to avoid making Mrs Fuckpole suspicious.
Ah such great times.

 

[Funkykitchen]

Sorry but can somebody explain what the point of the mercury tilt switches is?

 

[classic seanc]

Is it expensive to get a truss rod realigned?

Yes,


You'll need a truss fund