If i attempt to adjust a truss rod on an acoustic, will deaths follow?

  • Thread starter Thread starter romanianreaper
  • Start date Start date
romanianreaper

romanianreaper

Well-known member
So depending on where you read it, truss rod adjustments are either a carefree way to learn about guitar setup or a way to snap your guitar in half and wipe out half the world's population.

I'd like to try adjusting the truss rod on my Martin and bought the adjustment tool. I've never done this before and don't want to mess anything up. My plan was to lower the action so planned on turning the tool a 1/4th turn to the right and then remeasure.

If i need to stay in my lane, tell me, lol. Just thought it would be cool to try to learn this stuff instead of overpaying. Truss rod adjustment is one thibg I just never got around to in 40 years of playing.
 
Dude, it's not some Chinese piece of shit, it's a Martin. You can't fuck it up adjusting the neck unless you are smooth retarded. I don't subscribe to the 1/4 turn a day bullshit either. Slack the strings a bit, adjust the rod, tune it up, play it, look down the neck, measure it or whatever you wanna do, rinse and repeat until you get it. Then intonate. I've been doing my own set ups and teching for other guys since the 90s and I never had an issue with a truss rod.
 
If I'm setting it for the first time I just back it all the way off until it's loose and then turn the truss rod until I feel a light resistance. Give it a few minutes to settle in and re-check things.
 
VonBonfire said:
If I'm setting it for the first time I just back it all the way off until it's loose and then turn the truss rod until I feel a light resistance. Give it a few minutes to settle in and re-check things.
Click to expand...
Never done it this way. If he’s wanting to lower the action by tightening the trust rod, why would he loosen it all the way first? To me you’re just throwing slack into the neck, which is going to require more adjustment in the end. Tightening it a quarter turn may be all that’s needed to get it where he wants it to be.
 
LP Freak said:
Never done it this way. If he’s wanting to lower the action by tightening the trust rod, why would he loosen it all the way first? To me you’re just throwing slack into the neck, which is going to require more adjustment in the end. Tightening it a quarter turn may be all that’s needed to get it where he wants it to be.
Click to expand...
Your method is fine, it's just that if I haven't adjusted a particular guitar before then aside relief measurements I'm only guessing as to where it's at. Ever gotten a guitar where it was cranked way up or not at all? So I back the nut all the way off and then re-tighten until it's just seeing tension that way I have a baseline. If it's one of my players that I adjust routinely then I will only make a small adjustment tighter or looser depending on what's needed. This is his first rodeo so that's how come I suggested it.
 
Floyd Eye said:
Dude, it's not some Chinese piece of shit, it's a Martin. You can't fuck it up adjusting the neck unless you are smooth retarded. I don't subscribe to the 1/4 turn a day bullshit either. Slack the strings a bit, adjust the rod, tune it up, play it, look down the neck, measure it or whatever you wanna do, rinse and repeat until you get it. Then intonate. I've been doing my own set ups and teching for other guys since the 90s and I never had an issue with a truss rod.
Click to expand...
Just FYI, I am smooth retarded. 🤣
 
Floyd Eye said:
Dude, it's not some Chinese piece of shit, it's a Martin. You can't fuck it up adjusting the neck unless you are smooth retarded. I don't subscribe to the 1/4 turn a day bullshit either. Slack the strings a bit, adjust the rod, tune it up, play it, look down the neck, measure it or whatever you wanna do, rinse and repeat until you get it. Then intonate. I've been doing my own set ups and teching for other guys since the 90s and I never had an issue with a truss rod.
Click to expand...
I did get one of those measuring tools and the action Ilis definitely high but not horrible. I'd say some slight tweaking and should be there.
 
No reason to pay someone $60-100 for that.
Assuming that all is well with the nut slots and saddle, loosen the strings and turn the truss with the exact right size tool.
The amount you turn it depends more on how much relief it currently has, imo, more than the 1/4 turn and wait trick.
The latter may be the "safer" way to go, but as long as you aren't encountering obvious hard resistance you should be good.
FYI Martins before 85-ish don't have an adjustable truss rod.
Relief isn't really considered action though. That's more something dependent on the nut slots and saddle height.
 
romanianreaper said:
Just FYI, I am smooth retarded. 🤣
Click to expand...
No sir. You got it. And dont be afraid to start slow. I always detune the strings just a bit when adjusting. But you dont have to do much, you will quickly get a feel for what you are doing

But i check nut height, bridge height, then 12th fret. They all work together, but you want to make sure you are adjusting the right part.

And a little down bow (relief)is how i usually like the acoustic
 
LP Freak said:
Never done it this way. If he’s wanting to lower the action by tightening the trust rod, why would he loosen it all the way first? To me you’re just throwing slack into the neck, which is going to require more adjustment in the end. Tightening it a quarter turn may be all that’s needed to get it where he wants it to be.
Click to expand...
Adjusting the truss rod is not how you lower the action.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top