Truss Rod Trouble.

GreasyKid · #1 12-14-2002, 03:24 AM

I just got a used VWH and there seems to be something iffy with the truss rod/neck bow. The neck, at the moment, is almost exactly straight, without any bow. I usually like a little bit of bow in my necks, so I make to adjust the truss rod like usual. Problem is, it's already completely loosened - turning it more just unscrews the truss rod bolt off the rod. Opinions?

Project Guitar · #2 12-14-2002, 04:46 PM

I've known tech's to physically bend necks to give them bow ,usually done on a neck thats already bowed to far to begin with though. You could try it but personally I wouldn't recommend it unless your really careful.

Bend bend bend, snap ooooooops

know what I mean

littlegreenman · #3 12-14-2002, 04:55 PM

Having just had this problem with a DBK neck, I'll tell you what I did, and it's worked out great.

First, find a good sturdy piece of wood about 20" long, I used a 1" x 2" x 20" piece of solid oak. If your neck is sanded on the back, it will help (down to wood).

Place the piece of wood on the fretboard, so that it is 2" tall, then using a C clamp, clamp the piece of wood to the heel (don't crush it, it's only got to hold it there) then, take a shim, about 1/8" to 3/16" (I had to use 3/8") and put it in the middle of the neck between the fretboard, and the piece of wood. Then, take a spray bottle, and spray the neck front and back (if there is still clear on the back just spray the fretboard) Use a second C clamp at the first fret, (always put a scrap of wood, known as a clamping cull, between the C clamp and your neck) and slowly start to tighten it, don't worry, you're not going to have anywhere near 3/16" bow when you're done. DON"T try to go all the way at once, go maybe 1/16", let it sit overnight, the next day, wet it again, and go another 1/16", let it sit overnight, the next day, wet it again, go another 1/16" until it's fully compressed, lean it up against a wall over a heat register (something that won't get really hot, and won't continuously be on) and let it sit for about a week. Then slowly remove the C clamps, you should see about 1/32" of front bow, if you have more, it's not big deal, string it up, and adjust the truss rod to remove some of the front bow.

If you have put the piece of wood on the neck DEAD center, and clamped it dead center, it should stay completely untwisted.

*disclaimer, I attempted this knowing that I could fix it if it should twist, or any other problems arose, the neck I was dealing with was fatally backbowed and I had nothing to lose by doing this, I take absolutely NO responsibility if you clamp to fast, don't use water, or in some other way damage the neck. If you follow my directions to the letter, you should have success, just don't be in a rush, this isn't going to be a 1 hour project, expect at LEAST one weeks time.

Rich · #4 12-14-2002, 05:18 PM

You could also find a tech that has a neck heater. Same principle as Jeremy described but uses heat to soften the glue between the board and the neck so it repositions itself to a point it has bow when it cools.

Or youm could do like me, I've been putting frontbow in a PMC neck I got last year with backbow. Just block the trem and crack ujp the strings [evenly so no twist] and about a year later I'm about ready to start backing off the strings a little each week, looks like it'll be perfect, but needs about a year to do it

caprile · #5 12-14-2002, 07:40 PM

Considering you got it used....why don't you sell it and get another used one? You shouldn't lose that much money, and if you do, sure it's less than fixing the neck.

GreasyKid · #6 12-15-2002, 02:10 AM

thanks for all the replies.

in all honesty, the problem really isn't as big as i was probably making it out to be. the neck plays ok and there hasn't been any buzz since i raised the action up; i'm just used to having some bow. i was really just wondering whether this was normal or not.

one thing i forgot to mention was that i did have it shipped from texas to here in california, so i was thinking maybe the neck is just adjusting to the climate? i actually remember the neck bow being perfect when it first got here (and strung with 8 guage strings to boot!) over the course of the first two days it was here, the neck started to bow back, so i strung it with 9's and loosened the truss rod all the way. this was all about two weeks ago.

as for the guitar itself, i got it for pretty cheap, and i like it's vibe, so i'll probably just stick with it.