[themaidenmaniac]

Im not totally sure as to what the truss rod actually does. I hear it supposedly bows it somehow when you tighten and loosen it? But how does this piece of metal in a piece of wood do anything???

Kev

 

[StoleN GuitaR]

when you tighten and loosen this rod in your guitar neck,
it either pulls or pushes the neck in a certain direction.

It is there to adjust the curve of your guitar neck.

when you look down you guitar neck.. say.. from the headstock towards to body, look along the side of the fretbaord, this should look straight.

wait for Rich to porbably post something more imformative than what i can tell you.

 

[Distantshore]

when you look down you guitar neck.. say.. from the headstock towards to body, look along the side of the fretbaord, this should look straight.

Shouldn't it actually have a slight bow in it?

 

[pawel]

Shouldn't it actually have a slight bow in it?

Depends, I think. Some players like straight necks, some like to have some bow. If a guitar has good frets, you can have nice low action with a straight neck.

 

[themaidenmaniac]

interesting stuff- thanks guys

 

[ryanb]

The string tension pulls (bows) the neck forward. The truss rod adds some counter-tension to the neck to try to pull it back to straight, or near-straight. Loosen the rod, the strings will bow the neck forward more and give more relief. Tighten the rod and the neck will straighten. Different people like different amounts of relief (slight forward bow) in the neck. Some types of rods will also allow "pushing" the neck into more of a forward bow as well (dual-action rods).