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It depends on the problem with your truss rod. I answered a question already on how to adjust the truss rod on a Bass Guitar. Search for "How do i adjust a truss rod on a bass guitar?"

If your truss rod is broken or the threads are stripped search for "truss rod rescue kit". Before you buy it, read the details and watch the video so you know what you're getting into.

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8y ago
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8y ago

Follow this procedure at your own risk. If you're not sure what you're doing, take the bass to a guitar shop to have it adjusted professionally.

I'll assume you know where the truss rod adjustment is and you have the correct tool. Most newer Guitars use an hex key or Allen wrench. If you don't have the correct tool, buy the correct one.

First, make sure the bass has been sitting at normal household temperature for at least 24 hours. Then play it for a few minutes to warm it up.

To measure, tune the bass and hold it in playing position. Put a capo on the first fret, and push down at the last fret on the lowest string. Using a feeler gauge, spark plug gauge, or other thickness gauge, measure the distance from the top of the 8th fret to the string. It should be around 0.3mm or 0.12in.

If the distance is too wide, you need to tighten the truss rod. If it is too narrow, you need to loosen it.

Before adjusting the truss rod, loosen all the strings completely, making note of how many turns it takes to loosen each one. Turn the truss rod adjust screw no more than 1/4 turn. Tighten the strings by turning them the same number of turns it took to loosen them. Tune the bass and measure again.

You may have to repeat this procedure a few times before it comes out right.

Let the bass sit overnight to let the wood settle, and measure again.

To complete the setup, you need to set the string height and intonation.

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Q: How do i adjust a truss rod on a bass guitar?
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What is the truss rod in a guitar?

A guitar's truss rod is a long metal rod that runs from the body of the guitar along the back of the guitar's neck all the way to the headstock. It's purpose is to provide strength to the guitar neck against the extreme tension of all the guitar strings. Also, without the stability provided by truss rods, guitar necks would have to be made from much harder and stronger woods to take the tension of the strings, which would in turn raise costs significantly. The use of a truss rod allows manufacturers to make guitar necks out of much softer woods or composite materials. It is also a means to stabilize and adjust the relief of the guitar neck (forward curve).


Guitar Do Ovation Guitars have truss rods?

No. Some less expensive guitars do not have truss rods in their necks. Any guitar that is more than a toy should have a truss rod, with out the truss rod if your guitar got into some moisture and the neck bowed,you would not be able to straighten the neck out.


Were can you buy Truss Rod Nut for ovation guitar?

You can't!


How do you adjust an acoustic guitar truss rod?

The answer is "it depends". There are a few variables: is the action too high, too low, where is it off (saddle, nut, 12th fret). I'll give a brief explanation. THIS ADVICE HAS NO GUARANTEE - IF YOU ARE UNSURE, TAKE IT TO A LUTHIER 1) too high -NUT: you can either file the nut with nut files (expensive) or sand some of the bottom of the nut off. -NECK: adjust your truss rod -SADDLE: sand a small amount of material from the bottom of the saddle 2) too low -NUT: buy a new nut, or add krazy-glue and baking soda to fill in the grooves, refile to your liking -NECK: adjust truss rod -SADDLE: buy a new saddle or shim the saddle you have


Which way do you turn the truss rod in a guitar to lower the strings?

NEVER adjust the truss rod in order to lower the strings. The majority of string height adjustment is done at the bridge on either the bridge posts or individual saddles depending on your guitar. The truss rod is only there to correct any humping or bowing in the neck, if you tighten it then the strings will appear to lower but that's only because you're bending your guitars neck back! This will render your guitar pretty much unplayable until it's sorted so if you're not completely confident you know what you're doing then it's best to just leave any truss rod adjustment well alone. If you value your guitar then seek the advice of a qualified or experienced luthier or repair guy.

Related questions

What is the truss rod in a guitar?

A guitar's truss rod is a long metal rod that runs from the body of the guitar along the back of the guitar's neck all the way to the headstock. It's purpose is to provide strength to the guitar neck against the extreme tension of all the guitar strings. Also, without the stability provided by truss rods, guitar necks would have to be made from much harder and stronger woods to take the tension of the strings, which would in turn raise costs significantly. The use of a truss rod allows manufacturers to make guitar necks out of much softer woods or composite materials. It is also a means to stabilize and adjust the relief of the guitar neck (forward curve).


Guitar Do Ovation Guitars have truss rods?

No. Some less expensive guitars do not have truss rods in their necks. Any guitar that is more than a toy should have a truss rod, with out the truss rod if your guitar got into some moisture and the neck bowed,you would not be able to straighten the neck out.


Were can you buy Truss Rod Nut for ovation guitar?

You can't!


Who plays bass guitar with Rod Stewart?

Conrad Korsch is Rod Stewart's current bass guitarist.


How do you adjust an acoustic guitar truss rod?

The answer is "it depends". There are a few variables: is the action too high, too low, where is it off (saddle, nut, 12th fret). I'll give a brief explanation. THIS ADVICE HAS NO GUARANTEE - IF YOU ARE UNSURE, TAKE IT TO A LUTHIER 1) too high -NUT: you can either file the nut with nut files (expensive) or sand some of the bottom of the nut off. -NECK: adjust your truss rod -SADDLE: sand a small amount of material from the bottom of the saddle 2) too low -NUT: buy a new nut, or add krazy-glue and baking soda to fill in the grooves, refile to your liking -NECK: adjust truss rod -SADDLE: buy a new saddle or shim the saddle you have


Which way do you turn the truss rod in a guitar to lower the strings?

NEVER adjust the truss rod in order to lower the strings. The majority of string height adjustment is done at the bridge on either the bridge posts or individual saddles depending on your guitar. The truss rod is only there to correct any humping or bowing in the neck, if you tighten it then the strings will appear to lower but that's only because you're bending your guitars neck back! This will render your guitar pretty much unplayable until it's sorted so if you're not completely confident you know what you're doing then it's best to just leave any truss rod adjustment well alone. If you value your guitar then seek the advice of a qualified or experienced luthier or repair guy.


What is a truss rod?

It's a long rod lodged up in the neck of a guitar used for keeping the neck of the guitar straight. The truss rod is used to allow the neck to bend either way in response to the tension of the strings. Without it, there would be no steel string guitars, the neck wouldn't be able to handle the tension of the strings. Many beginners think that adjusting the truss rod will lower the "action" or how high the strings are from the fret board of the guitar. This is not entirely true and it is probably more of a Nut and saddle/bridge adjustment that is needed.


How many kind of truss rod?

There is no real answer, as anyone could make a new kind of truss rod, for example a licorice truss rod. Perhaps you mean that a truss rod could be under stress or under compression, or be designed for both.


My hollowbody bass has a bowing neck and because it's attached to the body a truss rod can't fix it so what can i do?

You will have to get a new neck.


Is silk and steel strings safe for a nylon string classical guitar with a truss rod?

not quite. the truss rod will in fact reinforce the neck, but the bridge area can really suffer from high tension. not to mention the saddle nut and tuners. When a CF Martin guitar was custom built for this kind of versatility it used a totally different engineering and it was much more acoustic than classical. why ruin a guitar?


Who is the Base player rod Stewart band?

Rod Stewart's current bass player (both guitar and upright) is Conrad Korsch.


How do you adjust truss rod for epiphone special 2 and what is the spin direction for tightening the truss rod?

When attempting to readjust the neck contour of your guitar keep a few things in mind. Let's start at the same place....the body of the guitar, preferrably the strap button. Hold the guitar so that the headstock is pointing slightly skyward and get a good look at the neck. I always use the strings as a guide. Since there is only a straight line between two points, this is a good way to see just what needs done. As you are looking from the end of the guitar to the headstock you can see that the strings are perfectly straight. Then get a good look at the neck and compare them. More often than not, the neck has a "back bow" or too much relief in it. It looks like it's sagging in the middle? At which point, you tighten the truss rod. If it looks like there's a hump from about the sixth fret to the somewhere around a 11th or 12th fret, the neck has not enough relief in it, you should loosen the truss rod. How to do that? Easy as pie......from the other end of the guitar (looking from the headstock towards the body) turn the truss rod counter-clockwise to loosen it and clockwise to tighten it. HOWEVER be very careful to not over do it. A lot of do it yourself jobs end up in my shop because people don't realize that this should be done by someone with some experience. If you over do it or strip the truss rod out....it's bye-bye guitar time. So only turn the truss rod a quarter of a turn at a time. Let the guitar set up for about 20 minutes or more and start over. Checking the neck contour to monitor progress. Until you get the hang of it, it takes a lot of time and patience. But rest assured that you won't be throwing guitars away left and right while you're honing your new skill.