Welcome to

Truss rod adjustment is often avoided by guitarists, but it needn’t be. The fact of the matter is, as long as you approach it with patience and a delicate touch you canyou’re your guitar’s neck set perfectly for your style of playing. Below the ‘ideal’ height is stated as less than one millimetre but not touching the fret. However, some guitarists (especially those braining the living hendrix out of their guitars) prefer it slightly higher to allow the strings to vibrate wildly without choking on the frets. This is entirely down to personal preference, the best advice would be to give it a go, have a play. If it feels good keep it that way. If not have another go.

Firstly you need to check your guitar neck to see if it has an upward-bow or a backward bow. This is easily done, with a little special move.

Place the guitar on your lap as though you’re about to play it, then place the thumb of your right hand on the highest fret on the low E-string(see right) and place the index finger of your left hand on the first fret on the bottom E-string(see left). then check how high the string is off the 12th fret.

Now the correct height that the E-string should be away from the 12th fret when you have the top and bottom fret pressed is debatable. The general consensus with guitarists that I’ve spoken to is ‘as close as you can without it actually touching’.

If the string is touching the 12th fret there is too much back-bow and your truss rod is too tight. In order to remedy this take the appropriate allen key and turn it (at most) one quarter turn anticlockwise and then re-check the height until the string is less than a millimetre away from the fret, but not touching .

Bear in mind that the neck is made of wood and may take a few moments to re-settle. remember that patience it the key, don’t be tempted to do more than very small adjustments at a time.

Similarly, if you check the distance on the 12th fret when the top and bottom frets are depressed and it is more than a millimetre away from the fret board, the neck will have a forward-bow and the truss rod can be tightened.

This time turn the allen key (at most) one quarter turn clockwise and re-check the height. Repeat this until the string (when the top and bottom frets are pressed) is less than a millimetre away from the 12th fret and you’re there!

Check out this video of Truss Rod Adjustment

Other Truss Rod Related Blogs:

James Bisset Writes this Blog – Fender vintage – truss rod adjustment

Scott’s Guitar Blog Writes this – Guitar neck underway

Piano Covers Blog writes – Basic Guitar Maintenance Tips