#1
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Martin Truss rod adjustment
I've got a slight bow. I know a small amount is normal, but its bugging me as my other guitars are straight as an arrow. The rod is located in the sound hole - I should turn it counter clockwise to loosen as a you would a screw. Has anyone else adjusted their Martin?
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Barry My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#2
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No, clockwise to tighten it (this will take bow out of the neck). Go slow, maybe an 1/8 turn at a time and give it some time (a few hours) to settle in before re-measuring and continuing adjustments.
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#3
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If you tighten it, it wouldn't it make the rod "shorter", which would increase the bow? I want to lengthen the rod (decrease pressure) to straighten it.
For instance here a sideview of the truss rod with N = nut H = end by the soundhole. N------------------H-- If you tighten, you are moving the H closer to the Nut which would make the rod bend wouldn't it?
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Barry My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#4
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Quote:
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"It takes all kinds to make a world...including the kinds who think only their kind belong in it." (unknown) "Next To the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise." (Martin Luther) 1992 Taylor 855 2000 Deering Sierra 2009 Recording King RD-16SN ~ "utility" 2009 Martin HD-28 |
#5
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TBman,
This might explain it better for you. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luth...russrods1.html But, clockwise to tighten (take out the bow or in other words, decrease the neck relief), counter clockwise to loosen (increase the amount of bow or in other words, increase the neck relief). |
#6
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Agreed.
Turn clockwise to tighten and straighten the neck. Think of it as a countermeasure to the strings. The more you tightened the strings, the more they would pull on the neck and increase curvature. Tightening the truss rod pulls it back in the other direction to straighten it back out. Think of it as one big steel string in a tug of war against those 6 little strings. |
#7
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Guitarstrmr is correct. Be careful. Amatuers adjusting truss rods incorrectly is what keeps guitar techs in business
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#8
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That's why I posted the question. Sometimes my interpretation of reality needs adjustment too.
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Barry My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#9
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Quote:
Quote:
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Barry My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#10
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I don't think you should need to loosen the strings. However, another point I'll mention is depending on how your truss rod wrench lines up on the nut, be careful not to bang (technical term) the wrench into your strings, as you could damage them.
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#11
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to the original question
rightie tightie leftie loosie To add relief (bow) loosen To remove relief (straighten) tighten As has been said, go about 1/4 turn at a time, let it sit overnight, check and tweak more. Jeff |
#12
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Truss rod
Take a few minutes and turn the adjustment both ways. Work in 1/4 turns Sight down the neck and see what happens each time you adjust it. Pretty soon you will understand how the truss rod works. If you have a beater, experiment on that. This is not a big mystery. It would be hard to mess up your guitar if you are working in 1/4 turns or less. If the rod is so tight you can hardly turn it then see your technician. Check the care and feeding section on the Taylor sight. I believe they have some good info.
By the way-the ideal adjustment is dependant upon the neck angle and the saddle height. Sometimes flat is the best, sometimes a slight relief is best. If you are scared to do this, use a beater to learn how. Guitars are like kids...they are all different and require slight adjustments to make them the best they can be.
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Love to play...everyday... Thomas Prisloe Classical Guild Orpheum Slope Shoulder Dreadnaught (14 fret) Ayers O-07CX Guild Starfire IV Godin 5th Avenue Archtop Ibanez AF200 Archtop (Japanese Made) John Webb Hand carved 17 inch Archtop Astoria Model Author: "How to Play Guitar In One Easy Lesson... If the Lesson Lasts Fifty Years"[/I] |
#13
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Is this the right principle
Using TBman's image and adding strings:
S_________________S N------------H--- The truss rod is counteracting the string tension so tightening the truss rod actually increases the amount of this compensation. Right? TBman did you get the double top secret clearance from Martin to adjust you truss rod?
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Martin 000-28EC, Taylor 12fret Cedar/Mahogany, Taylor GC8, Carvin AC275, Takamine TC135SC, Yamaha APX5na Last edited by Turp; 02-24-2007 at 06:19 PM. Reason: Add content |
#14
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The neck can bow forward or backward, so just saying 'bowing' isn't enough info. If the neck is bowing forward, tighten the truss rod. If bowing backward, loosen it.
I leave the string tension on and turn about 1/8 turn and recheck. Of course, the truss rod is just one of the adjustements than may be required - but IMO it's the first one.
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Taylor 810 Guild J30-12 |
#15
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Before touching the t/r I always suggest that people go to Bryan Kimsey's site and read his three page analysis of the interaction between relief and action. Bryan has set up two of my guitar (both Martins) and I have tried to follow his lead when I do my others. A good straightedge and a set of feeler guages make it easy.
And to confirm what everyone has said, righty-tighty (cw) to take out relief. Also be very careful to not use one of those folding allen wrenches - a friend slipped and put a great big gouge in the sound hole of his D28 - I have a 5mm allen wrench in a small file handle that works really well. edit to add, I believe a few of the new Martins now have double acting t/r's. They work the same - just push and pull. Last edited by Freeman; 02-27-2007 at 03:36 PM. |