Lowden truss rod wrench

[toegunk]

I solved the problem of adjusting the truss rod on my Lowden. I bought a 4 mm triple bend wrench from Stew Mac, cut the end off and slodered a 5 mm piece I cut off a regulat 5mm allen wrench, Works perfecxt all for under $20

[Stevien]

Is it that hard to acquire a Lowden truss rod wrench?
Steve

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Stevien

Is it that hard to acquire a Lowden truss rod wrench?
Steve

There is no such thing as a ‘Lowden truss rod wrench’ - the GLG Co. don’t have a specific wrench for sale to the public, nor do they issue a wrench with their instruments. I’ve searched the internet for a 5mm triple-bend wrench, but I’ve never been able to find one - the nearest is the ‘old’ Larrivée wrench which isn’t exactly 5mm, it’s 3/16”, and it can slip in the Lowden truss rod adjuster (don’t ask how I know this!).

I’ve owned Lowden guitars for 25 years or so and, on the rare occasions I’ve needed to adjust the truss rod, I’ve always used a standard Allen key - slacken the strings, sit and hold the guitar in the playing-position, reach into the soundhole, feel up behind the first top-brace for the adjuster in the neck-block, insert the short leg of the Allen key, and Robert’s yer mother’s brother.

I’ve been told by the guys at GLG Co that they also do it that way.

[Sobell]

Back in 2020, I mistakenly entrusted my first Lowden (a rather lovely F35) to the youngsters at a local guitar shop.

The following day one of said youngsters called to ask if the guitar had come with a specialist truss rod wrench because they couldn't access it.

Lowden have an excellent live chat facility on their website - here's their response when I asked the question:

Instructions for adjusting your Lowden truss rod
Use a 5mm allen key. The best way to position the guitar is on its side.

De-tune the strings so you can easily put your hand through the sound hole. The adjusting nut is hidden in the sound box towards the top of the guitar.

Hold the allen key by the longer side and feel around for the adjusting nut when your hand is inside the sound hole. When found turn the key a quarter turn each time, clockwise to straighten the neck and anti-clockwise to allow it to curve.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Sobell

Lowden have an excellent live chat facility on their website - here's their response when I asked the question:

Instructions for adjusting your Lowden truss rod
Use a 5mm allen key. The best way to position the guitar is on its side.

De-tune the strings so you can easily put your hand through the sound hole. The adjusting nut is hidden in the sound box towards the top of the guitar.

Hold the allen key by the longer side and feel around for the adjusting nut when your hand is inside the sound hole. When found turn the key a quarter turn each time, clockwise to straighten the neck and anti-clockwise to allow it to curve.

Exactly how my local luthier showed me many years ago, how I’ve done it ever since then, and how one of the GLG Co. guys (I forget the guy’s name, possibly Jack?) told me in a phone call that they also do it.

[Stevien]

So, bottom line is Lowden doesn't think their customers are smart enough to make adjustments, therefore they refuse them a proper tool. Remind me to avoid buying a Lowden.
Steve

[Nick84]

It’s just a 5mm Allen key. Lowden clearly states it on the website and give instructions how to do it.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Stevien

So, bottom line is Lowden doesn't think their customers are smart enough to make adjustments, therefore they refuse them a proper tool. Remind me to avoid buying a Lowden.
Steve

Steve, that’s an interpretation you’ve chosen to make, but I see no reason to believe that it’s GLG Co’s viewpoint, otherwise why would they give detailed instructions for truss rod adjustment in the ‘Maintenance and Repair’ section of FAQs on their website? The ‘proper tool’, as stated in those instructions, is a standard 5mm Allen wrench, a common-enough tool which many of us will already have in our tool-boxes (I have), but which is available at your local hardware store for, I’m guessing, loose change. That’s also the tool the Lowden guys use for adjusting truss-rods on new guitars and guitars they get into their workshop for maintenance.

And, FWIW, neither CFM nor Gibson supply a truss-rod wrench with their instruments. Not sure about Taylor, but I’m hard-pressed to think of any major, quality builder who routinely issues a truss-rod wrench with new instruments.

https://lowdenguitars.com/maintenance-repair/ - scroll down for detailed truss-rod adjustment instructions.

[Rosewood99]

The truss rod adjustment is one of the things I dislike about my lowden as well as some of the other guitars I have owned like froggy bottom. I hate that they make it difficult. I don’t need them deciding what I should or shouldn’t do.

[slimey]

Originally Posted by Stevien

So, bottom line is Lowden doesn't think their customers are smart enough to make adjustments, therefore they refuse them a proper tool. Remind me to avoid buying a Lowden.
Steve

Your Loss!!

[Stevien]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

Steve, that’s an interpretation you’ve chosen to make.

And, FWIW, neither CFM nor Gibson supply a truss-rod wrench with their instruments. Not sure about Taylor, but I’m hard-pressed to think of any major, quality builder who routinely issues a truss-rod wrench with new instruments.

https://lowdenguitars.com/maintenance-repair/ - scroll down for detailed truss-rod adjustment instructions.

..... The difference being, that with the other manufacturers, you can lay the guitar flat, & use the tool easily from outside the soundhole. With Lowden, you have to hold the guitar on your lap, loosen all strings, stick your hand inside the soundhole (or have your wife do it if you have big hands like I do) fumble around with a nut that's out of reach, & you can't see. Yep, that's convenient. I'll pass.
Steve

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Stevien

..... The difference being, that with the other manufacturers, you can lay the guitar flat, & use the tool easily from outside the soundhole. With Lowden, you have to hold the guitar on your lap, loosen all strings, stick your hand inside the soundhole (or have your wife do it if you have big hands like I do) fumble around with a nut that's out of reach, & you can't see. Yep, that's convenient. I'll pass.
Steve

You have a point but, for the sake of the very rare occasions I need to adjust the truss rod (on my current Lowden it’s been twice in the six years since I bought it brand new), I wouldn’t be put off by what amounts to nothing more than a slight inconvenience, and I’d happily take it over the real nuisance of the binding that’s falling off my D-18 (and which I’ll have to pay to have repaired because the crappy Martin Warranty only applies to US-ians). Now that’s what I call inconvenient!

Each to his own, eh?

[zmf]

Originally Posted by Stevien

..... The difference being, that with the other manufacturers, you can lay the guitar flat, & use the tool easily from outside the soundhole. With Lowden, you have to hold the guitar on your lap, loosen all strings, stick your hand inside the soundhole (or have your wife do it if you have big hands like I do) fumble around with a nut that's out of reach, & you can't see. Yep, that's convenient. I'll pass.
Steve

If that upsets you, don't get a Froggy.

[M19]

Originally Posted by Stevien

..... The difference being, that with the other manufacturers, you can lay the guitar flat, & use the tool easily from outside the soundhole. With Lowden, you have to hold the guitar on your lap, loosen all strings, stick your hand inside the soundhole (or have your wife do it if you have big hands like I do) fumble around with a nut that's out of reach, & you can't see. Yep, that's convenient. I'll pass.
Steve

It's really hard to adjust the clutch on a Ferrari, so I think I'll pass. Why can't they make it easy like Ford or Toyota.

[jimmy bookout]

Originally Posted by M19

It's really hard to adjust the clutch on a Ferrari, so I think I'll pass. Why can't they make it easy like Ford or Toyota.

Really?
"Adjusting the clutch" on a Ferrari?
Hmmm...the last 3 pedal Ferrari was how many years ago? And it was NOT...well...never mind...
Making a truss rod adjustment should NOT be this tricky...