Quartzcaster

[ByteFrenzy]

According to the page on the side adjuster from the Warmoth site, you could completely unscrew the adjustment bolt. Is it possible this is what happened? It should be fixable but probably as an exercise in fiddlypatience.

'Never loosen the side-adjust bolt so far that it protrudes from the side of the neck. If it is completely removed it may be very difficult to re-install.'

 

[DeltyVQ]

'Never loosen the side-adjust bolt so far that it protrudes from the side of the neck. If it is completely removed it may be very difficult to re-install.'

Here's the weird bit, I didn't unscrew it so it protrudes at all, I just tightened it a little bit, then simply loosened what I had tightened and it snapped. Half of the screw just snapped off so the side adjustment hole & half-of-it's-screw simply fell out. I was just sitting there rather stunned like "ok then. is it.. supposed.. to do this?"  :tard:

 

[TBurst Std]

'Never loosen the side-adjust bolt so far that it protrudes from the side of the neck. If it is completely removed it may be very difficult to re-install.'

Here's the weird bit, I didn't unscrew it so it protrudes at all, I just tightened it a little bit, then simply loosened what I had tightened and it snapped. Half of the screw just snapped off so the side adjustment hole & half-of-it's-screw simply fell out. I was just sitting there rather stunned like "ok then. is it.. supposed.. to do this?"  :tard:

Ouch. What was the measured relief before you used the side adjuster?

 

[fdesalvo]

...and realised that the 2tek trim ring I bought is actually useless with the pickguard.

That's how you develop a "Drawer of Misfit Parts" that grows over time until you're forced to build another guitar. Or two  :laughing7:

Says Dr Moreau. 

 

[ByteFrenzy]

'Never loosen the side-adjust bolt so far that it protrudes from the side of the neck. If it is completely removed it may be very difficult to re-install.'

Here's the weird bit, I didn't unscrew it so it protrudes at all, I just tightened it a little bit, then simply loosened what I had tightened and it snapped. Half of the screw just snapped off so the side adjustment hole & half-of-it's-screw simply fell out. I was just sitting there rather stunned like "ok then. is it.. supposed.. to do this?"  :tard:

You did read the part about 'detuning' the strings before using the side adjuster? My intuition would say that would be more relevant when increasing truss rod tension, but from the exact wording (same page on the W site) it seems to be required when adjusting both ways.

 

[DeltyVQ]

Actually, I hadn't even attached it to the body.

and to Tburst, all I did was just test it out a little before even attaching it. Since this whole 'build-a-guitar' is very new to me I was very intrigued about that little mechanism. I simply tightened it slightly and then returned it to it's original position. It wasn't a reckless "Let's see how much aggro I can give this" though aha. Just a simple tighten, then loosen. xD 

Despite my attempts to be as gentle with it as possible perhaps I just twisted a bit hard somehow.

 

[bagman67]

Seems like a call to Warmoth might be worthwhile.  They may allow a warranty claim on the neck.  They won't say yes if you don't ask.

 

[TBurst Std]

Seems like a call to Warmoth might be worthwhile.  They may allow a warranty claim on the neck.  They won't say yes if you don't ask.

I would second this.  Next I would say do not adjust unless you know your starting point and desired end point are.

 

[DeltyVQ]

Seems like a call to Warmoth might be worthwhile.  They may allow a warranty claim on the neck.  They won't say yes if you don't ask.

I would second this.  Next I would say do not adjust unless you know your starting point and desired end point are.

I may do that. I was hesitant to do so, but now that I think about it, I really didn't adjust it harshly at all.
But yeah. This has also scared me out of adjusting the truss rod at all now  :laughing11:

 

[Logrinn]

You could compare your handling of the side mechanism to Aaron's here and then decide if you should call Warmoth and tell them what's happened. It could be that the side mechanism was faulty from the start and would crack at the first turn.

[youtube]EKVWr8FRJNc[/youtube]

 

[ByteFrenzy]

I just did some entry level google searching and you're not the first to experience this. There was a post on some board from 2007 where somebody had an experience very close to yours. He pulled the neck from his guitar, did a minimal adjustment of the mechanism and the screw broke. The good part is that in his case W told him to contact their sales reps, stating that it was repairable. I think you should do the same.

 

[DeltyVQ]

[quote author=ByteFrenzy lThe good part is that in his case W told him to contact their sales reps, stating that it was repairable. I think you should do the same.
[/quote]

I actually managed to speak with Justin again at Warmoth. He said that the neck can be repaired for $90. Of course since I'm from the UK I'll have to add shipping costs onto that. I was very very relieved and it's something that I'll take him up on in the near future.
Long-term panic is over. Thanks for the feedback and help with this guys ^^

 

[stratamania]

Does the heel adjust mechanism still work ?

If so you can adjust with that and you are still able to use it. (Actually its the heel adjust that should be used on a new neck and the side adjust is for fine tuning while the neck is attached to the body )

Now because I am curious, if the rest of the side adjust screw can be removed probably by tightening the heel adjust some and using some sort of screw extractor if needed to get the broken piece out you either then have just a heel adjust and could plug the hole with a piece of wood.


Or you could possibly fit a new side adjust screw.  The whole mechanism from which a side adjust screw could be obtained is available in the UK here for just under £20. (Not sure whether some other kind of screw could be used )

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/hardware-parts-c1/trussrods-c175/gotoh-side-adjusting-trussrod-p2709

Fitting a new side adjust screw however looks like it could be a tricky operation as the two wedges would have nothing holding them in place and as it is in the neck you cant get at them. 

If you send it back to Warmoth, the best bet for return shipping would be if you are ordering any more parts to have it sent back along with them.

 

[DeltyVQ]

If you send it back to Warmoth, the best bet for return shipping would be if you are ordering any more parts to have it sent back along with them.

This was actually my plan of action. I don't trust myself to take everything apart aha
The truss rod heel adjust works too yeah ^^

 

[stratamania]

Great, and you have a game plan for another build  ccasion14:

 

[DeltyVQ]

Update.
I've gotten over my broken side adjust mechanism and the thought of adding more 'uniqueness' to my guitar so I'm gonna insert a 7mm amethyst into the emptyside adjust hole to make it look pretty until I decide (if ever) to get it repaired, it's had no negative effect on the neck so I think it's all good ^_^
I'm also waiting until the 28th of April for my SD custom shop pickup to be made and since I'm a dummy when it comes to electronics, I had a very helpful company make a diagram for me to use. For some reason it was rather difficult to find a p90, 'bucker bridge with a 3-way switch wiring diagram.. maybe because it's deemed too darn easy to the rest of the guitar nuts.

Electronics wise I'm putting in a 3-way vintage fender strat switch with two 1meg linear taper CTS pots for tone and one 1meg audio taper CTS pot for volume. Tone pots both have .47 capacitors. Volume pot is gonna have a .01 capacitor.
One Hot P90 in the neck and one JB Trembucker for the bridge 

Picture attached is how it looks right now without electronics and one or two other things.

 

[MikeW]

Gorgeous man. That's quite a good looking machine you've built there. Maybe I missed it someplace, but what color pickups did you get? The chrome covers would great in that build.

 

[DeltyVQ]

Maybe I missed it someplace, but what color pickups did you get? The chrome covers would great in that build.

In the neck I'm installing a plain black P90, but was thinking along the same lines as you.
My plan was to install with the black cover and see how it looks with the bridge pickup, then order a chrome cover if I feel it'd look better, if I can find one, or I may need to spray the cover to chrome myself. I don't like the idea of getting one of the covers that completely covers the poles too just in case it messes with tone at all; call me pedantic if you want aha.

The JB Trembucker is going to have a black bobbin toward the neck and a purple bobbin on the bridge end with black nickel hardware and no SD logo.

Also I'm installing some q-part knobs onto the pickguard. Two chrome for the tones and one black for the volume. The straplocks also have a white pearl look to match the pickguard. (fyi I dont usually leave my drink bottles on my amp cab. it was only put there while I took the picture)

 

[Logrinn]

Nice! I like the way you've choosen parts with matching colors.

 

[fdesalvo]

Gorgeous man. That's quite a good looking machine you've built there. Maybe I missed it someplace, but what color pickups did you get? The chrome covers would great in that build.

I agree.  And the commitment it took to match the wall to the guitar's finish cannot be overlooked.  :tard:  I likey.