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Truss rod adjustments

If that's the way the instruments are set up when he hands them to you and they're not to your liking you should absolutely tell him so and not accept it until it's right, or take it somewhere else.  If it's a friend doing it for you, then, y'know, punch him.  :icon_thumright:

That said, it's perfectly normal to need to make seasonal adjustments, and a 1/4 turn is often plenty - the problem with removing the string tension for more minor adjustments is that the neck will behave differently once back under tension.
 
Incidentally, it may actually be worse than it sounds. You shouldn't be anchoring the string at the 22nd fret, as there may be some fall-away after the 17th fret or so. So, if you're using a string as straightedge, fret it at the first and 17th frets to do your measuring.
 
It's just a little weird to me that someone working as a tech would give something to that extreme based on his own preferences.

My impression is lots of people go to techs because they want action "as low as humanly possible", which requires an almost perfectly straight neck, zero high frets and periodic adjustments.

It isn't even in a tech's best interests to give lots of relief and high action, because instruments set up like that have plenty of tolerance and thus will probably never ever need to be brought back for adjustment. I've tended to have to add a little relief to most of the basses I've bought to accommodate my bass preferences - and then never adjust it again. Ever.
 
Maybe it's moved since the tech gave it back. Or, maybe the tech isn't that good.
 
Cagey said:
Incidentally, it may actually be worse than it sounds. You shouldn't be anchoring the string at the 22nd fret, as there may be some fall-away after the 17th fret or so. So, if you're using a string as straightedge, fret it at the first and 17th frets to do your measuring.

:sad:

I'll have to check when I get home. Ugh.

Corey P. said:
You can get a top adjust for the Warmoth Pro with an angled headstock, but unfortunately the Arrow doesn't have an angled version; if you feel comofortable shaping the headstock yourself, you could always get an angled paddle head neck?

If the W Pro necks are so sturdy, I think I'd be fine with getting one as we've proven A, I should never touch the truss rod adjustment nut, and B, W Pro necks don't seem to require much, if any, attention once set.
 
Corey P. said:
If that's the way the instruments are set up when he hands them to you and they're not to your liking you should absolutely tell him so and not accept it until it's right, or take it somewhere else.  If it's a friend doing it for you, then, y'know, punch him.  :icon_thumright:

That said, it's perfectly normal to need to make seasonal adjustments, and a 1/4 turn is often plenty - the problem with removing the string tension for more minor adjustments is that the neck will behave differently once back under tension.

Not a friend, but I think I'd like to punch him anyway ...  :sad1: You know, in all honesty, I take the blame for not being explicit enough about what I want.

When he handed me the guitar last, I played it chromatically up to the 16th fret. I didn't actually try and eyeball the action and, while I like the fatter sound I get from the 12s, I attributed any difficulty up the neck to string mass, rather than an up-bowed neck.

For the longest time, I had only my acoustic, which had pretty high action -- which more than one person told me is typical -- and my MiM Strat which has the lowest action in the world, never buzzes and plays like butter. The MiM Strat is built like a brick shithouse and has needed next to no care in the course of the 8 years I've owned her.

I'm a drummer. I only got "serious" about playing the guitar a couple years ago. Bought my Hagstroms ... but found that the frets on the Swede were pretty terrible, so I took her in, got some of them hammered in, others dressed and leveled so they were all uniform, and got a set-up to boot, with the neck tensioned for D-standard. The Super Swede is superb, never needed a set-up, neck is ram-rod straight, plays like a dream. Lucky me, on that score.

Later, when I had to shift to playing more stuff in regular old E-standard, I knew the Swede's neck would need an adjustment, so I went to get one. Maybe not enough of an adjustment was made to compensate for the greater tension or maybe the ridiculous humidity has just wrought more havoc than I ever would have imagined. But Hag necks are supposed to be pretty stable due to their truss-rod design, so I'm just left to scratch my head.

It's pretty frustrating.  :icon_scratch:
 
My neck is pretty straight, and the truss rod is fairly tight.  While it's not "cranked" tight, it's still pretty tight. 

I adjusted the neck sometime last year, and it's still as straight as an arrow.  :party07:
 
Torment Leaves Scars said:
I adjusted the neck sometime last year, and it's still as straight as an arrow.  :party07:

Then you didn't adjust it right. There should be a tiny bit of forward bow.
 
Some like it flat, some like a bit of bow to it.  That is up to your personal preferences.  The Warmoth Pro necks are very stable.  Almost set and forget.  Even if you are left handed, and the side adjust is covered, the construction will be very stable after it is set up correctly. 

As far as the 1/8th of an inch from the 12th fret, just to be clear, you measured from the top of the fret to the string, correct?  If it was from the fret board, obviously the fret height will have a dramatic effect on this.

I have several necks made from quite a few different woods.  They all have their own character.  It is the nature of the beast.  But, for 10's, I set the truss rod to be snug at the heel adjuster and go from there.  I also let the guitar sit for a week before I get to revved up about changing things.  When I do change things on the heel adjuster, it is generally a 1/4 turn.

I have a Fender Bass from the 80's that has the older styled truss rod, and it got stuck.  After I patted the back of the neck a couple of times with the heel of my hand, it let loose with a pop and scared the buhjeebus out of me.  Since then, I went with the more modern double expanding system and I have not had an issue.

And of course, the side adjuster can only be used when the strings are loose.  Otherwise you will destroy it.
Patrick

 
Patrick from Davis said:
As far as the 1/8th of an inch from the 12th fret, just to be clear, you measured from the top of the fret to the string, correct?

Hi, Patrick. Yup, I measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string.

I was reminded of a local luthier when looking through the posts about guitar tech in NYC, so I took it in and he fixed her up in no-time. One turn, a little coaxing and, voila, neck was nice and pretty straight, perfect amount of relief, not a bit of buzz and the action was dreamy.

I have a Fender Bass from the 80's that has the older styled truss rod, and it got stuck.  After I patted the back of the neck a couple of times with the heel of my hand, it let loose with a pop and scared the buhjeebus out of me.  Since then, I went with the more modern double expanding system and I have not had an issue.

Haha! I had the exact same reaction. I almost threw the guitar, it shocked me so much. Definitely an "Oh, $#!t!" moment.

And of course, the side adjuster can only be used when the strings are loose.  Otherwise you will destroy it.

This is immensely helpful to know. I had no idea. Though, since I'd have to remove the neck to get at either adjustment point, I guess it wouldn't have been an issue for me.
 
reluctant-builder said:
Patrick from Davis said:
And of course, the side adjuster can only be used when the strings are loose.  Otherwise you will destroy it.

This is immensely helpful to know. I had no idea. Though, since I'd have to remove the neck to get at either adjustment point, I guess it wouldn't have been an issue for me.

When you build an SG or a Flying V, you'll want to remember it, though.  It's only a matter of time....
 
Bagman67 said:
When you build an SG or a Flying V, you'll want to remember it, though.  It's only a matter of time....

Oh, god ... how did you know I want to build a Flying V?? Get out of my head!!!  :icon_biggrin:
 
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