Truss rod Side-Adjuster

[CrackedPepper]

I have a goncalo Warmoth Pro Strat neck with the side adjustment.  I don't normally mess with setups but my tech is jammed so I can't leave it with him right now.  I figure if I can assemble a Warmoth Guitar, I ought to be able to make a neck relieft adjustment but I could really use some advice and support.

My low E string is buzzing between the 5th and 12th frets.  The othe strings are fine.  I've gone through the FAQ on this top but I still need some advice.  I'm guessing this is either a relief issue due to changing weather conditions (because it wasn't always like this, just since it got cold) or a saddle issue.  So, I am confused.

The guide says to detune the strings.  Fair enough but:

1.  I have locking tuners.  How much do I have to loosen them to make an adjustment?
2.  Erlewein's book, How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!, talks about how to make these adjustments but I am not 100% how to make adjustments with this side adjuster.

I know I shouldn't be afraid to do this but I don't want to screw anything up.  Assuming the buzzing is caused by a relief issue, how should I approach this?  Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[-CB-]

FIRST thing to do is measure the relief.

Lightly press at fret 1 and the highest fret.  Now... maybe even with a magnifier... how much room is between the bottom of the low E string and top of the fret at fret 8 ?  Think in terms of about the thickness of your B string.

Do the same inspection for the high E.

Adjust neck to get about the thickness of your B string.

Now adjust the string elevation at fret 12.  High E from string bottom to fret top 3.5/64ths of an inch, as measured with a machinist ruler.  Low E 4/64ths of an inch. 

Those settings should get you REALLY close to a great setup.

 

[CrackedPepper]

Adjust neck to get about the thickness of your B string.

By this do you mean that the distance between the bottom of the string and the top of the 8th fret?

Also, if I am looking at the side adjuster, turning clockwise gives me what?  More relief or less?  My tech gave me adivce but I never got the whole "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" thing when it comes to truss rod adjustments...

Thanks CB

 

[-CB-]

When you press the string lightly at both ends of the neck, there should be a little gap, since we want the neck to flex and bow just a tiny bit.  That tiny bit as about the thickness of a B string, or maybe 11 to 13 thousandths of an inch.  So with the string pressed on the frets at both ends of the neck, check for that little gap right at fret 8.  Get a helper... to press the string down.... then you press at fret 8 while you look at the tiny gap.  Use a bit of B string as a feeler gauge. 

I'm not sure if you turn clockwise or counter clockwise on the side adjuster.... but a little bit of turning will show you.  Only a LITTLE bit, and at that, only when you're observing the movement while your bud holds the strings down at each end of the neck - lightly

 

[TroubledTreble]

Another way to set up a neck is a "flat" setup, or no relief. I have been setting up all of mine this way and it is a great improvement in my opinion. It makes bending much easier and I feel the tension is more equal up and down the neck.

To adjust the side adjuster, put the allen wrench in with the long shank pointed at the head stock. Now if you pull "up" ( counter clock wise ) on the wrench the head stock will come up, and if you push "down" ( clock wise ) on the wrench the head stock will go down or take out relief. That is the easiest way to remember it.... The headstock follows the wrench.

 

[chrisg]

If its only the low E that's buzzing, then your problem is most likely to be your action.  The following website gives some tips on how to adjust this:   http://www.icepoint.com/guitar/Setting%20up%20your%20electric%20guitar/index.htm

 

[-CB-]

Well... sure, string elevation, but why not check the whole 9 yards... checkin takes nada to do... before you play with the elevation

 

[chrisg]

Well... sure, string elevation, but why not check the whole 9 yards... checkin takes nada to do... before you play with the elevation

I agree - while you're at check the whole thing.  The link I put in my previous post goes through the whole setup, and as CB said it "takes nada to do"

 

[CrackedPepper]

Thanks guys - this is good stuff.  Appreciate the help

 

[CrackedPepper]

Another way to set up a neck is a "flat" setup, or no relief. I have been setting up all of mine this way and it is a great improvement in my opinion. It makes bending much easier and I feel the tension is more equal up and down the neck.

Do you have a good reference for this?