Acoustic Guitar Truss Rod Direction

The truss rod is a slim steel rod inside the neck of your guitar.

Acoustic guitar truss rod direction.

Loosening a truss rod turning counter clockwise adds relief to decreases tension on the neck which results in increased higher string action height. Different manufacturers put them in different places but they re usually at the headstock under a cap just behind the nut or where the neck joins the body just under. If your guitar has one of these covers remove it to get to the truss rod. Loosen the nut if the neck is back bowed the trick is knowing when you ve got the neck the way you want it.

You can adjust the truss rod with a nut located at one end. Truss rod adjustments are made to alter the straightness flatness of the neck truss rods often require adjusting after changing string gauges or when temperature and humidity change the amount of bow in the neck. An adjustable truss rod is either one way or two way also known as single action or double action. With some acoustic guitars you can only adjust the truss rod through the soundhole.

When adjusting a truss rod in either direction you are changing the force applied to the rod. The types of forces that act on a truss rod are compression tension and torque. It might be because you need to adjust the action of your guitar. Tighten the truss rod adjusting nut to straighten a neck that has an up bow.

Single action truss rod compression rod this type of truss rod usually consists of a single piece of steel that is threaded on one end to receive an adjustment nut and washer and on the other end may be threaded on one side to receive an anchor bolt or bent into an l shape. You can find the adjusting nut either at the peghead or through the sound hole depending on how your guitar is designed. Here s how to evaluate and adjust your electric or acoustic neck with a minimum of tools. When a quality guitar leaves the factory the truss rod is adjusted according to the maker s taste in setup specs.

How to adjust an acoustic guitar truss rod. Some guitars have a small plate that screws in over top to cover the access point. You might need to do an acoustic guitar truss rod adjustment for a couple of reasons. Generally you can access your truss rod in the headstock of your guitar.

Adjusting guitar truss rods. S l november 16 2012. Whilst the truss rod adjustment itself isn t necessarily going to set the action how you want it it is a necessary first step. But a change in string gauges climate especially a change in humidity or simply the player s taste may require an adjustment even on a new.