Guitar Chasers

Temperature and humidity variations cause expansion and contraction of your axe’s wood, plastic and metal pieces. Age tends to weaken plastic. Add to these factors the thrashing to which most guitars are subjected and it’s no surprise that the components of your axe become loose and unstable.

#1. PART ONE—Start by sighting down the length of the neck to see how straight it is. Some players prefer a straight neck and some prefer “relief” or a slight bowing upwards of the neck. No one prefers “warp” or a bowing downward of the neck. Most guitars are set up at the factory with a mild amount of relief to acommodate a lower action without fret rattle. If the neck is bowed upwards beyond normal relief, the symptoms are: a concave neck (mid neck is the low spot): the string tension has pulled the headstock upwards beyond “straight” causing the action to become higher. Often the action becomes too high to compensate by adjusting (lowering) the bridge height.

#2. Now decide if you are still happy with the string gauge and string height. Warm temperatures make strings seem more slinky and if you bang hard on them there will be excessive fret rattle. Just by using the next heavier gauge of string set you can improve stability and tone, but you’ll probably need to adjust the truss rod to maintain neck straightness.

#3. Tighten the neck to body anchor screws (please use the correct size screw driver and don’t mess up the slots by over twisting). Now check to see if the strings are still centered down the length of the neck. If not, loosen, straighten, re-tighten.

#4. Tuners that feel smooth and easy to turn are real nice but they are easily bumped and vibrated out of tune. If the tuners have an adjusting screw (on the end of the tuning button) you can tighten it slightly to impove stability. The tuners will be harder to turn so don’t over do it.

#5. With the old strings still on the guitar it is now time to do the initial truss rod adjustment. Some axes require neck removal to adjust the truss rod. See part 2 for these type necks. If you don’t want to mess with the truss rod adjustment please go to part three at the end of this page.

#6. Loosen whichever two strings are in the way of the truss rod access hole. Lift the offending strings out of their slot in the nut and move them out of the way. Usually they can be slipped into the next slot over, on top of another string.

#7. Find the correct size allen key or hex drive for the truss rod adjustment screw. Please be careful not to damage any wood or paint.

#8. If the neck is bowed upward you should tighten the truss rod only one eighth of a turn. If the neck is bowed downward you should loosen the truss rod only one eighth of a turn. Now put the two loosened strings back in their slot and re-tune your axe to standard pitch. Sight down the neck to verify that it has become straight.

#9. The neck should have straightened out at least some. If you use light gauge strings this small adjustment might be all you need. Heavier gauge strings may require another one eighth turn of the truss rod. Don’t adjust the truss rod more than one quarter turn, and wait at least a few days before deciding if it should be re-adjusted (unless you already over adjusted, in which case you should correct it immediately).

#10. PART TWO—-If you must remove the neck to adjust the truss rod it is a good idea to plan ahead so you’ll need to remove it only once. The strings will need to be replaced at this point on most guitars, so it’s important to get it right the first time.

#11. After removing the strings, detach the neck and tighten the truss rod adjuster one quarter turn if the neck was bowed upwards. If the neck was bowed downwards loosen the truss rod adjuster one quarter turn.

#12. Are you planning to switch to a heavier gauge string set? If so you should add one eighth of a turn on the truss rod (these adjustments can vary in the effect they have. If the neck was only slightly bowed you should reduce the amount of adjustment). Be aware that the neck WILL NOT be straight while the strings are removed.

#13. Re-attach the neck, install your new strings and tune to standard pitch.

#14. PART THREE- If the neck is slightly bowed you can improve the situation without changing the truss rod adjustment. If the neck is bowed upwards, simply change to the next lighter gauge of string set. If the neck is bowed downward, change to the next heavier gauge of string set. During the days following the string change you’ll probably need to re adjust the action at least one time. If this doesn’t straighten the neck enough then you should adjust the truss rod.