Difficulty

Easy

Steps

7

Time Required

                          1 hour            

Sections

1

  • How to Adjust the Truss Rod on an Acoustic Guitar
  • 7 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to Adjust the Truss Rod on an Acoustic Guitar               
  • Unwind and remove the strings
  • Turn the tuning pegs to release tension in the strings, and then pull the strings away, detaching them from the headstock

Unwind and remove the strings

Turn the tuning pegs to release tension in the strings, and then pull the strings away, detaching them from the headstock

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Step 2

  • Remove the truss rod cover with the necessary tool (depending on your guitar).
  • A Phillips 0 screwdriver is used here to unscrew the 2 x 1/4" Small Phillips guitar screws from the truss rod cover.
  • There are three screws holding the truss rod cover in place.

Remove the truss rod cover with the necessary tool (depending on your guitar).

A Phillips 0 screwdriver is used here to unscrew the 2 x 1/4" Small Phillips guitar screws from the truss rod cover.

There are three screws holding the truss rod cover in place.

Step 3

  • Use the Allen Wrench to adjust the truss rod according to the warp of the neck.
  • For a forward or “U-shaped” bow, turn the truss rod counterclockwise. For a backward bow adjustment, adjust the truss rod clockwise.
  • A “U-shaped” bow is too tight; it has extra space toward the center of the neck, and bows outward and toward the strings. A backward bow is too loose; it arches inward and away from the strings.

Use the Allen Wrench to adjust the truss rod according to the warp of the neck.

For a forward or “U-shaped” bow, turn the truss rod counterclockwise. For a backward bow adjustment, adjust the truss rod clockwise.

A “U-shaped” bow is too tight; it has extra space toward the center of the neck, and bows outward and toward the strings. A backward bow is too loose; it arches inward and away from the strings.

Step 4

  • Re-string the guitar by reattatching them to the headstock.
  • Turn the tuning pegs to bring the strings back to tension.
  • At the same time, adjust the bridge evenly with the neck ( if it is not already glued into the saddle) by moving it with your hand.

Re-string the guitar by reattatching them to the headstock.

Turn the tuning pegs to bring the strings back to tension.

At the same time, adjust the bridge evenly with the neck ( if it is not already glued into the saddle) by moving it with your hand.

Step 5

  • Using your eyes or a metal ruler, check the distance from the strings to the frets on the neck.
  • You can use a metal ruler to measure out approximately 2.5 mm for an acoustic guitar, depending on your preference.

Using your eyes or a metal ruler, check the distance from the strings to the frets on the neck.

You can use a metal ruler to measure out approximately 2.5 mm for an acoustic guitar, depending on your preference.

Step 6

  • Using the Allen Wrench, make any final adjustments to the truss while the strings are at tension.
  • You may use a tuner to help adjust the strings to the desired tension

Using the Allen Wrench, make any final adjustments to the truss while the strings are at tension.

You may use a tuner to help adjust the strings to the desired tension

Step 7

  • Replace the truss rod cover.
  • Re-tune the guitar.

Replace the truss rod cover.

Re-tune the guitar.

Reattach the truss rod cover to the headstock of your guitar using the 2 x 1/4 “ Phillips screws and Phillips 0 screwdriver.

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                    Taryn Wilson                     

Member since: 10/07/2019

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                       Eastern Washington University, Team S27-G20, Munoz Fall 2019                        

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