Acoustic Guitar Truss Rod Direction

If your guitar has one of these covers remove it to get to the truss rod.

Acoustic guitar truss rod direction.

When adjusting a truss rod in either direction you are changing the force applied to the rod. With some acoustic guitars you can only adjust the truss rod through the soundhole. 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. How to adjust an acoustic guitar truss rod.

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. Tighten the truss rod adjusting nut to straighten a neck that has an up bow. 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 find the adjusting nut either at the peghead or through the sound hole depending on how your guitar is designed.

You can adjust the truss rod with a nut located at one end. Loosening a truss rod turning counter clockwise adds relief to decreases tension on the neck which results in increased higher string action height. An adjustable truss rod is either one way or two way also known as single action or double action. When a quality guitar leaves the factory the truss rod is adjusted according to the maker s taste in setup specs.

Whilst the truss rod adjustment itself isn t necessarily going to set the action how you want it it is a necessary first step. The truss rod is a slim steel rod inside the neck of your guitar. Generally you can access your truss rod in the headstock of your guitar. It might be because you need to adjust the action of your guitar.

Here s how to evaluate and adjust your electric or acoustic neck with a minimum of tools. The types of forces that act on a truss rod are compression tension and torque. 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.

Locate your guitar s truss rod. Adjusting guitar truss rods. 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. S l november 16 2012.