Jump to content

A Complete Guide To Truss Rods pt. 2

The single-acting compression style truss rod is simple and easy to fabricate. They are not without their disadvantages however. Fundamentally, a compression rod relies on the wood it is mounted in to remain stable. Wood fibres respond to shifts in relative atmospheric humidity by absorbing or losing water; metal does not. Changes in the moisture content of wood subtly alter its dimensions, and consequently the truss rod will react with these dimensional changes.

As neck wood gains moisture it expands, increasing compression of the wood between the truss rod anchor points as it pushes outwards, thereby raising tension within the rod itself. The result is the same as if the truss rod were cranked tighter; the force bending the neck backwards against string tension increases, reducing existing relief or even inducing an unwelcome backbow. This movement requires that the truss rod be loosened to compensate.

The opposite is true when relative humidity drops. Wood loses water and contracts, causing the compression of the wood between anchors and the apparent tension of the truss rod to lower; the equivalent to relaxing the truss rod adjustment nut and allowing string tension to pull the neck up into a higher relief/upbow. This requires a tightening of the rod adjuster.

tip: torrefied wood (also called "caramelised", "toasted", "roasted", "thermo-treated", etc.) is more or less immune to shifts in relative humidity; this makes great vintage-style necks with single-acting rods for touring musicians who may be playing Arizona one week and rainy season Chiang Mai the next.

The dual truss rod factors out the wood from this equation by decoupling itself from the neck wood and becoming a completely self-contained mechanism. Instead of acting against anchor points in the neck wood, a dual rod bends by acting against itself. This is achieved by the "acting rod" being paired with an auxiliary rod, metal bar or enclosed channel, anchored at the ends that would otherwise be secured in the neck wood.

------

At this point it is useful to illustrate difficulties in terminology. Unfortunately, we have no authoritative set of terms to describe truss rods simply because some terms are used interchangeably (or uniquely) by various luthiers, manufacturers and suppliers. Whilst not incorrect by any means (there is no established "correct") this lack of distinction tends to sow confusion when comparing rods, especially when flawed terminology is repeated verbatim. For the purposes of this series, we'll be adopting a simple set of common terms.

------

Dual rods can be either single or double-acting. This is also called single-way/double-way, one-way/two-way and dual-expanding amongst others. Acting describes the direction of adjustment possible; single-acting adjusts in one direction only (backwards against the direction of neck bending under string tension) whilst a double-acting rod can adjust both backwards-against and forwards-with if required.

A dual rod type of truss rod is not necessarily also a double-acting truss rod. A dual rod can also be single-acting.

Here we have a pair of commonly-found types of dual truss rod I keep for demonstration purposes. On the top we have a cheap import single-acting dual rod with the blue plastic shrink wrapping removed. Below is a StewMac "Hot Rod" double-acting dual rod. The masking tape applied to the rods is to simulate how they react under adjustment tension; in a guitar these would be installed into snug-fitting channels. Without the tape the rods bend away from each other which does not represent how they work in use.

5660280d2d2cb_dualrods1.thumb.jpg.422043

 

Cranking the adjustment nuts clockwise to increase tension yields the expected result; a backward bow along the length of the rod which would provide adjustment against neck bending under string tension.

5660280ebac85_dualrods2.thumb.jpg.8cc0be

 

The reverse is not true; the single-acting rod's nut spins off after the rod is completely relaxed whilst the StewMac rod demonstrates how it can induce upbow.

566028102deac_dualrods3.thumb.jpg.c9b8f0

 

Like a single-acting compression rod, the single-acting dual rod has an adjustment nut which bears directly onto an anchor point. Instead of the neck wood, in this case the anchor point is a hollow metal cylinder welded onto the auxiliary rod (a metal bar) through which the threaded rod protrudes through.

56602b502a653_singledualrod1.thumb.JPG.0

 

The opposite end of the rod shows that the far anchor point is simply both rods having been tack welded together.

56602b51aa921_singledualrod2.thumb.JPG.3

 

The StewMac rod however is quite different. Rather than the internal components being relatively static, the acting rod and auxiliary rod are threaded at both ends and fitted through brass blocks with corresponding internal threads. The adjustment nut is brazed onto the acting rod instead of simply threaded on.

56602b4d6a5a3_hotrod1.thumb.JPG.c765b21a

 

The far end reveals how the mechanism works; the threads at the adjustment end (above) are left-handed (anti-clockwise to loosen/withdraw the thread) whilst the far end are right-handed (clockwise to tighten/advance the thread). Turning the adjustment nut clockwise causes the distance between the brass anchor blocks to decrease, altering the balance of compression and tension between the two rods. The immobile auxiliary rod goes into compression, and bends via the path of least resistance, away from the acting rod which is under increased tension. The opposite is true when adjusting the nut anti-clockwise.

56602b4ee6dd5_hotrod2.thumb.JPG.56a9dfe6

 

The important distinctions between the two rods (other than their action) are the construction and moving parts. Single-acting rods (both dual and single rod) are static and have no moving parts other than an adjustment nut bearing against an anchor point. Double-acting rods are mobile down their length; the rod itself rotates as it acts from both ends against both anchor points. The StewMac version has the unthreaded part of the rods wrapped in plastic sheathing to prevent excessive friction or binding which could otherwise seize the mechanism.

Variations resembling both of these rods exist; a flat metal bar with counter-threaded blocks welded at either end retain the same compact profile as the single-acting dual rod shown whilst having the same double-acting functionality of the StewMac Hot Rods.

A personal favourite of mine is a variation on the single-acting Martin aluminium truss rod. The Martin encloses the acting rod in a strong aluminium U-channel. The adjustment rod bears on either end, bending towards the open (lower) face.

5660381c40440_martinrod1.jpg.cfe7d9c7045

 

Gotoh manufacture (or, "manufactured" as they show it as discontinued) a two-way variation on this design. Instead of the nut bearing against one end, it is "captured" within an internal groove which allows it to bring the acting rod into either compression or tension, creating a two way action.

5660390ee747f_gotohrod.jpg.b1dfb81b0d817

 

Perhaps the greatest difference that makes dual truss rods attractive to most luthiers and manufacturers over single-acting compression rods is that they are no longer reliant on being installed into a curved channel for pre-load. Dual rod truss rods are simply fitted into straight channels (generally) with the auxiliary rod uppermost. This can even allow some dual rods to be withdrawn from the channel for maintenance or replacement which is impossible for single-acting compression rods.

------

The third part of this series will illustrate the relative advantages and disadvantages of each style of truss rod and help you choose which is best for your own individual end use.


  • Like 1
Report Article



User Feedback


Quote

The third part of this series will illustrate the relative advantages and disadvantages of each style of truss rod and help you choose which is best for your own individual end use.

It has been a while since Pt. 2.  Will there be a third part, as mentioned?

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

There certainly will. A lot of these series were started before commenced with planning video work. Mostly it makes sense to do long-form publishing alongside the more visual stuff, so a fair number of things such as this have been on temporary hold. The alternative is that it sort of ends up disjointed and/or repetitive.

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nut is compressing wood at bottom of truss hole on heel of my maple Mayer signature Strat neck. As wood compresses over a couple weeks, guitar relief gets higher resulting in buzzing at upper frets. Cranking the nut down straightens neck only to compress more wood with the pressure and couple weeks later, back where I started. Was using washers but that is not solving the issue. Considered a couple options: 1) Supergluing a 2.5 mm sleeve down in the hole so the truss nut has something more secure to press against.? 2) Modifying something like a EZ-Lock threaded wood insert to remove ID threads (so it doesn't affect the truss rod). This screwed in insert bites into the wood on the outside of the hole as you screw it down to the bottom - would be approximately 2.5mm high - trust nut would press against the threaded insert and provide a more stable base to press against when adjusting the neck relief. 3) On the flat part of the neck heel (on side that screws against the body) to cut a thin slot of sorts down toward the truss rod (and on either side of truss rod, then inserting a metal U-shaped flat piece of metal that would essentially appear at the bottom of the truss hole thereby providing a metal platform (supported by ints placement through the wood) for the truss nut to press against without affecting the truss operation. This option would leave a small slot on neck heel screw side which could easily be masked with filler (mine has a fender barcode manufacturing sticker there I could hide it under). This last method would require the most precision in measuring and installation I feel.   Any other idea -or- can you see any of these working.   

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem that is progressing needs stopping in its tracks, that's for sure. I'm not an expert on Strats by a long shot, and I am sure this is not a unique case. I would seek opinion from the Fenderhead community, as common issues are often handled with common and established repairs. In general I think the most minimally-invasive techniques should be the ones considered first unless a sure-fire solution is identified, in which case go with what works. I would imagine that the compressed wood is going to continue to present problems, and might be something requiring careful drilling out and dowelling. The glueup would be long grain, and hence strong. Again, see what the Fender community agree on as the most appropriate measure. I'm sure as a second opinion it will provide you with more confidence that the direction you go is correct.

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites



Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...