Is There Any Other Way To Check Truss Rod?

[Fade-To-Metal]

In the tutorial it says I need an 18 inch straight edge, and I don't have one and I plan on try to set up my own guitar(IbanezRG) for my first time when ever I get a feeler guage.

Also, what type of screwdriver do I need to remove the plate covering the truss rod, I don't have any small enough and i'm going to buy one later today.

and I don't need to remove the strings to make truss rod adjustments right?

[LGM Guitars]

you need a small philips for the truss rod, look for jewellers screwdrivers.

You don't HAVE to have an 18" straightedge, but it makes life much easier. You can look down the neck to check for bow and high frets, but you need to KNOW what you're looking for to do this. I would just buy a steel straightedge, they're not that much money.

You can check your neck relief by holding your strings down at the 1st and 12th fret at the same time, you should have about .004 - .007" clearance (one and a half to two sheets of writing paper thickness) between the string and fret halfway between the 1st and 12th fret.

No you don't need to remove the stings to adjust the rod, in fact, you should always have the strings on when adjusting the rod, otherwise you never know where you're at with it.

PS, this is the wrong forum for this thread.