Truss Rod Adjustments for Dummies

  • Thread starter Thread starter Purge
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Purge

Purge

Traitorous Usurper
I need to know how difficult it is (and the process involved, if a dipshit like myself can handle it...) to adjust the truss rod on an acoustic (specifically, an Ovation balladeer if you needed to know). The neck is starting to bow rather significantly and the action just flat-out sucks. At some point, I would like to bring it in and get it set up professionally, but right now I am quite broke and I just want to make the thing semi playable.

As for another action related question, would it be adviseable to file down the plastic piece on the bridge myself or I should I just leave this thing alone? Even when my neck was perfectly straight, this still seemed like it was higher than it needed to be. I realize that you have to sacrifice a bit of action to avoid buzzing, but this is ridiculous.

It took me 30 friggin' takes yesterday to record a relatively simple song and my fingers hurt like a bitch. strum, strum, pluck, pluck, BIG ACOUSTIC FART NOISE, strum, strum, pluck, pluck, SHIT.
 
I do not advise adjusting your truss rod, as there is a possibility of breaking it. Not a very high possibility, but the repair would be more expensive than the guitar is worth.

If it is just a truss rod adjustment, then most stores will do it for nothing (at least, we do), or if they do charge for it, it will be cheap. When we do charge, it is only $10-15. If you understand that we are professionals, and treat us as such, we won't charge you. If you are a prick, we will charge you. We don't charge very many people. Other stores may be different, but that is way we work.

A set up on that guitar would probably only run you about $40-60, at least in my shop.

If you really must try to do it yourself, read everything you can about it on Frank Ford's website, Frets.com.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Very cool, thank you. I didn't know it was that cheap.
 
Light is right... Take it from a guy who busted a truss rod on a brand new Alvarez. If you dont know what you are doing, dont be screwing around with it. I learned my lesson.

FYI, I always loosen the strings on my acoustic when I wont be playing it for a while. Obviously, that takes away the tension and will help prevent bowing.

Mumbus
 
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