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55 LP Jr truss rod concern

Mars Hall

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Nov 26, 2008
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The neck on my Jr is very straight, almost no relief. I currently have it strung with 11's. I tried to back off the truss rod to provide some relief and the nut comes off without the neck moving at all. This particular guitar has sat unplayed for many years. When I removed the truss rod cover, I noticed black paint, overspray on the nut and washer. I doubt the truss rod has ever been adjusted. I thought maybe the washer was "painted" into place, not allowing the neck to move. I made sure the washer was free from being bound up.

I'm not too concerned right now because as is, the guitar plays great with no buzz or fretting out during bends. However, with weather changes coming, I'm hoping that it doesn't get straighter or start to over bow. A local luthier suggested tuning it up a half step with the nut loose to "pull" some relief into the neck. I guess I may try that if insuing weather changes cause playability issues.
 

latestarter

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I've got a couple of guitars like that... if they play good, don't buzz then there's no issue.
 

Jumping@Shadows

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I too am in the 'if it ain't broke..' camp, and might advise caution when stringing sharp as those short studs are pretty keen on leaving anyway, and a sudden extra lb/ft of tension could be nasty..
 

Mars Hall

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Agreed, not gonna mess with it unless playability decreases. This guitar really is a joy to play.
 

dgsphil

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Feb 10, 2016
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I would definitely leave it alone unless it becomes an issue. Adding tension might give you a thousandth or two more in relief but the effect it will have on the studs would be a bigger issue in the end.
 

WBailey

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Apr 23, 2015
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The neck on my Jr is very straight, almost no relief. I currently have it strung with 11's. I tried to back off the truss rod to provide some relief and the nut comes off without the neck moving at all. This particular guitar has sat unplayed for many years. When I removed the truss rod cover, I noticed black paint, overspray on the nut and washer. I doubt the truss rod has ever been adjusted. I thought maybe the washer was "painted" into place, not allowing the neck to move. I made sure the washer was free from being bound up.

I'm not too concerned right now because as is, the guitar plays great with no buzz or fretting out during bends. However, with weather changes coming, I'm hoping that it doesn't get straighter or start to over bow. A local luthier suggested tuning it up a half step with the nut loose to "pull" some relief into the neck. I guess I may try that if insuing weather changes cause playability issues.

Where is your location ? What is the relative humidity in the room ?

Unplayed for many years ? Tuned to standard pitch ? In a case ?

Bring her on down to Florida, I'll get ya some relief ! :rofl

THIS, is absurd.
 

Mars Hall

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Where is your location ? What is the relative humidity in the room ?

Unplayed for many years ? Tuned to standard pitch ? In a case ?

Bring her on down to Florida, I'll get ya some relief ! :rofl

THIS, is absurd.

Location: NW Indiana. I bought the guitar from the original owner's son, who said it wasn't play much at all. The condition of the guitar, reflects his statement. Not sure if they stored the guitar, all these years, at standard pitch. The guitar was kept in it's original alligator chipboard case.
 

WBailey

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Gotcha. I have relatives in Gary. 19 degrees, 55 % humidity.

Is the guitar sitting out in a humidity controlled room ?

SOME of these older instruments are very temperamental to humidity.

I'll bet ya at 72-75% relative humidity, the relief will be fine.

I was born and raised in Michigan. We ran a humidifier in the winter. :salude
 

Mars Hall

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Gotcha. I have relatives in Gary. 19 degrees, 55 % humidity.

Is the guitar sitting out in a humidity controlled room ?

SOME of these older instruments are very temperamental to humidity.

I'll bet ya at 72-75% relative humidity, the relief will be fine.

I was born and raised in Michigan. We ran a humidifier in the winter. :salude

I do have it stored now in a humidity controlled environment. I was raised in Gary, parents still live there in the Glen Park area. I now live SW of Gary in a small town, Winfield. Tell your relatives hello from the neighbors.:eek:la
 

Mars Hall

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Update: With the onset of the warmer weather, the guitar started minor buzzing at the first position frets. I had the guitar strung with 11's. So as a "cure", I know now have it strung with 12's. The extra tension has seemed to given just enough relief for buzz free playability.
 

Mars Hall

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The truss rod is there for a reason. I like 10's on my old guitars. I use the truss rods.

Yes agreed, but had you read my first post, the truss rod isn't working. I go to adjust it and the nut backs off the rod without relieving the neck. It had been fine with 11 gauge strings until the weather changed. I expected the 12's to feel stiff but I'm pleasantly surprised.
 

richard henry

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Sep 16, 2015
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Yes agreed, but had you read my first post, the truss rod isn't working. I go to adjust it and the nut backs off the rod without relieving the neck. It had been fine with 11 gauge strings until the weather changed. I expected the 12's to feel stiff but I'm pleasantly surprised.

Aah, my bad. That's a shame.
 

telstarstuff

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Mar 21, 2007
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Yes agreed, but had you read my first post, the truss rod isn't working. I go to adjust it and the nut backs off the rod without relieving the neck. It had been fine with 11 gauge strings until the weather changed. I expected the 12's to feel stiff but I'm pleasantly surprised.

If you're in a position to pay for repair, contact Chad Fitzpatrick from CF Restoration. He's just south of South Bend, IN. He's done work (refrets, neck resets, re neck refinish and major restoration) 4 of my guitars. The Best! He could easily replace the rod for you. Look him up!
 

Mars Hall

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If you're in a position to pay for repair, contact Chad Fitzpatrick from CF Restoration. He's just south of South Bend, IN. He's done work (refrets, neck resets, re neck refinish and major restoration) 4 of my guitars. The Best! He could easily replace the rod for you. Look him up!

Thanks for the info! If ever it progresses to the point to be unplayable, I will certainly look him up.
 

P.Walker

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Apr 17, 2007
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Mars Hall,

I sympathize with your concern (especially since it's a nice guitar) and I too have dealt with truss rod/relief/bowed neck issues.

Mine is the opposite of yours. I've had two recent Gibsons (all custom shop) that demonstrated a overly bowed neck that the truss rod couldn't handle.
I've tried neck heating, but it made the neck go "limp" (probably already a rubber neck) and it became a hygrometer in itself that I could tell the relative humidity by how much the neck had bowed.

The second one had an issue of creeping relief, and it bugged me so I sold it.

I do like to keep my guitars in a stable condition when they're being stored and not on the road.

I've done my research and asked opinions from qualified luthiers and now what I look first and foremost in a guitar is the health and general condition of the neck. I don't like lateral twists as I can't get a dead flat neck for my playability needs, and an overly bowed neck means the truss is working overtime. If I'm getting a les paul I want that neck to be dead straight and stout like a laser.

If you haven't already refer to this thread:http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/s...ck-rise-quot-on-historics&highlight=Rise+hump

I do agree with C-4 wholeheartedly and the neck is the first and only criteria when I judge a guitar (besides the bridge post location and how well the intonation can be adjusted, but on a $3000+ guitar I expect nothing less but perfection). Especially since we're predominantly talking about electric amplifed sound, all I really want is a structurally sound neck, anything and everything else I can work around; I'm not one to believe in mojo and voodoo.

After doing all that research I bought two clean unused (but second hand) Eric Johnson Strat and an R7 with a rock stable neck.
Such a joy to not have to mess with relief and just concentrate on the playing.

If that were my guitar, I realize it's not something you can dispose of an replace easily, and I do realize wood warps to an extent over time, but I do believe the best way to correct the problem is to let the wood be, plane and refret, since the internal stresses have materialized. By not forcing the wood back, but letting it be while still taking control over the final shape, you should be good to go.

That is, if the rod itself is not the problem. However, rarely in these cases is the rod the culprit.

Just my two cents,
Peter
 

Mars Hall

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Thanks for all of these replies. My inclination is to leave well enough alone. With D' Addario XL strings gauge 12, 16, plain 20, 32, 42, 54, the bridge posts all the way down and a MojoAxe compensated wrap around bridge, this guitar plays perfect! The strings can be chore to play after several songs but I only ever need it for a few tunes anyways. Once I wear the micro frets out, perhaps I'll review my options again at that time. :salude
 

P.Walker

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Thanks for all of these replies. My inclination is to leave well enough alone. With D' Addario XL strings gauge 12, 16, plain 20, 32, 42, 54, the bridge posts all the way down and a MojoAxe compensated wrap around bridge, this guitar plays perfect! The strings can be chore to play after several songs but I only ever need it for a few tunes anyways. Once I wear the micro frets out, perhaps I'll review my options again at that time. :salude

Definitely! I agree that's the right time to do it.

Play that thing, plane and refret with big frets and proper sized tangs.

Do you have a picture of the tr cavity perhaps?

Is the relief dead straight now? For me personally, I like a dead straight neck so your particular case would not be of concern, so like I said, I can wait a while to get it taken care of.

A luthier once told me, anything with wood can be fixed, especially a guitar, so short of setting it on fire, that guitar should last for ages.
 

Mars Hall

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Definitely! I agree that's the right time to do it.

Play that thing, plane and refret with big frets and proper sized tangs.

Do you have a picture of the tr cavity perhaps?

Is the relief dead straight now?

No photos of the truss rod cavity. What would you be looking for? I can get a photo and post if needed. Yes, the neck is very straight with the heavy gauge strings providing just enough relief to plat cleanly.
 

JIMI55LP

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Jun 28, 2005
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If you can put it away for some time you may be able to set it up in a neck jig with the truss rod loosened. I did this last year with a Danelectro neck which has a truss rod with no adjustment allowed. I set it up in my garage for 6 months and it is good today after being strung up for 9 months. I think if the truss rod could have been tune loose it would have shortened the time in traction? I made the jig with c clamps and 2x4 lumber.
 
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