Comment

Comment by Kenneth Wilson Hale on October 4, 2013 at 1:15pm

I go to lowes and get a fiberglass driveway marker which is a fiberglass rod and cheap! Cut it in half

and you have 2 truss rods. Cut slot in neck with table saw and epoxy in. Non adjustable but should last

forever and never develop a bend or "set". Got one in the guitar I'm holding in the picture. No tuning problems

and has held up great so far.

Comment by Hudd Byard on October 4, 2013 at 7:56am

I have used it only in certain builds where I can put something inside the box that goes around the center - works pretty good an holds up well but I want to try the truss rod just to give me more tools to try. I haven't build anything over a 4 string, but I could see where a 6 string would need it.

Comment by Suspect Device on October 4, 2013 at 4:56am

 You don't really need it with a 3 or 4 string through-neck build. Due to string tension, the neck is always going to want to bow at its thinnest point. With a thru-neck build, this is usually at a spot inside the box, where the cavity for the lid, etc is cut. Like t-belly, I build most of mine with a laminated neck,  laminating a "heel" to act as a stiffener. It runs through the box, underneath the rabetted cavity in the neck.  You will usually see truss rods incorporated in 6-string cbg builds. There are quite a few builders who use truss rods, if the neck is bolt-on, or joined to the box with a dovetail or other joint. I have not tried it yet, but the truss rod/bolt neck is something I have been meaning to have a go at. The bolt-on/truss rod thing also allows you to put a sound hole in the center of the box without having a piece of neck running underneath & impeding the projection. I notice from your pics that you have incorporated a center sound hole in your builds -and they look AMAZING, btw! Not sure what you did to hide the neck, but whatever you did, it looks great.

Comment by t-belly johnson on October 3, 2013 at 7:50am

I`ve never had to use a truss rod yet, built 3 string bass, 3,4,6 string guits and no problems.

I guess it depends on what materials you use.I use laminated strips of Oak,Maple,Meranti,Walnut, Beech. All hardwoods in varying combinations.No worries.

I think the only time I would definitely use a rod is if I was building a 4 string bass.