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truss rods

Posted by Hudd Byard on October 3, 2013 at 12:26pm

Anyone putting truss rods in their CBG builds. I have been thinking about playing with it. Just wondered if anyone else was going through this process...

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  • Kenneth Wilson Hale October 4, 2013 at 8:15pm

    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.

  • Hudd Byard October 4, 2013 at 2:56pm
    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.
  • Suspect Device October 4, 2013 at 11:56am

     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.

  • t-belly johnson October 3, 2013 at 2:50pm

    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.

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