Truss rod when planing fretboard and dressing frets.
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 8:40 am
I was shocked and dismayed at a problem I found yesterday with my latest guitar, and I am sitting pondering how to fix it. Problem is I put heavier gauge strings on (.013 - ,056, for a trial) and instantly the instrument developed a giant buzz all over the fretboard. The tension of the strings pulled the neck into a position where the truss rod (normal double-acting type) was completely neutral, and with no load it buzzed like crazy. Relief was dead on where I like it (tiny amount, almost flat). If I take the relief out completely, or add some, the problem gets better but I can't really put load on the truss rod sufficient to dampen it with these strings, so I will change them and go back to my normal (.011 - .050) and see what happens.
What I think happened is this: I planed the fret-board with the truss rod in a neutral position, getting the un-fretted neck dead straight. I installed the frets, and induced a back bow. When I dressed the frets I adjusted the truss rod to straighten the neck, which I think left the back bow intact. Now, with the heavy gauge strings the tension takes out the back-bow and releases the tension on the truss rod. With the light gauge strings the truss rod is still acting to counter-act the back-bow.
So I think the mistake was in the fretting/dressing stage, using the truss rod to counter-act a back bow. What should I have done? What should I do now? I can think of a couple of ideas. One is put the light gauge strings on and wait for the problem to re-occur in a few years when the tension makes the neck take a different set. Two is re-dress the fretboard with the truss rod neutral. Three is take out the 7th fret marker dot, drill down to the truss rod and somehow inject epoxy to glue the middle of the truss rod to the neck.
What do you all think? TIA, Brian
What I think happened is this: I planed the fret-board with the truss rod in a neutral position, getting the un-fretted neck dead straight. I installed the frets, and induced a back bow. When I dressed the frets I adjusted the truss rod to straighten the neck, which I think left the back bow intact. Now, with the heavy gauge strings the tension takes out the back-bow and releases the tension on the truss rod. With the light gauge strings the truss rod is still acting to counter-act the back-bow.
So I think the mistake was in the fretting/dressing stage, using the truss rod to counter-act a back bow. What should I have done? What should I do now? I can think of a couple of ideas. One is put the light gauge strings on and wait for the problem to re-occur in a few years when the tension makes the neck take a different set. Two is re-dress the fretboard with the truss rod neutral. Three is take out the 7th fret marker dot, drill down to the truss rod and somehow inject epoxy to glue the middle of the truss rod to the neck.
What do you all think? TIA, Brian