I decided to make a new truss rod cover. ..

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:04 pm

I didn't like the squared off truss rod cover that came with my Ovation clone so I made another out if black plastic.Just for fun I added a mahogany embellishment. What do you think?

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:10 pm

No replies?

Mark McLean · Post by **Mark McLean** » Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:40 pm

It is always nice to add your own custom touches, and a boring black plastic cover is a good target for a makeover. I also like to get rid of the screws, if possible. In some of my builds the truss-rod is exposed in the slot and if you glue a small rare earth magnet onto the bottom of the truss-rod cover it will hold itself firmly in place by attraction to the rod itself - and you don't need those 3 small screws.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Sat Apr 22, 2017 10:40 pm

Yeah !I used magnets to hold the wooden spheres on the base unit of my Admiral Vernon.

Freeman Keller · Post by **Freeman Keller** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:59 am

Phillip Rowe wrote:No replies?

Its a nice touch. If I build a guitar with a headstock t/r adjuster I try to make a cover that fits with the theme of the guitar - usually that means the same wood as the headplate, binding, pick guard, fretboard or something.

Peter Wilcox · Post by **Peter Wilcox** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:21 pm

Freeman Keller wrote: Its a nice touch. If I build a guitar with a headstock t/r adjuster I try to make a cover that fits with the theme of the guitar - usually that means the same wood as the headplate, binding, pick guard, fretboard or something.

That's sort of how I do it.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:37 pm

That is an interesting head stock design .Flame motif perhaps ?

Peter Wilcox · Post by **Peter Wilcox** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:42 pm

Yes, it does look like a flame. Actually, in designing it I wanted the headstock to loosely echo the shape of the body.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:46 pm

Nice!

Freeman Keller · Post by **Freeman Keller** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:57 pm

Here is a LP clone, ice tea 'burst over maple, rosewood f/b and headplate

Tried black plastic, didn't like it

Made one out of some flamed maple with a little 'burst, just not right

Finally just glued some fiber backing to rosewood veneer and put a couple of coats of lacquer on it

Here's another Lester, Spanish cedar top and headplate with rosewood f/b, binding, pickup rings, knobs.

Rosewood t/r cover seems to go with the headstock binding

If you laminate some white or black fiber to the back of the veneer it keeps it from splitting and gives a fine line that can tie into other purfling themes. Here is ebony on ebony

And a long story behind this one - the owner is one of the finest custom motorcycle painters in the world - he requested skulls for his f/b inlays. I added one to the pick guard

and another in the ebony t/r cover

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:10 pm

I noticed you took the time to make sure to cut the body in The proper Les Paul shape.Really nice guitars I imagine they go for at least 5 grand ,maybe 10 for the well heeled client.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:28 am

I shimmed the saddle that I had previously cut down too far added baking soda and super glue to the G,B and high E slots to correct the muting.Now it is much louder and the piezoelectric pick up works well.A successful exercise despite the mistakes which I was able to correct.

Peter Wilcox · Post by **Peter Wilcox** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:07 am

I think your truss rod cover does complement other parts of the guitar - the black fret board, and the color around the sound holes.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:16 am

Yes I do like it so I will leave it as it is

Dan Smith · Post by **Dan Smith** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:04 pm

A quarter works well.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:11 pm

Interesting use of a coin as a truss rod cover.Magnets ?

Freeman Keller · Post by **Freeman Keller** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:55 pm

Phillip Rowe wrote:I noticed you took the time to make sure to cut the body in The proper Les Paul shape.Really nice guitars I imagine they go for at least 5 grand ,maybe 10 for the well heeled client.

Thanks Phillip. I try to take the time to do things right - the LP body was hand carved. I'm strictly an amateur and many of the guitars I build are for myself or friends. I charge enough to pay for materials and maybe treat myself to a nice dinner or something, I'm just pleased that there are people who want to help me enjoy my hobby - its a real complement when I get to hear a musician playing one of my guitars.

Glad to hear that you got the nut and saddle issues resolved

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:03 pm

Yeah I have been really lucky to fix the problems I had.I thouht I would have to buy a new nut and saddle.At some point I would like to cut my own nut .BTW I thought you were a pro those guitars look greatl

Dan Smith · Post by **Dan Smith** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:17 pm

Phillip Rowe wrote:Interesting use of a coin as a truss rod cover.Magnets ?

Two black screws.
I rarely have cash, and found this coin in my pocket. Not sure how it got there, but aimlike the horses.
I painted it black, polished it, and applied a clear coat.

Phillip Rowe · Post by **Phillip Rowe** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:34 pm

Looks good!

MIMF

I decided to make a new truss rod cover. ..

I decided to make a new truss rod cover. ..

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