Some guitarists prefer the lowest action possible (strings very close to the frets), while others are happy with higher action. The greater the distance, the higher the action.Įvery guitarist has a different preference when it comes to action. ActionĪction is the height of the strings over the frets. If you find that your guitar is harder to play in some areas of the fretboard than others, then you might want to check the relief of your neck. A large bow can be frustratingly uncomfortable to play, while a straight neck with slight relief can feel amazing. The relief of the neck plays a big role in playability. It should be pretty obvious by now that the main function of a truss rod is to adjust the relief of the neck. Let’s look at how relief, action, and intonation affect playability. How Truss Rods Affect Playabilityīy adjusting the truss rod, you can change the relief of the neck, which affects the guitar’s action and intonation. Look up your guitar online to find out which type it uses. There’s no way to know whether your guitar uses a single-action or dual-action truss rod by looking at it. These truss rods are far more common in modern guitars as they provide far greater control over your neck. You can adjust a single-action truss rod back and forth to adjust relief, but if you try to create a forward bow, you will soon hit a limit.ĭual-action truss rods are threaded on both sides and have a fixed bar running along the length.ĭual-action truss rods can be adjusted to create a back bow or a forward bow. These truss rods are limited as they are designed to only create a back bow. Vintage electric guitars are more likely to use a single-action truss rod. ![]() ![]() Single-action truss rods are threaded on one side and the other side is fixed. There are two types of truss rods found in guitars: single-action and dual-action. Here is a photo of an installed truss rod before the fretboard has been glued to the neck:Ī truss rod adds a significant amount of stability and control over the neck, which is why most guitars use them. Truss rods are installed in a routed channel in the guitar neck, below the fretboard. You can control the amount of bow to match the string gauge you use ( find out more about string gauges and tension here) and playing style. Here is a diagram showing how a truss rod affects the bow in a neck:Īs you can see, the truss rod adds or removes tension in the neck which affects the way the neck bows. If you loosen a truss rod, it releases tension in the neck and gradually moves the neck into a forward bow (relief). If you tighten a truss rod, it will gradually move the neck away from a forward bow (called relief) and towards a back-bow. By adjusting the truss rod, the bow in a guitar neck can be straightened out. To compensate for the tension created by the strings, a truss rod is installed in the guitar neck.Ī truss rod works by countering the pull from the strings. If a guitar didn’t have a truss rod, the guitar neck would gradually bow over time until the action (height of strings over the frets) becomes unplayable. Heavier gauge strings create even more tension, which would add more pull on the neck. The strings basically pull the neck into a bow as shown below: When you tune up a guitar, the strings create a lot of tension on the neck. You will learn how to do this in this guide. When you use a truss rod properly, you can set up your guitar for optimal playability and comfort. Truss rods affect three things that will be covered in detail in this guide: relief, action, and intonation.Ī truss rod can compensate for the tension in strings, seasonal changes in weather, fret wear, and different playing styles. ![]() Truss rods are usually made out of steel, but other materials such as graphite can be used in some truss rods.Īs you can see from the above photo, a truss rod is installed in a channel inside the neck, under the fretboard. This rod can be adjusted to help the guitar neck resist the tension created by strings. 8.2 Related Guides and Lessons: What is a Truss Rodīefore you try to adjust a truss rod, it’s a good idea to understand what a truss rod is and how it works.Ī truss rod is a long metal bar that runs through the length of a guitar neck.
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