so for a while the action on my tele has been geting worse. it's not all that bad but definatly used to be better. i went to adjust the truss rod and it won't turn to the right. it's like it can't turn any more. it turns to the left just fine but this does me no good. any ideas?

-e

elisha wiesner wrote:so for a while the action on my tele has been geting worse. it's not all that bad but definatly used to be better. i went to adjust the truss rod and it won't turn to the right. it's like it can't turn any more. it turns to the left just fine but this does me no good. any ideas?

-e

Have youm checked the relief? Press down on the first fret and then press down on the last fret and see how much space there is between te 12th fret and the strings. There should be a little, line maybe enough to fit a pick or two, but no more. And it shouldn't be touching the fret either, then your truss rod is too tight.

If it really wont go in any farther and it needs to move in that direction to be properly adjusted, take it to a professional. They may be able to put a spacer or something in there if the wood in your neck is compressing.

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer short of, "get a new neck."

Good luck!

Ben Adrian

If you don't know what you're doing then i'd suggest taking that to a tech right away...
Inexperienced players/techs + trussrods = a sudden need to buy a replacement neck.

BadComrade wrote:Is it a really old tele? If so, then maybe the nut is worn down and previous owners kept tightening the truss rod to compensate, and now there's no more adjustment to be made...? Maybe it just needs to be backed off a bit and then turned to the right? Maybe you need to apply a light pressure to the fretboard to help bow the neck to increase slack in the rod so it's not so tight to turn to the right?

Maybe you should do like I've done, and buy Travis Beans because I hate truss rods :)

yes, it's a 67' tele.

i will try what you and benadrian suggested and if it doesn't work will bring it to a tech.

i had a travis bean about 5 years ago but it was heavy and didn't sound as good as my tele. i guess the no truss rod was a plus though.

thanks,
elisha

Take the guitar to a good repair man. Have them put in a replacement nut bone or the like and let them know about the truss rod adjustment issue. They should be able to get it playing fine. A luthier looking at the guitars should be able to do a fix easly. They should be able to judge if a shim (wedge shaped piece of wood behind neck) is nessessary. If they take the neck off take the oppertunity to check the stamped date to see the birthday of your guitar.

Although depending on the frets if they have not been previously replaced you might need a fret redo at some point expensive but can be fine with a good repair man. It seems that a lot of people have this done fairly frequently (or at least more frequently than me and the age of the tele it would be worth it if needed)

Do you have the 3 saddle bridge plate or the 5 saddle? Even with a vintage tele a lot of people go to the replacement 5 saddle to get better adjustment of height and intoneation on each string. Fender did this to all teles at some point but it might have been later than your model.

Big John wrote:Take the guitar to a good repair man. Have them put in a replacement nut bone...

All good advice. I do some of my own guitar maintenance (intonation, etc), but when it comes to neck/fretboard issues, I've found that seeing a good tech is usually best. Snapping a truss-rod is very depressing. Shimming and/or a new nut may be the ticket... and a good fret dress can really help a guitar intonate and play its best. Of course, you have to pay for all this...

the guitar really plays pretty well. the frets and nut are fine. it's just something i have been noticing. i have the 3 saddle bridge plate but have always been happy with it. the intonation is fine and it stays in tune better than any other guitar i have ever played.

my biggest problem is that i live on an island with no good guitar tech. i'll mess with it this weekend and if i can't get it i will have to take it to boston and leave it with someone who can fix it for me.

thanks again,

-elisha

Its fucked for sure. Sell it to me. I'll give you £50 for it and I'm doing you a favour.


seriously, don't touch the truss rod. take it to a tech.

Not knowing how the neck need to be adjusted this may not be relivant but I have seen finger planes used to remove small amouts of wood from the neck or heel of the body for adjustments as well in association some times with shimming. A little manipulation at the joint does a lot so it is tricky work. With your tele (it being a pre-CBS classic) it is worth having it babied. I have used brass

Must be nice being on a island in the summer but probibly is not so fun in winter. Are you in Nantucket?

no, i'm on martha's vineyard. it is nice. i actually think i prefer the winter. plenty of peace and quiet. too many people here in the summer.


-e