How to Adjust the Truss Rod on Your Electric Guitar or Bass

The truss rod is probably the most mysterious and feared piece of hardware found on modern stringed instruments. Steeped in 2nd and 3rd hand horror stories of separated fret boards and forever-ruined instruments, the truss rod has earned a most-undeserved reputation of being “too tricky”, or “too dangerous” for most beginning musicians to bother dealing with. (Much to the joy of luthiers and music shops around the world!) But by following these instructions, even a first day musician can adjust their instrument's truss rod both easily and worry-free.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips head screwdriver
• Assortment of Allen/hex wrenches
• Digital tuner (If you don't trust your ears)

1. Locate the access to your bass's truss rod. (This is usually located beneath a cover plate on the face of the headstock, or in a recess on the body of the instrument right where the neck join the body.) Remove any cover plates to gain access to the truss rod itself and discern which size Allen/hex wrench you'll need to use by trying them out one by one until you find the size that fits most snugly.

2. Hold down your top (E) string at the 1st and 14th frets. Measure the gap between the string and the fret board a its highest point. (To prevent fret buzz, it should be no less than 1/8”.

3. If your strings are less than 1/8” away from your fret board, you'll need to loosen your truss rod by turning it counter-clockwise. If your strings are more than 1/8” away from your fret board and you want them closer, you'll need to tighten your truss rod by turning it clockwise.