How to Reset a Guitar Neck With No Truss Rod

Shim your guitar neck to reset.

If your guitar strings are buzzing, is hard to play or if the neck is visibly warped, you can reset it. Glued-on necks must be sent back to the factory, but if your guitar neck is bolted on it's easy to shim the neck without touching a truss rod. A shim is a thin piece of paper, wood or plastic inserted between the neck and neck routing to tilt the neck at a slightly different angle. There are only four screws that secures the neck. Once you remove them you have access to the neck routing, which is a pocket cut into the guitar body. By adding shims in the routing, you can tip the angle of the neck up or down.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver
• Matchbook cover

Instructions

1. Remove the strings from the guitar. Use a Phillips screwdriver and remove the four screws on the back of the neck. A small metal plate will also drop off when you remove the screws. Set them aside.

2. Turn the guitar upside down and tap on the back of the neck with the palm of your hand. Grab it with one hand. Wiggle it up and down and pull it loose from the routing if it doesn't drop out by itself.

3. Tear a paper matchbook cover in half. Fold it once. Lay the guitar face-up. Place the matchbook cover in the routing where the neck came out. Place it nearest to the pickups if the guitar was hard to play or the strings were too high.

4. Place the matchbook cover on the other end of the routing if the guitar strings were buzzing or if one of the strings was touching the upper frets when you were playing on the lower part of the neck.

5. Insert the neck back in the routing. Tap it down with the palm of your hand. Place the metal plate on the back of the neck and put all four screws into the holes, through the plate. Tighten the screws with the screwdriver. Put the strings back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your guitar. If buzzing still persists or your guitar is still hard to play you can add another shim if needed. You can also use plastic or wood for shims.

• If your guitar neck is severely warped, you may have to order a new one.

References

• Chicago Luthiers: Neck Set