How to Make a Truss Rod

Keep the neck of your guitar straight with a homemade truss rod.

Truss rods are metal tension rods that can be adjusted to help keep the neck of your guitar straight. These are located under the fretboard in a trough carved in the neck of your guitar or bass, and can be adjusted via an access cover usually located where the neck meets the headstock. If you are building your own guitar or repairing an old one, there is no need to buy an expensive commercially produced truss rod, instead, why not make your own?

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch square U bar (length the same as the neck)
• 3/16-inch threaded rod (length the same as the neck plus 1 inch)
• Three, 3/16-inch nuts
• One, 3/16-inch washer
• Hacksaw
• Electric tape

Instructions

1. Cut the U bar to the length of the trough for the truss rod using the hacksaw, and place it in it with the open side facing outward.

2. Cut the threaded rod to this length plus one inch.

3. Screw on one nut to one end of the truss rod with a second screwed on behind it and tighten the two together, this will lock them in place and will become the anchor in the U bar to allow for tension to be applied through the rod.

4. Insert the threaded rod into the U bar channel, with the end with the nuts facing the body of the guitar, and the other end facing the headstock.

5. Place the 3/16-inch washer over the threaded rod on the headstock end, flush with the U bar. Thread on the remaining nut and hand-tighten it to the washer.

6. Attach or replace the fretboard, which will be permanently glued in place. You can now adjust the tension of the truss rod by tightening or loosening the nut, The washer will hold it in place against the U bar and two nuts at the opposite end will keep the rod from spinning on itself.

Tips & Warnings

• Covering the threaded rod with electrical tape before installing the fretboard can reduce vibration of the truss rod in the U bar channel.

• Be careful when adjusting the truss rod not to over tighten the nut which can damage the neck of the guitar.

References

• Pluto Space Sports: Home Made Truss Rod