A new Guitar Build Part 2: Installing a Truss rod in a new guitar neck

[@chiptait]

I've been crafting wood for over 25 years, and never thought to lower the router bit the way you did in finishing the channel. Thank you!

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Chip, Thank you very much for your comment and you're welcome. Nice to hear that even an experienced woodworker got something useful from my video.

[@EntropiaGuitars]

I'm doing my first ever build at the moment, and had so many questions about the truss rod and placement. Glad to be able to review your library of videos - hope you're doing well buddy!

[@MrMachsonic]

I can smell the peaceful atmosphere of your workshop from here. Greetings from Istanbul..

[@UnquendorGuitars]

HI Tarkan, Thank you. It is indeed very peaceful... most of the time.

[@denisweening]

Thanks Daniel, would be also great to show more of the jig you have made, an thanks for the router tip to guide/grab it below

[@gurupmuhtesem9824]

Daniel you are a true artist and a great teacher, I have become very confident watching your full build series .

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Gurup, Thank you I'm glad to hear my videos are helping you.

[@garyphillips725]

Thanks - your video will help me with my install. One thing - I'd sure unplug the router before changing bits myself, but... different strokes. Cheers!

[@JohnClothier]

That was a very interesting video. I learnt a lot about routing the truss rod. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see more videos in this series

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Thank you very much and I'm so pleased to hear you learned something from this video this motivates me a lot to keep making these videos. If you have any questions or topics you would to see me cover in a video please let me know.

[@svT647]

It's good to watch a Dutch video rather than American because just like the rest of the world, the Netherlands uses the metric system! And it's nice to hear your neighbors are happy, sometimes they can get cranky when they live next door to people who use power tools. 😁

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Scott, Thank you for your reaction. Nice to hear you approve of using metric. I'm very fortunate with my neighbors to be honest. I had only a single complaint in 4 years and that was when I was making a cabinet using a hammer... at 23:00 at night.

[@Generalanwalt]

Good video! It has a perfect lenght and you show every step very precisely. I have to build a guitar for school and your "video-playlist" is very helpful. (Even as a German I can understand your videos because you speak slowly and clearly.) Thank you very much!

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hey Generalanwalt, Thank you very much for the compliments. I really appreciate it. And it's nice to hear my videos are helping you with a school project. Good luck and let me know how it turned out.

[@chrisk3754]

It sounds nice in the background. The neighbours talking. Just life going on.

[@LeosVideos]

Hello Daniel. Thank you so much for your Guitar Building series. I am making my first guitar and I have been studying your videos. I am at the point that I have to bite the bullet and route this truss rod channel and I am nervous. I like that you make the small access channel as well so you are not having to guess where the adjustment nut is. How do you calculate how far away from the truss rod channel the access channel should be? I'd love to get your feedback. Thank you again for these videos. You take it step by step and explain everything very well. Take Care! Chris

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi KeysAndGuitars, Thank you very much. Nice to hear you're getting some useful information from my videos. About the truss rod acces. This is hard to explain without a drawing or picture. And it depends on several things like headstock angle (if any), nut type/width, tuner location(s), headstock shape and so on. It's something to keep in mind when designing the neck and headstock. Basically if you draw a side view of your neck incl. the headstock at the correct angle and extend the truss rod beyond the headstock where the channel 'exits' the headstock is the 'end' of the acces channel. For the length you have to keep in mind you want to be able to have an Allen key reach the truss rod nut. (assuming you're using a truss rod with allen key adjustment). This should give you a global position for the acces channel. Next make sure the channel doesn't interfere with the nut and the tuners by transferring these points to a top view of your headstock. It isn't that critical as long as you can get an allen key to reach the truss rod you should be ok. My measurements are: length channel 36mm and start +/- 8mm behind the nut. Good Luck!

[@NoneNone-gk9wt]

The last one I did was on 5 ton Bridgeport mill. Truss rod was a stew mac hot rod

[@mikeivey8471]

As always , I love watching your work !! You are very informative & entertaining !! Maybe you could deep dive into that router you use ? (Assuming you haven't done a video on that topic before , that is.) It looks as though it works amazingly and adjusts effortlessly on the fly ?! Thanks for all you do !!

[@__Slingy__]

Thank you so much for this. I learned a lot, as with all your videos. Keep up the good work !

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Arnaud, You are very welcome and thank you. I'm glad you found my videos helpful.

[@jeffreymckeown]

I still have not got that where the trust rod should be located. Should it be right before the nut or under the nut. Please give a better explanation and make a picture of that. It will make my life easier 🙏🙏🙏

[@bostonmainemike]

Fantastic work and fine presentation

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hey Boston Maine Mike, Thank you very much for the compliment.

[@krisheiberg6874]

Nice plane!

[@DavidRodriguez-lu6xe]

Very good..I learn with you a lot.

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi David, Thank you and I'm glad you got some useful information from my videos.

[@frsa4486]

Please, Master, if it's possible to have a list of the tools that you use inthe video, like: metal rulers, wood cage ruler used to guide the drill, the type of drill, metal protractor.... sorry i'm Italian and i'm trying to learn all you do, but i miss the name of some tools ....i would like to start with the right one. Thank you for help and for this videos, have a nice day and a long life!

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Fr Sa, Most of the tools used in this video are very basic woodworking tools. Like regular good quality metric steel rulers, mechanical pencils, chisels, etc. The router I use is a Triton MOF001 1400W router with a 6mm router bit. And the only 'special' tool I get asked about frequently is my metric Incra protractor. Which is widely available online in most good woodworking stores/webshops. The guide for the router is a self made jig which I explain in the video.

[@Epochstudios]

I'm curious, how do you know what length truss rod you need to buy for building an I.E. 7 string guitar with 26.5" scale length? Thanks in advance! Love your videos Daniel, thanks for sharing your knowledge and inspiring me to build a guitar. Got my template showing up Tuesday, I've already got most of the tools needed and I am sourcing parts now. Already got pickups ( kiesel lithiums) and a kiesel Nut. Anyway, thanks for the videos

[@SnifferCustoms]

Very nice work, and very helpful! Thanks for taking time to make video and sharing!

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Sniffer Customs, Thank you very much! I’m glad you like my videos.

[@wyatteldred1468]

Do you have to have the truss rod put into the neck in the buiilding process or can you take an already built neck and install one that way

[@stefanoangrisano3537]

Hi Daniel, thank you for your videos, I have found them to be very instructional. I have a question: where did you get that protractor from? I have searched everywhere and couldn't find one like that.

[@Kevin-bp2cw]

Have not -been able to find any videos on how to actually glue the truss rod into the neck using epoxy or glue , this would be helpful if you included in your next one on the neck perhaps :)

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hey Kevin. A truss rod isn’t glued in. The pocket it sits in should be tight enough to hold it in place. I think I mentioned it in the video didn’t I?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

I just rewatched this video and I don’t mention it specifically in this one but I’m pretty sure I talk about it in the video where I mount the fretboard to the neck. A new Guitar Build part 4: Fretboard preparation and installation.

[@vikinglord7545]

Martin style truss rods are epoxied in place.

[@Kevin-bp2cw]

@@UnquendorGuitars thanks for that ... however I did epoxy mine , it worked out fine , it is also in the instructions they provide with the Martin guitar kits , I was just trying to find more on the subject , thanks anyways

[@TrevorIves]

A question on dealing with twist in a neck blank - do you use winding sticks at all?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Trevor, Good question... I do use winding sticks to check for twist in the blank when I start planing the blank. However when the blank is near straight I switch over to my straight edge and check the diagonals to spot any twist. At this point I find it very hard to spot twist using winding sticks. Checking the diagonals with the straight edge seems to work very well for me.

[@bigtimebugarpicker]

hello. beautiful work btw. why can't one use a self-centering mortising router base set up with pins that ride either side of the neck. the same setup i use for mortises that need to be centered?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Bud, I didn't know a self centering mortising router base existed, so thank you for making me aware of this. I think you could use a self centering base to route the truss rod channel. The only thing to keep in mind is that sides on the neck blank need to be perfectly paralel to each other and to the centerline of the neck. As I don't have a jointer or planer I'm planing everything by hand and don't want to spend time on planing the sides of the neck blank if I don't have to.

[@bigtimebugarpicker]

@@UnquendorGuitars i route mine after the finish shape of the neck is carved to a template, creating a long trapezoid, in which the sides are NEVER parallel, but rather perfectly opposing. to the centering pins, this is AS good as the neck being parallel. that's how i was doing it in the video. and most people don't like the truss rod adjustment on the heel side, but i think it's a fair trade off to not have that disgusting looking hole in one's beautiful headstock. i'm a woodworker at heart and i just can't abide that. so what even if you have to remove the neck to adjust the rod. you only turn a max of a quarter turn anyway and wait a day or two for it to acclimate to the angle, and how often to even mess with your rod anyway?

[@ErikM513]

Fijn kanaal met goede tips! Maar een vraag, die pvc pijp links in beeld is toch niet van je afzuiging? Door de opbouw van statische elektriciteit kan dat weleens fout gaan (!)

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Erik, Heel erg bedankt voor je reactie! Ja, die PVC pijp is inderdaad van mijn afzuiging. De opbouw van statische elektriciteit kan idd een probleem vormen. Ik heb daarom de pijp ook geaard zodat in ieder geval een gedeelte van de evt. opgebouwde lading afgevloeid kan worden. Daarbij komt dat mijn hele werkplaats van hout is en op een piepschuim fundering staat waardoor de kans op een spontane ontlading en evt. vonkvorming zeer gering is. Tot nu toe heb ik nog geen 'last' gehad van een opgebouwde statische lading. Echter waardeer ik je opmerkzaamheid en terechte opmerking, want het is inderdaad belangrijk dat er met dergelijke zaken rekening gehouden wordt. En het is 1 van de dingen die nog op mijn lijstje staan om een keer op te pakken en het PVC te vervangen voor Spyro-pijp o.i.d.

[@michaellecerf9489]

Hi Daniel, nice videos and guitars!! Great source of inspiration. I don't know if you mentionned it already but where do you buy your truss rod please? Greetings from France.

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Michael, Thank you very much! I buy my truss rods from varius suppliers to be honest. Mostly I get them from a local Guitar parts store called "Voxhumana" or from a web store called "TLC Guitar Goods". Both are Dutch suppliers, but I think TLC also ships internationally.

[@philtatnell3685]

Great vid! Please explain to me what a duel action truss Rod is? I’m planing on building my first guitar soon, an explorer and I’m confused about which truss rod to use. Also where did you purchase that precision metal protractor from?? Much Appreciated.

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hey Phil, Thank you very much. A dual action truss rod lets you adjust the 'bow' of the neck in both directions. It can compensate both forward bow (cupping/concave) and back bow (convex) of the neck. While a single action truss rod can only compensate for cupping due to, for example, string tension. Most modern guitars all have dual action truss rods so if I were you I would go for a Dual Action truss rod. The precision protractor is from the brand Incra. It's available in both metric and imperial. I bought it at a local tool store but you should be able to find it on Amazon or at a good woodworking tool supplier. And I think Crimson Guitars sells a version of their own.

[@philtatnell3685]

@@UnquendorGuitars Thank you so much for the reply and explaining this to me mate! I can’t wait to get this project underway. I have recently Subscribed to your channel, your videos are really informative, exactly what a newcomer like me needs! Much appreciated Phil.

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi @@philtatnell3685 You're welcome and it's good to hear you're getting some useful information from my videos.

[@luthiferbuilds]

Go to Crimson! for your pro tractor

[@valiany]

what is the use of that rod? i mean do you tight it or what happen after all?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Very useful information. One question: where do you buy these laminated blanks? I'm not able to find any sensible suppliers that have stock in the UK. Thanks

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Oliver, Thank you. I have my neck blanks custom made by my wood supplier. He is kind enough to provide all kind of machining services besides just selling the wood. Of course at additional costs. And laminating stuff is something he enjoys doing.

[@we_are_the_de_wits]

Hallo Daniel. Wat is the mensuur van deze gitaar? Ik ben momenteel een bouw aan het plannen voor een gitaar met een mensuur van 25.5 inch (648MM).

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi AdriedeWit, Mijn gitaren hebben ook allemaal een mensuur van 25,5". Veel plezier en succes met het plannen en bouwen van je gitaar.

[@lucemiserlohn]

Where is your protective equipment while working? Goggles at the very least, though hearing protection is almost a must, too.

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi bedroomprogrammer, Thank you for your comment. I'm wearing glasses so personally I don't feel the need for wearing goggles. And I find them very distracting. And here in the Netherlands, although it is recommended, we're, generally, not that used to wearing protective goggles as much for woodworking I think. I do wear hearing protection. It might not show in the video as I'm using made to fit in ear protection. I can't recall in which video I talk about them but I try to use them as often as I remember to do so. That said, I think everyone should wear the protection they want and feel comfortable wearing or are obliged to do so by local regulations and such. But don't wear gloves while working with rotating power tools or gear that distracts you too much or hinders you in the task.

[@davidberg4682]

I get the feeling that this is the first guitar you've ever built. Like you almost think you know what you're doing.

[@MrMachsonic]

Hello my friend. There is a question I am very curious about. Is it a good idea to use two carbon rods instead of one truss rod?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Tarkan, You will always need a truss rod for adjustability. The two carbon rods are for stiffening and strengthening of the neck only.

[@MrMachsonic]

@@UnquendorGuitars Thank you very much for the answer.

[@glenngolden]

I noticed all of your hardware came from the same box which means the same supplier. Who did you order from?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Glenn, I put it all in one box to carry it for the house to the shed to be honest. I always order my parts from different shops and online stores to be honest. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a one stop shop where I can order everything I need at once. For the last guitars I made I had to order from six different suppliers.

[@glenngolden]

@@UnquendorGuitars I’m new to your channel and have enjoyed what you’re doing. Thanks for the reply.

[@andresdp4999]

simple accion in truss rod?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Andres, I always use dual action truss rods.

[@GloriousDutchPancakes]

Hey waar koop je je hout dan?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hey Mark, Ik koop mijn hout altijd bij Masave Fijnhouthandel in Zwolle.

[@GloriousDutchPancakes]

@@UnquendorGuitars ahhh cool voor mij is Amsterdam fijnhout dichterbij. Alleen zij lijmen niets voor klanten zover ik weet.

[@insaneduderone8501]

Why don't u buy a thickness sander?

[@UnquendorGuitars]

Hi Insane Duderone, I don't have the space for it in my workshop, and they are quite expensive. At least a good one that is big enough for guitar bodies and tops.

[@insaneduderone8501]

@@UnquendorGuitars Yes I are right about your limited space. And price is up there. Too bad. I guess the one thing I can do To help u is subscribe to your channel so I am right now. Kudos Luthier friend.

[@jessefagundes6965]

Most of the video showing nothing. Need preparation before recording

[@NoneNone-gk9wt]

I'm sorry 5000 lbs Bridgeport mill