Afraid To Adjust Your Truss Rod? 😥

[@commonsensehill372]

Good morning. Couldn't sleep, had to make adjustment to my truss rod, forgot a couple of things, looked for a video on how to because I couldn't remember... it's been while. Found this video. I'm glad I subbed you because yours popped up in the top 3. Watched it, finished my adjustments, put on headphones and success. My main practice instrument (Fender like guitar) now plays very well. The buzz is gone. When I started before this video, It was loose. Needed major course correction. Your video did the trick for me in these late hours. I just wanted to thank you. Jamming while everyone else is sleeping... sweet.

[@MadManMusic]

Hey! Im sorry you couldn’t sleep. I’ve been a bit restless myself also lately. I’m glad the video was helpful and your guitar is playing better now! Thanks for Subbing and we’ll see ya in the next vid! 💪🏼 🤘🏼😜

[@MaxisBallinonaBudget]

The number one thing most luthier say - "truss rod is not a buzz adjustment tool". It's true, but it's definitely an integral part of set up to remove it.

[@MadManMusic]

Absolutely! 🤘🏼😜

[@TheAxe4Ever]

This is why I love the way my Charvel has the truss rod adjustment “wheel” down at the body end of the neck. No cover to remove and I can use any small tool like a spare allen wrench to adjust it. Easy to adjust it on the fly if needed. But in reality, I don’t have to adjust it that often. You can drive yourself crazy trying to make it and keep it perfect constantly.

[@MadManMusic]

I love that design, I wish more guitars had it. It just makes sense!! 🤘🏼😜

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

same with my EBMM Majesty no need to remove anything just use allen key to adjust super easy!

[@breal1183]

Another detailed helpful video!! l was wondering!! lf your strings are actually touching the frets on your 2nd-4th frets, and making dead notes, is that a truss rod neck issue or something else?? Thanks!!

[@MadManMusic]

Really that could be a number of things: Truss Rod, Raise Frets, Nut too low. When in doubt seek professional help. You can always use the techniques in videos like these to see if they help your issue but when they dont, dont risk damaging your guitar by pushing it further. Adjustments on your own should always be slight. I hope that helps! 🤘🏼😜

[@breal1183]

@@MadManMusic Thank you sir!! You are the only KZbinr who has taken the time to answer every single question l have ever asked!! That is why you're always my go to for anything guitar!! Customer service I call it!! Continue these amazing helpful videos!! Rock on!!

[@prefacciprian7728]

Possible neck bent under those heavy riffs.Awesome explanations.

[@MadManMusic]

Ha! Maybe! Thanks for watching! 🤘🏼😜

[@belgiandip8682]

Helpful - just a tad to repetitive for me :D

[@MadManMusic]

I'm glad it was helpful! 🤘🏼😜

[@Mohawk763]

Very informative video. On my fretless bass I've noticed the action seems to have gotten lower to the point where sliding harmonics are not possible. Could be that the neck is bowing back as I'm also getting buzz from open strings. This occurred after changing strings from flats to rounds (which have less tension apparently) so I went back to flats which fixed the problem for a while......next step is truss rod adjustment methinks.

[@MadManMusic]

Hey! Thanks for watching! I haven’t had the opportunity to mess with the set up of a fretless.. but from what you’re explaining it seems like the reduced tension definitely cause the neck to bow back a bit. I recently purchased a Warwick Corvette STD and the literature explains that you should see about 2mm between the 24th fret when nothing is fretted, and about .5mm or less at the 6th fret when the first fret is depressed. Maybe you could use those measurements to get a rough idea of where your measurements should land? I’m probably not much help here, but it sounds like a small truss adjustment is in order. Good luck, let us know how it works out. 🤘🏼😜

[@Mohawk763]

@@MadManMusic I'll be using the pick method....1mm and working from there to see if it needs adjusting and if so then it's relief so lefty loosey as the old saying goes.

[@BamSigma]

Great video. Just want to make sure I got this correct. I'm going from drop a to drop c. That extra tension will create a forward bow. So I have to tighten the truss rod (righty tighty)?

[@MadManMusic]

Yes. The added tension of the strings being tuned higher will mean you need to make the truss rod work harder. So Righty Tighty! But remember, small moves. Quarter Turn, check, quarter turn, check, so on. 🤘🏼😜

[@PainterDans]

Binge watching your videos today, glad i found your channel.

[@MadManMusic]

I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! I appreciate all of the great comments! 🤘🏼😜

[@crustysocks1]

Super useful video man thanks

[@MadManMusic]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. 🤘🏼😜

[@thorggernaut3081]

thank you so much dude. your channel is very insightful. In such little time, I've learnt so much from you. cheers

[@MadManMusic]

Awesome! Im glad to hear that! Tune in Saturday for a sweet Livestream performance of my personal project Aphelion! You may not learn much but it will be a good time for sure!! 🤘🏼😜

[@anthonyshaw8698]

Excellent tutorial!!! The best I've seen yet. Very informative. Thanks Dude

[@MadManMusic]

Awesome! Im glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!! 🤘🏼😜

[@Strat.1]

One major big mistake is that he’s made the adjustment with the neck elevated setting on the neck cradle. That’s putting almost all of the weight of the guitar on the neck..This means the adjustment cannot be correct. After each adjustment when done right, he needs to pick it up retune and check the relief against the setting measurements.

[@MadManMusic]

Hey thanks for the comment and Thanks for watching. I have addressed this point in many comments including the one that's "Pinned"... and if you made it through the video itself, I actually mention making your adjustments and checking them in the Playing Position. Also, retuning your guitar after every adjustment is not necessary. Your guitar "should" only change in pitch ever so slightly after making any proper adjustment. It should not change nearly enough to throw off any measurement. If your tuning *does* change that drastically, you either adjusted it way too much or you have an even bigger issue and should see a professional for help. However, point being, determining the Neck's Relief is much more important during this process. Thanks again for watching! 🤘🏼😜

[@rogerpakrat800]

Exactly

[@Allie-w1l]

Thank you! Newbie here, trying to figure out if I need to adjust my truss rod: the Low E is business-card distance at the first frets, but over 0.120 by the 12th fret. Yet, when I press the 1st and 17th frets, the string can hold a pick in place at the 8th. Then I noticed my high E and B are practically touching the 1st fret. Both of them are held by a string tree which seems to pull them down. It has no spacer under it. Don't trees routinely have spacers? Could that be the problem with the high strings?

[@spaljenimaslacak7663]

ah, a fellow ESP enjoyer I see, a man of culture

[@MadManMusic]

Ha! You know it! ESP for Life! 🤘🏼😜

[@ryanwright9460]

Good video on truss rod adjustments. As an added note, if you are in a bind and have no straight edge, you can use a capo on 1st fret, hit your last fret and see if your string is just barely clearing all of the frets or lightly touching (the string will be straight from your contact points, so it can work, but not as telling as a straight edge). Ideally you want to just barely touch and the positions you are fretting will help see where & how much bow you have. Typically you will want a hair gap between 12-8th fret (middle lengthwise for the neck is where your gap should be) and it will give you a close, but conservative fwd bow which is more forgiving then a back bow.

[@MadManMusic]

Its a great tip! I did mention it briefly in the video. I didnt focus on it too much because it’s a bit more difficult to read than the straightedge method, especially “without” a capo. But thanks for breakin it down! 💪🏼 I’ll pin this comment so people can see it. 🤘🏼😜

[@ryanwright9460]

@@MadManMusic it definitely takes some extra patience. Your vids for Tech/tutorials are pretty sweet, you should have done them 20+ years ago when I was learning to play...but you probably were in the same boat as me then.

[@MadManMusic]

Thanks dude! 🤘🏼😜

[@PainterDans]

The tap 👍

[@Cognitoman]

What do you mean mean a “hair gap”? Like a business card ?

[@Zerback]

HI thanks for the video. Is it possible to have only one fret - note to have buzzing? on my case is only one and its the 6th string on the 1st fret only

[@MadManMusic]

Totally Possible! That means your frets arent “Level” one is sitting higher than that others. Search for a “Fret Rocker” on google and pick one up. You’ll set it across 3 frets at a time, if it doesn’t “rock” back and forth; those frets are Level. Is it Rocks.. BOOM you found the High Fret. Or you can just take it to be serviced. 🤘🏼😜

[@Zerback]

@@MadManMusic thank you!! I release some pressure and now seems better! I got my note back :D thank you again!

[@MadManMusic]

💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@freddysnightmare8391]

how long is your straight edge

[@MadManMusic]

I wanna say it was 50-60cm. Its been packed away for a while now, I’ve been using the 1st Fret / Body Technique. Stew Mac makes straightedges specifically for guitar necks! You should check em out. 🤘🏼😜

[@GothicXlightning]

that's a sexy very Metal Black Beauty of Honor right there my sir has that Doommetal going that i love in a good LesPaul-inspired G I Did enjoyed the 7th String version of that same Guitar ... i craving it now

[@robertpenland2429]

Thx for the info 🤘

[@MadManMusic]

You got it dude! 🤘🏼😜

[@Carmela-q9e]

So i need to intonate the guitar after truss rod adjustment?

[@MadManMusic]

You may want to check it at least. If the adjustment was minor it really shouldn’t affect the intonation too much. But if you change string gauge, then absolutely check your intonation. 🤘🏼😜

[@filterscape]

Thanks, any input you can give on my 7 string Ibanez ixl7 I’m experiencing bad buzz at 8 to 15th fret on the low B string only, worst at 12th fret. It happened after I put heavier gauge strings on. From 10-59 to 10-62 Ernie ball.

[@erinhendry2230]

nut slots

[@TheLbriggs5]

I wonder, what are your thoughts about hanging your guitars on wall mounts? Good, bad, indifferent?

[@MadManMusic]

This could be a tough one... I used Wall Mounts for Years with no ill effect to my guitars. But the weigh of guitar "could" straighten the neck. So I guess the 100% safest bet would be to use a stand that craddles just the body of the guitar. But again, I used walls hangers for a long time... I wouldn't worry too much about it until you see an obvious issue. 🤘🏼😜

[@PainterDans]

Just dont slam a set neck guitar on the hook with a heavy guitar

[@nickrose7592]

New sub here from LI NY. Good vid. Very informative and killer background music. 🤘🏻 Where you from originally? I guess Chicago?

[@MadManMusic]

Thanks! I’m from South Florida! 🤘🏼😜

[@nickrose7592]

@@MadManMusic wow.. from south Florida to Germany? That Must be some story bro.. you should tell it one day. 🤘🏻

[@MadManMusic]

Well, I play guitar professionally. Im in Pro-Pain and currently (like right now) I’m on tour with Napalm Death filling in on Bass and Stage Managing. Most of my work is here in Europe / UK. And obviously there are personal reasons that I live here as well. Its great! 🤘🏼😜

[@nickrose7592]

@@MadManMusic That is awesome man. You’re a fantastic guitar player. I’m glad Napalm is still touring! You have a good channel here… I see it definitely growing and growing. Good stuff brother. 🔥🤘🏻

[@MadManMusic]

Thanks dude! Very much appreciated! 🤘🏼😜

[@ruicarreiro7539]

Great video, thx

[@MadManMusic]

Glad it was helpful! 🤘🏼😜

[@mathias_411]

Good explanation! It is so satisfying setting up your Guitar by yourself perfectly.

[@MadManMusic]

Sure is! I really try not to have anyone else work on my guitars if I can help it. I’m a “Do It Myself” kinda guy. And with a little practice and some patience you learn the correct steps. Its awesome! 🤘🏼😜

[@venosvenos4588]

sorry but may i ask you, what if it is soft not resistance ? and one more question, when i give it one more tighten quarter turn, first fret get buz, should i keep going or ?

[@MadManMusic]

Questions are always welcome! When making an adjustment, if it feels like you have to use too much energy to make that move, DONT FORCE IT. Bring it to a professional. However if it is giving you some slight resistance that’s totally normal. But if its totally loose.. you may also have a problem, see a professional. As for fret buzz, if you’re trying to set your guitar with Low Action some Buzz is to be expected. The thing you do NOT want are “Dead Notes”. If the action feels comfortable, play each note on each string and check that none are being muted. I hope that helps, let me know if you have more questions! 🤘🏼😜

[@adambishop5739]

Why do I feel like I'm at a thrash metal concert, while the singer of the band up on stage, is trying to give a guitar maintenance lesson right in the middle of the gig?! I'm trying to listen to what this dude is saying but I'm finding myself getting into the music and ignoring what he's saying...not intentionally mind....lol...

[@MadManMusic]

🙈🙈🙈 Sorry.. the BG Music is too loud.. I’ll make a revised edit sometime soon. Live and Learn i suppose.. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Thanks for watching! 🤘🏼😜

[@adambishop5739]

@@MadManMusic No problem buddy...it was my first metal concert in a long long time (I think the last one was Metallica at Reading festival in '97...lol)..I enjoyed getting back to it!...

[@MadManMusic]

🤘🏼😜

[@the.communist]

Righty tighty thing is bollocks. It depends where youre standing in comparison with the guitar

[@MadManMusic]

The machine itself moves the same way. Clockwise to tighten, counter clockwise to loosen. This is why reversed headstocks and LP style headstocks use “Left Handed” Tuning Machines on the upside down side. So the gears are flipped and the machine will rotate in the same direction. 🤘🏼😜

[@Carmela-q9e]

If a have a lefty guitar does this aplly too

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

Mine only turns about .5cm left or right before there's resistance and it won't turn anymore, don't wanna force it so... It needs tension as the gap is 3 or 4mm in the middle of the neck, but nothing I can do.

[@MadManMusic]

That’s definitely not a lot.. perhaps lowering your bridge saddles slightly might help..

[@metroecco7908]

wtf is the background music man its almost as loud as u are either lower volume or no music at all

[@MadManMusic]

Thanks for the tip. 👍🏼

[@kevindougherty8036]

Is this Will Wheaten? LOL

[@MadManMusic]

The dude from Star Trek: Next Generation...? I don't get the reference... 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️ 🤘🏼😜

[@bykrdood8197]

If a person seeks out vids like this they likely already know the truss rod needs adjusting. I'd love to find someone who explains more on HOW to do it instead of trying to impress the audience with their wild knowlege about WHY we need to adjust it. This gentleman talks too much and spends only a fraction of the video on the HOW TO....which is what I searched for.

[@MadManMusic]

Sorry to disappoint you. I make sure to explain complex topics as thoroughly as I can so people that DONT already know what they need can know and understand how to achieve what they want. If you dont want to hear someone talk just buy a book. 🤘🏼😜

[@Kalides]

hard to hear, with all the noise"music"? in the background.

[@MadManMusic]

Apologies. If you need to, you can turn on the Closed Captions on the bottom right by the Progress Bar.

[@kbtube8125]

the topic of truss rod adjustment to guys is the same as the topic of colonoscopy. just, just don't bring it up. we can talk about happy things.

[@MadManMusic]

😆😆😆

[@kbtube8125]

you keep saying "width of your pick" i think you mean "thickness"

[@MadManMusic]

Yeah, that’s correct.🤘🏼😜

[@charliemcgrain]

unbearable music in the back ground

[@MadManMusic]

Sorry… thanks for letting me know. I’ll be sure to check out some of your videos and make critiques as well. 🤘🏼😜

[@charliemcgrain]

@@MadManMusic Sorry man, didn't mean to be offensive, the content was good and fun...just the music a little loud and kind of nagging. Good luck with the channel.

[@MadManMusic]

I appreciate that. I do try to keep things interesting and tasteful. But I suppose I cant win all the battles. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏼😜

[@datraucous3351]

Hahaha 🤣

[@grubbytron]

This could have been a 1 minute video.

[@MadManMusic]

You’re right it could have. So make it. 🤘🏼😜

[@christineblack4654]

oh my god lol wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to long. i just want to know wich way to turn. no need for you lifes story. omfg

[@MadManMusic]

Thaaaaaaaanks for your unnecessary insight. 👍🏼 Have a great day. 🤘🏼😜

[@Strat.1]

I have been playing for over 50 years and I have never ran into any guy that has played for any time that was terrified of adjusting the truss rod. It seems like today the male population has turned into to nothing but a bunch of pantywaist. If you are serious about play the guitar you need to know how to work on them. All the great players like Page, Hendrix, Beck etc… all worked on their guitars. I made my living a a session musician and got to play a lot of great bands and players. If they where playing and something wasn’t right they would sit down breakout there tools and fix it. So stop the Winnie stuff and check out a little info and adjust your truss rod, action, intonation whatever just do it.

[@MadManMusic]

Confidence definitely comes from experience. The exact purpose of this video to is reassure guitarists that they can indeed adjust their truss rods on their own with ease. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏼😜

[@Cognitoman]

Lol😂 yeah your right. I’m younger then you I’m 36, and people my age are a bunch of cry babies and get offended by everything ... and now the new generation is really terrible ... I don’t want to get political, but I don’t think our country will be going on much longer

[@Ahuh_suh_dude]

You’re so humble. Maybe leave the name calling and grandstanding at home. This is a video people watch to learn how to do it themselves, therefore this comment has no purpose. I don’t care how long you’ve played, this attitude doesn’t encourage new generations of people to enjoy and share the same things as you.

[@Cognitoman]

@@Ahuh_suh_dude ohh yeah I guess that is somewhat true, if your watching this video you prolly plan on doing it yourself

[@onlyusernameleft2]

People don't want to adjust their truss rods because Big Guitar Tech tells them it will break their delicate guitars. Have you ever tried to smash a guitar?! Look at Pete Townsend, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix. They all had extra long songs to end their encore sets because it takes so many whacks to smash a stratocaster and those are held together with teeny, tiny little screws. Now kids watch wussies like Muse or AWOLNATION and when they go to Guitar Center some long haired dropout with dinner plates in his ear lobes tells him (or they/them am I right fellas lmao) not to adjust their truss rod or they might break their $200 guitar that was made in CHINA!!1! And they're all a bunch of big baby mama's boy millen-yools because they're puttin' soy in all of our food! That's why I don't feed my kids, so they won't be weak.