American Strat Rides the Lightning!

The Fender Bi-Flex truss rod has a unique feature that can make servicing difficult.

[@johnsee7269]

I was not aware of this; didn't know. One of the most informative set-up related videos I've ever seen. Truly a master craftsman type repair! Thanks! 🤟

[@billyc1956]

Very interesting. Wondered how to remove them plugs. That “lost in shipping” is turning into a real problem in our current USPS. It’d be nice to get real trained management there instead of brothers or sister or nieces or nephews or even worse...political appointments!

[@frankfacts6207]

USPS hires veterans first. Bitch to the Pentagon.

[@jonahguitarguy]

That's a job I hope never comes my way cause I'd probably have to use a soldering iron for heat. And you know how wrong that could go. It looks great as is.

[@twoodfrd]

If you've got a long 1/4" aircraft drill bit you can get most of it out and carve or sand the rest. It's hard to keep the edges crisp but it works.

[@TXstang347]

Would a magnet have removed the bit of broken off Allen key?

[@MJP_985]

pardon my ignorance, but is there a reason you prefer the traditional L shaped keys over, say, a longer T-handled allen key that wouldnt have you inserting and removing the key when you run out of travel? i picked up an eklind brand one off amazon that fits most of my import guitars for the occasional adjustment. having the handle out past the headstock seems to make it easier

[@tokenup420]

Careful you don't want to strip them.

[@kenthhamner2641]

Man, nice work on removing that plug. Surgical!

[@Aux1Dub]

“Be careful not to get any on the threads..” I know without a doubt I would get some on the threads.

[@acoffeewithsatan]

"... F*, I've just got some one the threads"

[@kevinsibert3160]

Same thing I thought. Only twice have I removed a plug at all, let alone putting super glue that far inside. I'd jack it up, I know it!

[@abarbee81]

Same. Smh.....

[@altruisticphilanthropic4647]

"A quick and extremely dirty mockup, here" - Ted, at his ever-humble best. The only "confusing" thing to me is your seemingly omnipresent ability to do triage...your patients are always in the best of hands when they visit your home. I hope the owner was thankful and impressed...continual truss rod adjustments are more than a "pain in the neck"...sorry, I couldn't resist.

[@Adipsia1]

Agreed. I wish you were in the UK.

[@dougdeeper2537]

I think one of the biggest reasons, people ask to ship their guitars across national borders, for you to repair, is because of your knowledge and insight into the craft. I hate to fawn, but you consistently amaze me with your ability. I want to attend a local luthier school, and you set the bar! I’ve watched other luthier and guitar videos, and I just cringe at how I’ve seen work being done. I’ve had work done on my own instruments that have left me very disappointed. My hats off to you twoodfrd!

[@kbkman7742]

You know there is a lot of relief when you can see it on youtube, on your phone.

[@moleman1961]

Ha! Same!

[@petemoore8923]

Yeah.

[@farfly7]

I thought the same thing

[@Draguitar]

Exactly

[@nickdryad]

Of course the irony of this is that Leo designed the necks to be removed easily so they could be replaced. Leo would have said “Hey man, why are you going to so much trouble?”

[@Rxbandit421]

Because most of the time that shoots the value way down is why I’d assume he went to all the trouble.

[@matthewJ142]

They should just make steel necks with a glued on fretboard.

[@nathanieldelrosario1324]

@@matthewJ142 damn that sounds heavy

[@e.l.norton]

@@Rxbandit421 I don't know if that holds true for non-vintage guitars like this one. Certainly for 50s, 60s, and probably 70s vintage instruments. But, after that I don't know how much it matters unless it was some special model.

[@sirhenners204]

@@matthewJ142 I mean they sorta exist, you have Travis Bean and EGC guitars

[@LostMountainRestoration]

Great job. The owner was lucky to find you.

[@marka.200]

We need to start a GoFundMe to buy a year's supply of Band-Aids for Ted's poor fingers. Painful.

[@jamesfetherston1190]

Weekly spa treatments with manicures.

[@tochriss]

Thanks for filming the repair. As always, a real education. Makes my Saturday night. (I should get out more!)

[@moonchild4806]

That is some gorgeous rosewood on that neck

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Looks more like Pau Ferro to me.

[@moonchild4806]

@@Jonathan_Doe_ It doesn't look orange enough to me, and I could be wrong but I don't think fender was using pao ferro in the 90s

[@bluemagic5829]

@@moonchild4806 They used Pau Ferro on the SRV and Jaco Pastorius models since the early 1990s. Personally, I prefer a super dark rosewood -- almost ebony.

[@moonchild4806]

@@bluemagic5829 ah, that's pretty cool. I prefer maple for my fingerboards over everything, I love the feel of the glossy board.

[@kbkman7742]

Looks almost like Brazilian with the thick dark grain

[@BeesWaxMinder]

B E S T BiFlex explanation I’ve ever seen👍

[@staive70ss]

I still don't understand it, my mind was spinning over the MacGyver plug removal part.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@staive70ss well, yeah! I mean ya just have to ask yerself is there a better way to remove it than that? & when you realise there isn’t you just have to admire the guy’s knowledge!😉👍 I’m afraid I have to admit that, in the past, I’ve rigged up some weird complicated drilling jig; unbolted the neck and just cut away with three different bits of increasing width until there is no plug left... 😳

[@gordon5004]

When that plug came out I was astonished.

[@CalHallows]

That little dowel plug heater is marvellous. It worked so well!

[@jerrytee2688]

Yeah, that was pretty neat.

[@garyjohnson4988]

This guy is good. I’m fascinated by his videos and knowledge. And I’m mainly a drummer!

[@wingracer1614]

They often aren't glued in very well. I've seen them pop out without heat just from adjustment on the rare guitar that needs the back truss rod adjustment. That's probably a good thing since you're far more likely to need to replace the nut than to need the two-way adjustment and if you do, it's easy to re-glue.

[@raylenin9322]

That guitar is boring AF but your work is super interesting!

[@andrewstpierre4837]

That little tapered dowel heater was simply ingenious. Awesome!

[@johnsalaman503]

The 11 thumbs down are from the competition who only dream of being this skilled..

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

There is no competition.

[@ChalkyWhite1]

@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 the Chuck Norris of luthiers.

[@TomSramekJr]

“Well, there’s your problem!”

[@ravingcyclist624]

Mythbusters ! :-)

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Communists!

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

Heat...or hëät. Englishman almost lost his coffee here :D Great work, a pleasure to watch.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

...so basically the last -ahem(!)-‘luthier’ snapped something in it but didn’t admit it😡

[@michaelprivate8115]

Or the player decided to "adjust it himself"..... :)

[@theexplodingmothfromhell8012]

@@michaelprivate8115 I suppose that player would be a "luthier" haha

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

And didn’t even attempt the old dab of superglue in the end of cut off earbud tube method to retrieve it.. Amateur.

[@NinerFourWhiskey]

Could have been in there for years and gone unnoticed.

[@acoffeewithsatan]

Yeah, I always feel uncomfortable when luthiers screw up the work and keep it shut. I mean, mistakes happen, I'm certain even the most competent and experienced luthier messes up from time to time, but I'd say the difference between the bad and the good professional is prioritizing their costumer's interests over their willingness to make money. I mean, I remember shit inevitably happening on Ted's videos despite his best efforts (the piezo magnet incident comes to mind) and he just sucked up the loss and repaired it. For more than once, an instrument I've got serviced didn't came back right up to my expectations. From a bone nut whose string spacing was messed up to a powderpost beetle treatment on a traditional instrument belonging to a musical fraternity I'm a member of that still had bugs leaving it (yuck!), I've went back to the techs who had serviced them. Sometimes mistakes happen and also equally possible, they pass unnoticed by the person - the way they then react tells them apart, as well as my willingness to ever come back to their shop.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I love the way you pronounce heat........or "heat"

[@PikkaBird]

Or "hüüt".

[@T4Eater]

I laughed out loud. Was not expecting a joke like that lmao

[@JC-11111]

Heck yeah, Ted! I've been wanting to see a repair that involves replacing the walnut plug ever since I found out Fender sells them ready to insert and cut/shave to shape.

[@harrisonandrew]

Ingenious way of getting that plug out. Truss rods scare the hell out of me - always have. Great job.

[@nehpetsamenied9068]

This channel inspired me to give my 25+ yr old squire a makeover. I gave it a new graph tech Tusq nut, new mojotone electronics, a black pearl pick guard and new knobs. It took about 4 hours. Then after I got it all together I gave it a set up and had to do a truss rod adjustment. It sounds sweet! I watch this channel so much I didn't even need to google anything. This channel is worth it's weight in gold! Thank you sir!

[@IAmKillEveryone]

don't go too overboard with mods or replacements on that old squire. they've gained a pretty big collectors market over the last few years, and people want them in factory spec condition if they're gonna pay a high price. those old mik squire II's went from being worth $80 five years ago to being worth $150-250 now.

[@wideyxyz2271]

@@IAmKillEveryone I was shocked when I found out how much my 90s Squire MIJ strat is supposedly worth! It was my second ever electric guitar and its never been messed with and plays great,,,,

[@enispenvy9174]

"Stew Mac knows this. They'll charge accordingly." Bahahaha

[@TheGeniuschrist]

I'm never gonna be a luthier, but I'm gonna buy a trash guitar and fix it. I'm gonna do that.

[@wodmarach]

@@Peterbrendanalbert you forgot the next step of "you enter the guitar build off just to prove to yourself your not a luthier"

[@wingracer1614]

I highly recommend doing just that. You can get cheap strat knock-offs for next to nothing and trying to turn them into something playable is a great learning experience and can result in a damn nice guitar.

[@factorylad5071]

That is remarkable , you think all luthiers do it by hand? No I think they have a tool and machine shop. Just saying.

[@ian-c.01]

Nice work, you are a true craftsman ! BYW you need to get some lanolin on them fingers, you will be happy you did !

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

‘Feels like it’s just the tip’ 😂 PHRASING LANA

[@jakevoss7885]

Glad I'm not the only one with a juvenile sense of humor that died laughing

[@telequacker-9529]

By the end of it he's telling us "at a certain point the nut reaches the rod"

[@gordon5004]

Lana, Lana, LLAAANNNAAA

[@AndrewReddyMusic]

Only an eighth of an inch

[@gtbones]

"Wood is unpredictable..." I'm sorry but I just had to get in on these comments....I'm 63 years old but I still hear things like I'm 13 years old.... :-) And I can tell you that with age wood becomes far more predictable.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Bryan Adams must be very happy with the superb and ingenious work you did. Now he can play "Run to You" and not worry about his Strat. :^D

[@faunaflage]

"I'm gonna trim the walnut plug with this tool. It cuts like a knife, but it feels so right."

[@kentuckywindage222]

@@faunaflage 🤣😂

[@KevinJohnson-yp6nr]

I was on the bass channel watching their cover of ride the lightning when I got this notification. Coincidence?

[@romes-demise]

i think not

[@hanovergreen4091]

Hey Boss. Why doesn't everyone just go with carbon fiber inserts and never think about truss rods in necks again? I know nothing...Just curious... Best Regards!

[@John-d9e4x]

Carbon fiber will bend with enough stress,

[@telecasterbear]

The fact that fender uses flat sawn maple is strange to begin with. Twice a year I have to adjust my p bass and tele. Quarter sawn mahogany on Gibson's that I had, was very stable. I always love the shellac aplication.

[@martinpark8371]

yeah i think its cheaper and drys quicker but needs adjusted from time to time my gibsons i adjusted once and never had to touch the truss since that was about 5 years ago ha!

[@telecasterbear]

@@martinpark8371 Exactly.

[@oqsy]

Loved this one! That nichrome heating is working out well on all your repairs!

[@acoustic9402]

Great Job , That was Pretty damn good on That Truss rod repair ...Excellent

[@budoray]

If only the cuticles received as much care as that Strat.

[@kjdude8765]

The cuticles don't pay the bills.

[@michaelwcorrieajr2278]

Nice job! You do great work and continue to inspire me on my guitar repair adventures! This one definitely would have been a real head-scratcher for me.

[@RonDylewski]

"or heat." Too funny!

[@matthewmargetts8516]

I really admire your work and this was another great example of your ingenuity and perseverance. Thanks for the video. Btw, I think it's ok now to pronounce solder as soder. I mean I say samon, not salmon, and I am a really pedantic Englishman.

[@Rich915]

Excellent ! Had a ‘96 Buddy Guy Sig Strat w/ a truss Rod nut issue. Always wondered how to access a faulty adj nut that would not tighten up any further than I could get to go. Quite frustrating as I did not have quite the skills you have! Well done! I eventually sold the guitar...sigh

[@kiddcomet3563]

Happy Easter 👍

[@theharvardyard2356]

Now you've done it! That more shallow chamfer on the new nut will destroy the tone!😉

[@davidkeeley8473]

Excellent video on a difficult repair. It would be great if you shared links for your DC power supply, nichrome wire and insulation. Thanks.

[@CesarAllGuitar]

Excellent video as always. Thanks for sharing and educating us.

[@drayve8590]

“..... it feels like it’s just the tip.....” ................THATS WHAT SHE SAID, THATS WHAT SHE SAID!!!!! Sorry, I couldn’t keep it in any longer.....that’s what she said.

[@senorstrike2852]

That is the smartest way of removing the walnut dowel that I've ever seen!

[@tonymurphy2624]

Yay! Another Ted Talk!

[@eric197819781978]

Not sure if you will read this Ted... I heard you mention many times that big containers of CA glue dried out on you, and I had the same experience. I think I found a solution. I applied vaseline on all the threads of the of both caps. After over a month, almost two, the glue seems to have the same viscosity. Hope this helps. By the way, I feel the same waiting for your new videos as my girlfriend waits for the next episodes of series. Hi from montreal!!!!

[@JC-11111]

I just put a whip tip on mine and melt the end of it closed. I've had the same bottle for 5+ months now

[@twoodfrd]

Yes! I started doing this recently and it's definitely the way to go!

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

That was great! Some proper detective work there - CGI got NOWT on you ... I´m a Brit in Spain.. Thanks for the Translations & FINBAR SAUNDERS !!!

[@benleydon]

FNAR FNAR

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

@@benleydon . YUK YUK !!!!

[@ianbarker2599]

And I think spell check was designed by the Chinese to f@#k all texts up 😁

[@alext8828]

You're really getting into the domain of brain surgery on a guitar. This is quite impressive.

[@jimhibert]

Love the detailed background and context of the truss rod before the repair.

[@beytone]

I’m so glad you decided to make this video!!! Amazing as always!!

[@stephendixon8575]

Wow Ted, that was fascinating. I have a gorgeous Candy Apple Red Strat Plus from the early 1990’s which also has the bi-flex truss rod in it (though fortunately mine works just fine and the neck is in great shape). Have often wondered how that thing works. Had looked at modern bi-directional truss rods, like those you demonstrated, but had no idea if or how the original was different - well now I do! Thank you Ted. Fascinating to see that you can get the nut out like that - you never cease to amaze me what you can come up with. I sure hope I never have to attempt that in mine. 👍

[@LiLi-or2gm]

Another fascinating video- thank you. Thankfully, I've never had a tip break off and get stuck in my . . . :P

[@santrixhimself3679]

Wow now i know what the problem was with that samick tele where i had to keep adjusting the trussrod.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Wow, its rare I learn somthing new - great video! :o)

[@arlingtonhynes]

10:08 One of **those** well-regarded shops.

[@guitfidle]

I have even seen one of these where turning the nut backwards actually drove the plug out without any heat.

[@wacokid2532]

as has been said many times - your videos and voice are perfect and can get someone without any guitar knowledge to sit through the entire thing just engrossed in a small repair. Nice work !

[@hydorah]

If this were a Gibson, the hater brigade would be pulsating their collective brain cell right now. It's a Fender... I scroll down, I see nowt... Anyway on a technical note: That is incredible that you managed to get that plug out whole! The one I did came out in pieces! It took aeons and was quite a worry. What a fine job you made of it - And a great vid. I particularly enjoyed the worn, tired and weary way you pronounced solder. Most comical :-)

[@chrisofnottingham]

I think the difference is, we all know Fenders were always made as cheaply as possible, so we are under no illusions, whereas a Gibson Les Paul has an arched body, a removable scratch plate (that precludes hiding the routing and wiring under the scratch plate) and a set neck - all for no actual improvement in sound or playability, so purely aesthetic. And thus we expect it will actually work too.

[@hydorah]

@@chrisofnottingham The Gibson' Les Paul's set neck actually tilts the neck back form the plane of the body, so does make a difference as does the arched top, this affects string break angles and ergonomics, didn't you ever wonder how the bridge could be so high, if the neck was just set at the same angle a Fender neck is? The mega thick body, materials and angles involved all affect ergonomics and tone, nowhere near purely aesthetic. Binding and fancy inlays on Customs is mostly just aesthetic though. But aesthetics are important too - And is a USA Strat cheap to reflect the less time and materials? Were Strats and Teles ever cheap? I'm not knocking them they are great sounding things and very clever but they certainly are designed expressly for manufacture as you rightly say. However the customer doesn't see any of those economies reflected in pricing and never did. Aesthetics were vital to the early success of Fender with wild colours that made some prominent people adopt them as well as that twang of course

[@joelonsdale]

Nice to hear someone transatlantic tackling the "sudder" / "solder" thing. Yes, words such as Squirrel, Mirror and Solder do get a little mangled sometimes!

[@jaaxxone]

Holy Cow, I must have missed it before, but the DIY heater trick is gonna come in real handy in a lot of situations. I already have a ton of nichrome wire, just need the insulator and some steel or brass tubing.

[@zapa1pnt]

Stainless steel tubing. and don't forget the high heat, plastic tubing.

[@perihelion7798]

History lesson and repair lesson, all in one video. This is why I subscribe to this channel. Excellent!

[@mhowden]

/ˈsädər/ :-D

[@danaeverhart6487]

Sir you are a true Luthier! The owner made a wise choice of letting you repair this screw up! You have our support! Peace my brother ✌🏻😊👍🏻☮️

[@kerrykrishna]

Your troubleshooting skills are amazing Ted.

[@mhoover]

I've snapped off many a ball end. We forget that the wrench is necked down and loses a lot of strength.

[@D989501L]

Surely the English speakers that watch your fantastic videos don't take the Mikky out of ghe nice Canadian accent do they Eh. Solder indeed. Regards Richard 🇬🇧

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Really Great! Thanks. I have wondered about this, but never seen it in person.

[@nolanneal]

Just the tip. Sorry, I couldn’t resist myself ❤️

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The 50’s heel adjust necks had the walnut plug because the truss rod gets inserted from the headstock end, the holes slightly bigger at the end and the rod has an anchor on it. Check out the original strat blueprints! They’re cool.

[@rogeriocosta1035]

Only for one piece necks.

[@Nimbus849]

Super informative man. 👍🏻

[@markbernier8434]

McMaster Carr usually has hex rod available. You can make custom wrenches out of it.

[@bills6093]

As long as the hardness of the rod is okay for making a hex key.

[@markbernier8434]

@@bills6093 easily hardened or annealed as necessary to make working end or curves or cranks

[@bills6093]

@@markbernier8434 Your average Joe has no idea what you are talking about, though. Make it too hard, and you will have ends snapping off, too soft and it will deform and get stuck, like a Harbor Freight hex key does. :-)

[@jbc4ua]

Get a manicure, thank me later

[@SuperMikalauskas]

I suddenly feel compelled to bite the skin off my fingers.....

[@Jester-Riddle]

Thanks for that inspiring and informative repair masterclass 👏

[@michaelcross934]

Thanks for showing this procedure! My Yankee strat was born, 1/'98; another late '97. Blessed with the Bi-Flex; mine still works just fine. Thanks, again, Mike from Fernwood, BC

[@timothycormier3494]

Of all the cool tricks that I’ve seen luthiers do. That plug removal is one Of the top five luthier tricks of all time. Very cool man! thanks!

[@fabdom6590]

Super travail merci de tes partage que je regarde de la France Metz.

[@rauschguitars]

Beautiful work on the repair, and thanks for the great lesson on the background and working of it! I'm a bit horrified by the over-complicated solution Fender came up with, even though the walnut plug is a nice decorative touch.

[@PatrickJWenzel]

Regarding removal of the rosewood plug, I haven't been this impressed in a while.

[@rustyaxelrod]

You are a clever man. That heater worked really nice!

[@erichanhauser3190]

Amazing.

[@Pete1390SDR]

Fascinating diagnosis process and repair... yet another job brilliantly executed. Compulsive viewing Ted, thank you.

[@millardbrown4769]

Wow!! Level 99 wizard stuff here. Really enjoyed this one!

[@patrickfouhy9102]

I have a music man guitar where the truss rod adjustment is on the body side of the neck with the same issue. I constantly have to put much heavier strings on it than I prefer just to keep the neck from back bowing. Is there a way to do this procedure on that type of truss rod? 2006 Music Man Petrucci Model.

[@DerekHerbst747]

With every video Mr Woodford makes it's increasingly clear that patience, planning and preparation are the skills that set him and any good repairman apart. I very much appreciate your content and gain a lot of confidence tackling jobs that are new to me.

[@jonq8714]

Man, what a master craftsman. So entertaining, I love your work.

[@carlmontney7916]

Instead of using a nice dual action truss rod like many other manufacturers use. Fender thinks they have a better idea. The bi-flex truss rod. One of the biggest pieces of junk that's ever been put into a musical instrument.

[@josephbrewer7026]

Fascinating video. Your explanation and visual demonstration of the dual action truss road system was great. I would never have guessed.

[@leevespa4564]

Really interesting video mate,thank you for explaining....which i think was very,very informative👍🏻

[@donkeyboy585]

I confess. I’ve broken off ball ends 😔

[@zapa1pnt]

This one was strange. It was only Half the ball end. You would expect the narrow neck, above the ball, to break off.

[@revchadbrooks]

I’ve got a 98 American strat that is a true burner. Folks don’t think about those late 90’s fenders as being great players. There are some duds...but there are also some gems.

[@MrSteppingstone888]

I stumbled onto this vid and I was think WOW while watching it, also what a great job on showing & explaining everything/ removing the plug floored me. / I will re watch it to see why the neck kept getting relief/ what do you charge a customer for all that time/ that guiar looked very cheap, especially that neck looked like a bad squire neck

[@crazywisdom2]

Just watched on a whim. Wow. Very Interesting and informative. thank you. Cool stuff.

[@dennisreeves632]

You do excellent work.