Dual action trussrod conversion in a vintage Brazilian Rosewood Martin D-28 guitar (sacrilege!!)

Рет қаралды 19,299

Күн бұрын

This is a video which gives a good overview in what is required to put a trussrod in a vintage Martin guitar. This is not a tutorial, just a video to show you that it can be done. Some people think it’s a bad idea, but the truth is, With a good Trussrod, a guitar can play much more easily! Don’t be afraid to resto-mod! #woodworking #acousticguitar #vintagemartin #brazilianrosewood #trussrodconversion

Пікірлер: 68

@scottreeves1226 2 ай бұрын

I have a 1968 D12-20 that had the WRONG truss rod installed-way too long and skinny. I plugged the channel, recut the channel, and installed a double-action rod. What a great modification! Also, regarding the truss rod tool, StewMac sells several of these, including one that wiggles around the upper soundhole brace and into the truss rod nut. It's better than putting a hole in a brace. Happy Holidays!

@Hamm-toneGuitars Ай бұрын

Awesome! I love resto-mods….even on the guitars that you’re not supposed………!!!! Happy holidays!!

@earlsinstrumentsandtunes9732 Жыл бұрын

The double rod is the best neck reinforcement device ever designed. They work! I have put these in several 70's dreadnaught Martins and never had any issues or regrets..

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

I completely agree. As far as guitars go, those 1970’s Martins are the best built, most hotrod-able guitars available at a reasonable price.

@cropduster2740 Жыл бұрын

I love your no fuss attitude and got her done. Good job.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks! Next one up for a trussrod conversion & neck reset is a ‘63 D-18. Be well!

@tomzito7907 10 ай бұрын

I have a 1975 Martin D 28 with similar neck relief issues. It is only playable in the first position as well. I would gladly have a truss rod installed if I could afford it. I’ve always wondered if this was a possible solution. Thanks for showing how it’s done.

@Iazzaboyce Күн бұрын

I like the idea of two carbon fibre rods (I've heard two of the right thickness will give perfect relief) this way the guitar ends up more like the way it was made.

@Bush-gj7mu 4 ай бұрын

A number of years ago, I came across a 1967 D12-20 that was in immaculate shape but had never been played too much because of improper setup and the neck was bowed like a banana-It almost played like a slide guitar. I did exactly this job described here plus a neck reset but the purists on the Martin forums told me I was ruining the guitar and it's value. I think the hardest part was building the jig to route the neck channel out. I played the "Ringer," as I call it, last night. The tone and sustain are incredible. The "Ringer" is getting played regularly instead of sitting in its case in a closet somewhere. I would highly recommend this, especially for 12 strings, instead of compression fretting.

@Hamm-toneGuitars 4 ай бұрын

100%! Nice to hear about your trusty old 12!! Thanks-Jeremy

@EbonyPope 4 ай бұрын

@@Hamm-toneGuitars That channel looks off center. Did you measure it?

@Hamm-toneGuitars 4 ай бұрын

@@EbonyPopethe new channel was centred on the original which was not centred.

@lpjbird Жыл бұрын

I did this on a crappy messed up Fender acoustic that was meant for the trash someone had screwed up big time…I’d never done this before & figured this was a good way to learn…It came out really nice surprisingly so I ended up replacing the nut & saddle with bone, new pickguard & it plays & sounds pretty ok for what it was.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

I figure it’s always to give it a shot! So many people just think about doing it/trying something different. Glad to hear it worked out well!

@damham5689 10 ай бұрын

Seems like all the really good acoustic guitar luthiers are in Canada. 👍

@norgermish1 Жыл бұрын

Heat press "can" spring back in a couple weeks but it can also hold for years. Nice to see how it's done at least to see that it gets done though all the fun stuff was left out. Thanks for the vid

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

I have another one that I have just started… I’ll try to do a more detailed recording of the process and post it later. Thanks for your feedback!

@rickfinsta2951 Жыл бұрын

I know this is an old video, but I had my luthier do a heat press on my '72 (which probably has a T-bar as well) and the neck hasn't sprung back appreciably; that was around ten years ago. It was a last ditch effort to put off the neck reset which will have to happen the next time I bring it in for frets. I've owned the guitar since about 1998 and I am on my third set of frets (I play a lot, and with a lot of vibrato so I really grind those frets down). I just dressed them this year so likely this time next year it'll be going under the knife. I play this thing with a 0.013"-0.056" set. I also do check things like relief and string height periodically to make sure she is happy (humidity and whatever) so I was surprised to hear you say it was only a temporary fix. I must have gotten lucky!

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

You are lucky! Great to hear it works out well sometimes! I think it was mid 1963 when they switched from the T bar to the square tube. I have a ‘71 with a square tube. It had a reset in 1996 and still plays very well.

@robbyrobby7721 11 ай бұрын

Great work, great attitude

@Hamm-toneGuitars 11 ай бұрын

Hey thanks!

@WhammyBarTV 4 ай бұрын

fantastic job mate, very impressive

@Hamm-toneGuitars 3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@gsuderman Жыл бұрын

Great video. would have loved to see the soundboard routing for the patch.

@franklinslamo 9 ай бұрын

I would like to see a little more about how you created the truss rod access hole from the inside. Thanks.

@Hamm-toneGuitars 9 ай бұрын

Next time I do a conversion, I’ll put some more detailed shots of that step in a video.

@sveablu 10 ай бұрын

I totally agree! Get that puppy playing again.

@DirkRadloff Жыл бұрын

I would fear, that the body is falling to pieces, when I heat the fretboard to remove it. I have an old custom acoustic lying around with a broken trussed and it's not worth enough to bring it to a luthier, so I would try it myself.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

Fantastic! I hope it goes well!!

@ronwhited1224 10 ай бұрын

My 64 D-21 needs this as well.

@Hamm-toneGuitars 10 ай бұрын

It’s so nice to have a secretly adjustable vintage Martin. You can keep it as your secret and make everyone wonder why your Martin plays better than theirs!!

@windhill2011 5 ай бұрын

Ever try compression fretting? Good way to fix a bowed neck in an old Martin. Much less invasive..

@Hamm-toneGuitars 5 ай бұрын

Compression frets are a very good concept, but they don’t always work as well as one may hope. The climate here fluctuates from 65% relative humidity to 5%, and with those fluctuations, it’s really nice to be able to adjust the truss rod accordingly. The neck can move a fair bit in the spring/fall/winter.

@PabloVeloso-lx4od 10 ай бұрын

Question 😅 what if a truss rod is turned counter clockwise and nothing happens? Is it a single action? Thanks

@Hamm-toneGuitars 10 ай бұрын

Often it takes a half turn to a complete turn counter clockwise to see if it’s dual action. They’re all different……

@PabloVeloso-lx4od 10 ай бұрын

@@Hamm-toneGuitars did a half turn and its pretty stuck. Tried to remove the fretboard and accidentally cracked the first fret luckily its a low budget guitar hehe. Just checking if its fixable. And by the looks of it. I think its single action truss rod. By the way thanks for replying man!

@imlijc7588 4 ай бұрын

Action a bit high or is it coz m listening from my phone..

@Hamm-toneGuitars 3 ай бұрын

After the guitar was done, it had really nice action. Beforehand, the action was very high.

@nellayema2455 Жыл бұрын

Nice work! It's amazing how Martin and Gibson used such bad ideas in their acoustic instruments, such as the non-adjustable truss rod in the Martin, and the goofy, tone-killing adjustable metal bridge insert that Gibson used. Bean counters influencing guitar construction to save a few $$ on each instrument has lead to stupid designs over the years.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

🤣👍

@robertwilson6144 Жыл бұрын

My 60 year old D-28 with non adjustable T bar neck reinforcement has NEVER needed a neck reset and has as good action as my 2 month old 00-18. Why fix what’s not broken?

@fgoindarkg Жыл бұрын

That's a rare bird that doesn't need a reset.

@ToddBrooks-gm6hy 9 ай бұрын

Jimmy D'Aquisto would try to talk customers into not having an adjustable truss rod but rather a bar. If you think you know more than Jimmy D.... you don't.

@TheArcGuitar 8 ай бұрын

What are your acoustic setup specs? I set my affordable Washburn up to 19-10 thou nut heights and 4-3 32nds with a capo on the first, 3-5 thou relief. I plays pretty fast.

@Hamm-toneGuitars 8 ай бұрын

With action relative to the first fret, between 7/64 and 6/64 on the bass side, and 4/64 and 5/64 on the treble side on an acoustic guitar. I usually aim for a minimal amount of neck, relief, somewhere between .006” and “.012”. Nut slot height, in relation to the first fret, after the neck, relief and saddle is adjusted properly, usually somewhere between .006” and .012”, depending on the guitar, playing style is also a factor.

@EbonyPope 4 ай бұрын

That channel looks off center. Did you measure it?

@Hamm-toneGuitars 4 ай бұрын

Believe it or not, the original channel was offset slightly… This was the only guitar that I’ve seen so far come out of the Martin factory where the Trussrod was offset… On an angle a little bit. I like that you picked up on that. Good eye.

@EbonyPope 4 ай бұрын

@@Hamm-toneGuitars I have a cheap strat copy that is otherwise well built and it has the same problem. The original truss rod is a few millimeters offset. I guess I'll plug the whole channel and re-route it.

@nsb6695 Жыл бұрын

@Hamm-toneGuitars Hey dude I have an old slingerland songster from the 30s that belonged to my great grandfather- the neck is bowed and there is no truss rod. Do you think you could fix it and make it playable again? Would love to restore it

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

This is definitely something that can be done. You can find my contact info @ www.hammtone.com

@jasoneugenides5770 9 ай бұрын

I have no problem with your resto-mod

@Hamm-toneGuitars 9 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@Artorias001 Жыл бұрын

Purists are probably losing their minds at just the thought of doing this mod but if I had the money and a vintage Martin I'd rather modify the instrument and have something playable vs a collectors item that'll not be usable.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

I whole heartedly agree! Thanks

@robertamato358 11 ай бұрын

Absolutely true if you know you are keeping the guitar to the grave. In this case, why would you ever sell such a treasure? However you must acknowledge that the ultimate monetary value of the instrument will take a big hit because of this modification. That’s just the way of the world.

@randomuser48737 11 ай бұрын

You get the point, wish there was more people like you

@allancopland1768 11 ай бұрын

2:40 in and I learn a new trick. Feed current from an old solder gun into the fret to heat it.

@Hamm-toneGuitars 11 ай бұрын

It works so well, there is no comparison

@Hamm-toneGuitars 11 ай бұрын

How to remove guitar frets with a soldering iron (in my opinion it’s the best way) kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2arn2SCq8aba68

@jonahguitarguy Жыл бұрын

Compression fretting is also an option. Not nearly as functional as an adjustable truss rod of course. I'd be hard pressed to talk any of my "true believer" Martin customers into doing that mod.

@Hamm-toneGuitars Жыл бұрын

I always appreciate the customers who are both “true believers” in Martins, but also “true players”! Compression frets are definitely a good alternative.