How To Adjust Your Guitar Neck (Electric & Acoustic)

[@gibsonguitar]

▶ Get all the tools you need to adjust the action on your guitar HERE: bit.ly/4cQOsZM ▶ Get the T-shirt Jim is wearing: bit.ly/43Rvr5d ▶ Shop Your Gibson Guitars HERE: bit.ly/3VQR5o5

[@henryhoward8341]

Simple rule: Hold the string down at the 1st and last fret. There should only be a slight space between the string and frets. Then adjust the rod (right=tight / left=loose). If a neck is too flat, you will get fret buzz from frets 1-3. Then loosen to find the "sweet spot" (flat as possible without buzzing from the lower frets). Then do a slight "nudge" in the opposite direction to secure the rod at its new tension.

[@hushhog1]

This is what I learned from Peavey a long time ago. Great information Jim. Every player needs to know how to adjust a guitar properly and not be scared of the truss rod!

[@RJW14]

Man I remember taking my guitar somewhere cause the truss rod needed a third turn🤣 Now I look back at myself and think "that guy was right not to charge me for this". Which honestly was very nice of him.

[@thestlguitarman7244]

Can you do how to do intonation on a hard tail/tune-o-matic bridge? (Les Paul, SG, etc...)

[@gibsonguitar]

It’s coming

[@ecrecords615]

we always wanna adjust the truss rod first, then action, then intonation. I imagine they'll post all the vids in that order :)

[@ThomasBrandoGreenman]

These videos with Jim are pure gold. Great to watch for beginner or higher. And a great reference to get the most out of your guitar. I personally get more enjoyment out of playing the more I learn how to better maintain it - if I only learned these things years ago!

[@fredrik999z]

I like there is not much crap talk as many videos, straight and informative. It's also not a commercial for selling a lot of expensive tools with great advice to use what you'll have at home.

[@hkguitar1984]

I had no idea Gibson invented the truss rod................Thank God!

[@laughingdaffodils5450]

They didn't, truss rods had been used for over 10 years before that. Not the only time Gibson patented something someone else invented - humbuckers are another. Gibson lies, a lot.

[@JacarandaMusic]

@@laughingdaffodils5450 and there was a make of guitar with adjustable necks in the 1830s; the Staufer (usually with 'ff' but mine had one 'f'.

[@Deke1]

@@laughingdaffodils5450 and sues a lot

[@Otis-Isom]

@@laughingdaffodils5450 the humbucker and filtertron were created at the same time. Bothe seth lover and the creator of the filtertron made a hum-bucking pickups at the same time but Gibson patented it first. Gibson invented the humbucker

[@laughingdaffodils5450]

@@Otis-Isom "Gibson invented the humbucker" in 1955, you really believe that? Then explain this: docs.google.com/viewer?url=patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/USRE20070.pdf Neither Mr Butts nor Mr Lover could have possibly invented the humbucking guitar pickup in 1955 when Mr Lesti patented a humbucking guitar pickup 20 years earlier!

[@viwaldi47]

Thanks, Jim.Great information ! Greetings from Poland,Warsaw!

[@paulfrehley3101]

I've been waiting for this official truss rod adjustment video, THANK YOU!!!

[@larryburwell8550]

your ace?

[@bkozlo09]

I love this series. Thank you Jim and Thank you Gibson

[@philippeguischer7291]

For what it is worth ... I think Gibson went through a difficult period with its image during the last decade at the least.and I understand why.. not to say youtube is the proper solution but I think Gibson "the process", plus affiliated videos, and especially Jim Decola fronted them are doing a very good job to bring back the legacy Gibson deserves

[@DougHinVA]

Gibson is a company and 'deserves' nothing. A better product that is a saleable value will take care of all the earnings and no need to 'deserve' anything you say.

[@jokerplasma7960]

There is literally no Video in German that showas this so Professional! Thank you so much and best wishes from Germany!

[@M81_WOODLAND]

WOW!! Someone FINALLY explains this in a way that I can understand. And I DON'T have to get gouged on tools from StewMac to do this! Excellent video Jim and Gibson. Thanks so much!

[@SimonHaestoe]

Dude, StewMac explicitly gives options for those who dont want to/can buy stuff.

[@brentonhefner7769]

This is great. Really appreciate Gibson taking the time to help people gain some mastery over instrument maintenance. It’s a real shame when people don’t play because of poorly setup instruments and truss road phobia keeps them from troubleshooting.

[@brandons8046]

Thanks Jim. You've taught me a great deal in very little time. Love your videos.

[@mateoaristizabal]

AWESOME, this days I was searching videos about this, and what's better than gibson to learn that? Right

[@keithp8521]

Thank you I just adjusted my 60s Les Paul standard due to string weight decrease! This plays like a dream now with minimal adjustment. Awesome!!!!!

[@amrreda1631]

Hi, I have the same les paul but whenever I put capo at 1st fret and press on 15th and measure 0.08” am getting buzz from High E string and my action is 2mm low E and 1.5 High E. Can you share your measurement and do you capo and 15th fret or what?

[@tonepilot]

Nice to have an official Gibson video on this as there are so many conflicting videos out there. Thanks!

[@jasonpedley]

Jim Decola speaks how I write. I love it. Also, loving that ES-335 without the bound.neck. I've got a Gibson Memphis with P90s and unbound neck.

[@awc112359]

Hey Jim - just did a neck adjust on my CME Carmelita R9 Les Paul. Your vid took the nerves away ... and the bow. It plays great now! Thanks for calm and thorough explanation!

[@thesmokinggnome]

Thank you so much for this! Been scared to fiddle with my truss rod until now, exactly what I needed. My neck was like the first guitar, way too much of an inward bow.

[@karlcantarella7982]

Thank you so much! This was such a great video. Explained everything so well. Really helpful, approachable, and thoughtful. Your personality shines through. Best!

[@spideymarino]

Another great tutorial. Thanks.

[@glass2467]

The best video on the subject!

[@MrJoey20007]

good format, would love more of these videos on a bunch of your models !!

[@snitra.]

you are a very informative man, thanks Jim!

[@antoniostelo4733]

5 thou= 0.13 mm, 15 thou= 0.38 mm this is the range. He ends up with 8 thou on the low side which is 0,20mm and 6 thou on the high side which is 0,15 mm.

[@TroyCarroll509]

Thank you for that. I really appreciate your clarification. He totally threw me off when he said eight thou on the low side as he’s measuring the high side. You can be one of the best at what you do but that doesn’t mean you’re a good teacher.

[@dollhouse3009]

Genius thanku for saving me a whole day

[@Ridevenice]

Metric system people are thanking you

[@afocante]

Tks

[@Mr.Heisenberg26]

Did you mean bass strings when you said low side or high side my english not very well and google translate didnt good translation also can I use this parameters on every guitar or these are just for gibson guitars if you explain me I will be appriciate

[@hogger88]

Very well presented.

[@Meatbasket2]

THAT was a great video. Thank you for making it. Who better to definitively show people, including me, how to do this than Gibson? Now I have 37 truss rods to adjust...

[@michaelsteven1090]

Love that black burst..

[@jimwguitar3002]

I love these videos!

[@GeorgeHead456]

Cool - I always wondered why you needed to adjust the truss rod and how.

[@williamcammer9211]

A skill every musician should have thanks Gibson!

[@TimeFliesTomorrow]

Great video. Ive always wondered about this. Thank you for the great video

[@arnowtc4674]

Great stuff!

[@ScatZacc]

Now I feel much more confident with making this adjustment on my own and not having to take it to someone else

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Ah just the video i was looking for. Thanks Gibson!

[@npet6842]

Always reduce the tension before tightening the truss rod . There's no reason to make the brass nut do all that work , just to de-tune it !

[@DougHinVA]

yes; he means let the STRINGS' tension down and then adjust the neck relief. Loosening the truss rod nut is no big deal with a tuned up guitar ... but tightening the truss rod nut against strings ' tension is...

[@wrtoomes600]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@Hell_Inc]

excellent video

[@walther9161]

What a pro!! Damn!

[@natemartin69]

Please please, show how you setup a tune-o-matic bridge pleaseeeeeeee

[@timeiseverything4]

Isn't this the guy that worked with EVH in the Wolfgang? Used to work for fender and now heads of Kramer? I think I spoke to him before.

[@alexanderkushnarev2247]

Oh god thank you so much Gibson. This is why you're my favourite brand. I have an Epiphone LP100 that desperately needs a truss rod adjustment. I don't have Luthier tools and can't get them in my country easily and I've always been intimidated to do it with KZbin tutorials but this is a great explanation and thankfully you explain it in both brands. Please keep it up.

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

Truss rod adjustments are the same for almost every brand *except* for Fender guitars, which is the reverse of almost all other brands.

[@DavidMorales008]

With all of the videos out there on how to do this, this, to me is the best most others rush thru like they are teaching people that already know, Thank You

[@sweetloveguitar]

Thank you for this video...but I have a question: what is the value when you mean "spec is 5000 for the high side meaning"...what 5000 stands for please? Thanks ;)

[@kreatos10]

Wow. Warehouse aside, my side room in the studio is low key starting to look like this.... To say that i almost went to a local luthier schools instead of starting my music university program in drum/ percussion (my main instrument; ) maybe i should get down to it and finally go learn the portion of the at i still do not know. Anyways. thanks for the video serie itll be handy next time i forget which way to turn the tross rod ....again

[@nevillegreg1]

Nicely explained, just would be convenient for you also mentioned or put up on screen the metric equivalent measurement. Just about all my measuring tools are metric.

[@ScatZacc]

Wow thankyou soo much for this. I recently bought a Gibson Les Paul Satin Manhattan back a few years ago. And havnt made an adjustment because I didn't trust anyone. But if Gibson says... Gibson says. Thanks guys!!!

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

I've read several comments on this post saying more or less the bridge setup can get close on intonation, but sometimes close is good enough. I do not agree. I have owned more than a dozen Gibsons (close enough) and three PRS guitars that were dead nuts on intonated from the factory. I still play the Gibsons live because I love them, but they are not the same.

[@michaeliskoo88]

Great video, very informative

[@garychen483]

I’m going to purchase a Gibson les paul but the product description says it is a single action truss rod in the neck. My question is does that mean it can only be adjusted in one way? What do I do if I want to add relief to the neck?

[@LuisSalgadoG95]

Note: Your should measure the relief in playing position, as well as intonation

[@stripedpants1668]

Agreed

[@RJW14]

This comment should be pinned.

[@enema_myanemones598]

Righty tighty, lefty loosey but make sure you are facing the top of the headstock.

[@sixslinger9951]

or simply remember to loosen, turn truss rod wrench towards high e and low e to tighten.

[@cw9790]

I've been watching these instructional videos over and over so when my left-handed Epiphone SG arrives, I'll have the knowledge and confidence to set it up correctly. Thank you, Jim and Gibson!

[@misterdjcalvz8102]

are there things to do first before tunning the Les Paul guitar 'to drop c or 'to drop b?

[@v3n0mm3n0]

If the measured distance between the string and the neck is too much isn't this because of overbow and not underbow as it is said in the video?

[@anolanbfg]

I'm glad you dealt with the relief being different on one side to the other- quite a few of my guitars are like that and I was beginning to get paranoid. Good vid

[@xjohn1970]

I love the 2020 Gibson & 2020 Epiphone Guitars.. The 2020 Les Paul's are fantastic as is the Explorer and V. Thank you Gibson for what you done with the Gibson/Epiphones from the 50s & 60s and the good pick-ups and wiring. GOOD JOB. PLEASE KEEP IT UP🤘

[@johnsimms3957]

I like to totally slacken the strings before adjusting the truss rod.

[@FrehleyBurst9-1878]

Jim, thank you for the great video and all the very detailed information. Keep up the great work! I'm looking forward to the next video!

Did I miss something or is he saying 8th fret but measuring at the 9th (twice)

[@notsosure7757]

Yeah to be honest, I'd rather pay my luthier £50 to set up my £2000+ guitars rather than risk it, however easy it is

[@HeadingNorth04]

I thought that too until a licensed fender tech fucked it all up. On multiple occasions ...in a row

[@rexnavarro2918]

Hi kids, Today I'm going to give you some advice that not only pertains to adjusting the neck of your guitar..but, will serve you the rest of your life. If you leave learning one thing I want you to remember this "Righty Tighty - Lefty Loosey". - Gibson Master Luthier Jim Rock n Rolla DeCola 12/03/20

[@alexgrishin8294]

Great lesson, Gibson! Thanks

[@billrosmus6734]

Are you not using the feeler gauges at the ninth fret?

[@solomonlopez3514]

Thank you so much! Such an easy to follow video. I had recently purchased a Les Paul body style and the previous owner had the trussrod so tight there was almost no relief at all. The guitar went from a buzzy mess to playing beautifully. Thanks again!

[@stranger360th]

Very basic and useful information, good explanations. Thanks. But what the heck stand 15.000 stand for? Come on, please, please use SI units as the rest of the world. I would suggest 0.15 to 0.2 mm. The USA are no longer part of the UK empire which - as Brexit suggests - probably like their splendid unit isolation. Btw, same with PSI. That sounds esoteric but not a useful unit for pressure outside the US :-) PS: No offense ...just a tongue-in-cheek reminder that your guitars sell world wide.

[@Tenbrink]

Couldn't agree more. At least he could've used inches. Knowing how illogical they measure things in the US by combining different units like feet AND inches for one measurement it's impossible for us in the rest of the world who use different multiples of 10 with the meter to understand what 15000 etc means.

[@jimboslice9472]

nice informative info!! thx Mark and Gibson !! 👍

[@Marcechesca]

Great video! But i cant understand the measures that you use in the 8th fret, can explain in mm? Or maybe for new videos can be the option in spanish, gibson is in all the world, maybe the subtitle can be in spanish, the youtube titles said that you use 15000 and 50000 measure i cant get it, sorry my english, Wait a reply about it!

[@crazybobc1]

Wow, great information, THANK YOU!

[@glennpace9783]

Where can I buy a pinky extender that gets me to the 8th fret?!

[@martinhosantos4858]

Can you do how to do intonation on a hard tail/tune-o-matic bridge? (Les Paul, SG, etc...)

[@thecaveofthedead]

Gibson: "Do as we say. Not as we do."

[@underworld3721]

Good tips Nice piece; good stuff. Take care.

[@adamx9987]

I'm brand new at guitar, just learning to work on my own. It seems like it would be better to loosen strings a bit before adjusting the rod. Maybe even give you a more accurate rod adjustment maybe? Probably don't matter but, is it ever applicable to do that? Thanks for the video!

[@Stashmanfpv]

You need tension on the neck to make the adjustments. Therefore, all strings must be under tension… ✌🏼

[@timlilly]

Nice one. I bet this man has a guitar collection to die for!

[@calsurflance5598]

Maybe not. Remember ,the shoemakers kids go barefoot. But you can be sure that whatever he has at home plays fantastic.

[@corncobjohnsonreal]

His truss rod history briefing reminded me of that zinc bit from the Simpsons lmao 😂😂😂

[@feral91_]

thanks for not avoiding to tell the difference between the high and low strings. Most videos do the safe thing to tell " there should be the same at both strings" and that's almost never the case. Real scenario videos, I'm falling in love again with gibson.

[@feral91_]

@@creamwobbly I live in south america, we pay epiphones with two full months salaries like they where gibsons, I feel you 😅

[@billbozly763]

Great video although it didn’t answer what I was hoping for. I have an es 335 with no relief at all so I loosened the truss rod a 1/4 turn, no change. Then another 1/4 turn, still no change. Went to adjust again and noticed the truss rod nut is now loose and I can turn it by hand. Did I go too far? Please help! And I still have no relief in the neck.

[@cgripp256]

“No more than 1/8 to 1/4 turn”. Turns it half a turn.

[@macgrory]

Yeah I saw that too!

[@delv2473]

I noticed that too and looked like it was tight already. I am terrified to adjust my LP any more as it feels tight but still has a little too much relief.

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

@@delv2473 nah don't be frightened. If it still has too much relief, chances are your action is probably higher than it should be and thus more difficult to play. He's an experienced Luthier and those people know what is doable and what isn't with each guitar. He likely gave that guitar too much relief to begin with to illustrate his points. So he probably already knew how far to turn it. Definitely stick with the 1/4 turn and you'll be fine. I have a guitar and the truss rod is very tight but can still be turned more lol. Do not be afraid of adjusting the truss rod as it is imperative to your playing.

[@delv2473]

@@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV OK thanks for the advice.

[@TheTrollMastah]

Hey Gibson, any way we can get a USA-made Epiphone Crestwood Custom with a nitro finish? If not how about a USA-made Embassy or Rivoli bass? I’d take any of those in Inverness Green :)

[@heavyjoechipman3594]

I'll tell ya this Jim Decola, I got major love and respect for you brother. You've brought the production standards at Gibson, to a new, greater, and better level. You are an awesome asset there at Gibson! God bless you and yours dear brother.☺👍

[@ianevans67]

So when you hold the strings down at the 1st fret using a capo do you actually clamp on the fret or on the point where you would play it eg in between frets. He wasn't clear on that and I'm watching on a small screen phone.

[@ale6680]

Is it safe to loosen a truss rod all the way? Guitar is Gibson Les Paul Custom

[@scottwhite2757]

Just a Great Upload Thank you :)

[@applehead252]

I’m pretty good but I always like watching and learning. Thanks so much !!!

[@hugodapalma]

Gibson, would it be possible to give us the values in millimetres? Could you write it down answering my post? I tried to contact you through the customer service but no answer so far since 2 days already.

[@細井邦生]

Now I know we need proper tools to adjust the neck, thanks a lot.

[@w1nchester32]

really useful video, however could i just make a small complaint about the constant switch in viewer position? Its really distracting.

[@freeelectron8261]

Some of the early Fender Esquires (Tele style with one pickup) did not have a truss rod and could be problematic as a result.

[@laurentb4978]

I thought we had to adjust the neck with the guitar in the playing position. Because of the gravity exerted on the neck when the guitar is in a horizontal position

[@216trixie]

No, gravity doesn't affect it enough to be detectable.

[@PlatinumBlack90038]

@@216trixie I detect it ― and I can measure it. 🔦📏

[@axeman7352]

That's why he had to loosen it back up

[@PTRK490]

Watch dave's world of fun stuff, he says its bullshit and doesn't make any difference.

[@MegaChoo2]

3:39 under bow causes buzzing in the higher frets? If you are buzzing in the high frets with under bow and you tighten the truss rod, thus lowering your strings…Im pretty damned sure your going to get more 🐝

[@dannyortega6454]

My trust rod is completely lose and my bow isn't enough to fit a card is that bad? my strings are about a nickle and a card on the 12th fret with nothing fretted

[@babagadoush1]

Yes please do an Intonation and Bridge or action set up for a Les Paul!

[@gibsonguitar]

It’s coming

[@peterbollig8035]

I don't know, you may have to send me that hollow body so I can check it for myself.😁

[@jayclark7155]

Where can one grab one of those neck pillows he uses?

[@NOR44]

protektormodel.com/

[@NOR44]

Protektor Rabbit Ear

[@jayclark7155]

Thanks!!

[@christopheraaron2412]

At the moment I'm just cleaning my fretboard and changing the strings and letting this run according to its algorithm and this guy is definitely teaching me a lot of stuff that I did not know before because basically I play the guitar but definitely deficient on all the other aspects of this! This guy knows what he's doing I can say that much and that is a hell of a lot more than I do!

[@delagreenpicti2022]

Thanks to Gibson USA 🇺🇸 for sharing this Excellent video!!

[@delagreenpicti2022]

You have cured my trussrod phobia ♥️♠️👍🏻

[@tobywestfall2970]

You say clockwise counterclockwise I say Lefty Lucy righty tighty LOL

[@efrenmoran8098]

What Marshall amp is that in the background? Anybody know