Fender strat truss rod

[djl]

Hi all!

Advice/help much appreciated. I've got a 62 hot rod strat in which the truss rod is really difficult to turn. It's a quite thick maple neck with the vintage type truss rod adjuster at the heel end. I've never been able to move it (in either direction), since it was bought.

I play with 11-49s, and have previously taken it to tech who heat treated it about a year ago, which did straighten it out but (maybe with the hot weather) it has gradually become more concave and the actions getting higher.... I've read a bit on other forums, and advice seems to be differing - people suggest pulling back on the neck to artificially straighten it tightening when straight. I could also get it heat treated again, or do you think it's a case of biting the bullet and just getting fingerboard stripped and rod replaced (although this sounds expensive). If anyone's had similar probs with recent fender necks, advice would be appreciated

Cheers!

[AndyR]

Hi, I'm usually comfortable with truss-rod adjustments. But this sounds like one I'd be taking to a tech.

Why did the tech have to heat treat it? Was he not able to unfreeze the screw either? The first thing I'd want to do is get the screw freed up so it can do its job properly. I've seen a video about fixing that, not sure where, might be on stewmac. Thankfully I've never had to do it, though. It's pretty much get the nut/screw off without stripping it, cleaning it up, making sure it moves smoothly, then putting it back on.

When the screw is working smoothly, yes, I've also heard that you can coax a neck into straightening by loosening the rod, holding the neck straight and then tightening the rod back up. I can't remember whether you do this with strings on or not... Also very extreme cases involve heat/steam, I think. I'm pretty certain though, all of these things rely on the fact that the truss rod is capable of being adjusted. If the screw is frozen or hasn't got enough of an adjustable range, it can't do the job...

That's about the extent of my knowledge, and I have to admit that if I couldn't move the screw (even to loosen it), or if I could but the tightest I'm prepared to take it still results in too much relief, then I'd be taking it to a tech myself. I'd like to be able to watch and learn, but there's so much expensive damage I could do with the knowledge/experience I have at the moment.

I think, if it was so bad that the only option was replacing the entire truss-rod, then replacing the entire neck would probably be cheaper. I'd have to really love the neck to have it taken to pieces and rebuilt.

:( Good luck

[djl]

Thanks Andy

Yeah, I fear a trip to the tech might be imminent. I can't remember why he heat treated it, not sure how hard he tried to get the truss rod working first time round.

Nearly all my guitars have the truss rod adjuster at the headstock end, and I've adjusted them with no probs at all - part of the problem is that this is at the other end of the neck and so involves removing the neck to adjust it. I'm just not really sure with this type of truss rod how much force to put on it myself, or if there's a specific tool other than a philips screwdriver I should use.

Anyway, might give it a quick go later, if it is still completely stuck then I guess it's a job for the tech

[Philly Q]

Don't really know what to suggest, but I think you'll get a much better grip with a large flat bladed screwdriver - even though the nut has a "cross" head I don't think it's meant to be adjusted with a Phillips screwdriver.  I'd be very careful about applying too much pressure, though.

I know what you mean about the Hot Rod 62 Strat neck, it's a big chunky thing so I can imagine the truss rod struggling if there's a problem.

[djl]

It is a big neck!

Just assuming worst case scenario (which I've got a feeling it might be) and it's just a knackered truss rod - which would you guys go for, pay for the repair work or just get a new neck? I really like the guitar and would like to keep it as good as poss.
Are the replacement necks as good as the originals, in terms of playability and tone? I'm not too bothered about resale value as this guitar is one I play all the time and isn't going to be sold anytime soon, but I gig with it a lot and it sounds great (BKP slab board p/us!)

Thanks for all your help

[Philly Q]

I don't know how difficult/expensive it would be to repair the trussrod - we have a few expert guitar builders on the forum who could advise, I'm sure.

Replacement necks are fine, but it would be quite difficult to get an exact replacement for the Hot Rod '62 neck.  It's just about the biggest general-production Strat neck Fender make, as far as I can tell - I paid quite a lot to buy one of those necks just recently!  If you wanted a real Fender neck for a reasonable price, the Mexican-made Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Robert Cray necks come pretty close, and both have fairly big frets and flatter-than-vintage radius.  But they don't have the nitro finish.

Outside of Fender, you've got Warmoth, USACG, Musikraft, Allparts etc - they all make a choice of neck shapes and types.  I think the Warmoth '59 Roundback is pretty close to the Hot Rod but not quite as chunky.  Their biggest necks are the Fatback and Boatneck, but they're both 1" deep from nut to top fret, which is a bit too hefty for my liking.

[WezV]

simple things first - have you tried loosening the rod?  if you can loosen it then take it off and give it a drop or two of oil or grease before putting it back on and trying again

but since a tech has done quite extensive work on this neck already its worth talking to them about your truss rod issues

the neck will have been heat treated either for a twist or a back bow which cannot be corrected by the rod. but i seriously doubt the tech would have tried either of these without loosening the rod first, the last thing you want when trying to manipulate a neck with heat is a tightened truss rod fighting your efforts

heat treatments dont always last forever, especially if its internal tension in the wood that made it warp in the first place

[Tomcaster]

If you have such issues I would use the opportunity to exchange the truss rod plus fingerboard. You could ask for Brazilian Rosewood, as on the old Strats. It is a bit more work but still way cheaper than a new neck plus you get something like in the good old pre CBS times.