Truss rod turns but doesn't straighten neck

Chalky

Can anything be done to fix this? Guitar is a Vintage V52 Icon tele style.

stonevibe

Try loosening it first.

Then try to tighten it.

Cabicular

Not being rude but are you sure it's turning in the right direction?
I've done that before
If it's completely loose and the neck is still bowed it may be that the neck is out of shape
Although in my experience a good firm wiggle about can help
Grip the top edge of the body firmly and the top end of the headstock and give it a nice firm slow flex

Chalky

Thanks but I've tried it both clockwise to tighten/straighten and anticlockwise to ease/bow.

stonevibe

Probably cheaper to get a new neck for it then.

ICBM

How far have you tried turning it? It's possible that unless you've given it several full turns, it still hasn't come up tight yet. Some truss rods are sent out from the factory like that.

It's also possible that it has and that either the nut is stripped or the anchor at the other end has come undone… the first is fixable for less than the cost of a new neck, the second isn't.

Sarge

IIRC these are two way truss rods yeah? does loosening it lots give lots of relief?

Chalky

I think @ICBM is right that the anchor at the other end has come undone. The nut is giving resistance as I turn it but after a few quarter turns the resistance gives, then after a few more it comes back. Also loosening it lots does nothing for the bow. Good job I bought a neck on here some time ago. Was going to try in on my Harley Benton but now lets see if it fits this V52! Thanks chaps!

ICBM

Chalky said:

I think @ICBM is right that the anchor at the other end has come undone. The nut is giving resistance as I turn it but after a few quarter turns the resistance gives, then after a few more it comes back.

That sounds more like the nut has stripped and is clicking back one thread just as it comes tight. Take it out completely and see if some metal swarf comes out of the hole. If it is stripped, you probably need a new nut - luckily, it's usually the nut that strips and not the rod. The tolerances on the parts of cheaper guitars are often quite poor and just putting a different nut on it can often fix it.

I just had to do that on an ancient 'Woolworth's Special' - the original nut was so tight it wouldn't turn, but I could feel the neck twisting so I knew it was the nut jammed on the rod that was the problem. A different old nut from my box of random spare ones worked perfectly.

Chalky

Will investigate more then - thanks!

Sassafras

I agree with ICBM. Dodgy nut. If it was the anchor, it would just keep turning.

Chalky

Thanks guys. Ok, so unscrewed completely and looked at the 1 inch long nut and can't see anything obvious on the thread but don't have a spare nut to try. Could try one off another guitar but is there a risk of buggering up that nut too? Got to try it anyway I guess....

brucegill

Have you got any taps? You could at least check the nuts are the same thread and size... Or a bolt that fits it could be used to check the other nut...

Chalky

Clever thinking @brucegill - will see what bolts I can find. Thanks!

brucegill

@Chalky nay problem if you get stuck for a new nut I can posibley make one for you on the lathe....

ICBM

I could send you a random spare nut to try if you have a rough idea of what thread it is - I'm guessing it will probably be M6x1, most of them seem to be on far-east guitars. I have a few, it's one of the things I always save from completely scrap guitars.

Chalky

Thanks gentlemen. Based on your sage advice I will take the working nut off a V62 that I have and find a bolt that fits it. The I'll use that bolt to test the nut off the V52. I'll report back my findings. Time of a drink now. Cheers!

Chalky

@ICBM and @brucegill - Spot on gentlemen, the actions above demonstrated that the v52 nut was stripped! Now I have to find a generic for far east truss rods. Many thanks!

brucegill

Sweet! Hopefully ICBM Can sort you out. If not, get in touch bud

ICBM

If you can confirm it's an M6x1 I have a few spares, PM me.

Chalky

@ICBM and @brucegill -Right, I think I can see how it got stripped. The unstripped truss rod nut got very very tight in turning it enough (without any strings on) to get that little touch of backbow that I'd expect. Putting the same gauge strings back on showed it had worked as intended, leaving less relief than before. So now, is it worth unscrewing the nut and somehow lubricating the truss rod with wd40 or similar?