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rounded nut on a truss rod
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=15049		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  blindreality [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:27 am ]
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I've got a repair to do and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the job done. Someone brought me their Fender bass with the truss rod bolt rounded off. And I mean round. I don't claim to know a lot about this yet and I've basically told the guy that he needs to be ready to either spend a lot of money having the rod removed, or replace the neck, but if I can find a way to help him out cheap, I'd prefer it.


So, is it possible to remove the nut and replace it with another assuming the threads are still good? Would one of those extractor sets work or do I need to goto stewmac and buy their rescue kit?

Author:  Evan Gluck [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:08 am ]
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Hi Jared,
which bass series is it? What wrench are you using? 1/8 3/16?
Best, Evan
Author:  blindreality [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:42 am ]
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[QUOTE=Evan Gluck]Hi Jared,
which bass series is it? What wrench are you using? 1/8 3/16?
Best, Evan[/QUOTE]


It is a 5 string Jazz Bass. A close inspection of the nut reveals that is it nearly perfectly rounded out. It looks like someone used a small key and worked their way up. I tried a couple differant sizes just trying to find something that would even grab at all, nothing. The only thing I can think of to do is to


a. use an extractor bit, which could break off.
b. use a larger wrench and jam it in, but I'm not sure I like the idea of the amount of shock that might require.
c. file out a groove in the nut for a straight edge


But once I did, should I be able to unscrew the nut, remove it, and replace it? I've never tried anything like this.
Author:  Evan Gluck [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:23 am ]
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Is there a black plastic sheath or walnut plug at the access point of the truss rod? I know it is rounded but was it a 1/8 or 3/16 opening?
Evan
Author:  blindreality [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:45 am ]
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Plastic sheath. I won't have it directly available for about 5 hours.
Author:  FishtownMike [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:03 am ]
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Are we talking the bullet type nut that use's a allen wrench or a standard nut like a gibson or the + slotted type at the neck end? The stew mac kit is for repairing striped threads on the rod and not removing rounded over or stripped nuts. If its a bullet type a tool like the grabit extractor would probably work. But the nuts are usually brass and this being so the extractor could also strip out depending on how tight this nut is.
Author:  Mike Loukakis [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:25 pm ]
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Hi Jared,
For allen type nuts I have had some luck(many times) by using torx type drivers. If you get the right size the points of the star can dig into the walls of the hex socket and you could have a chance to remove it.On some occasions where nut removal was not possible (double action truss rods) I was even able to adjust it by pre-bending the neck and tightening the nut.
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:33 pm ]
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A screw extractor should work fine. You already have a well-centered hole for it.
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