Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All

I want to get a few truss rods shipped over, stewmacs dual action hot rods look good. Any better priced equal performance alternatives that you know of before I commit?

Cheers

Kim

I must say that I prefer the flat topped rods from Gotoh, LMI or Allied Luthierie. I think Allied , a sponsor here, does them for about $14. The flat topped rods require no fillet and need a slightly shallower slot.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I like Stewmac's hotrods, all I've used to date, and I've got a sizeable pile I'll be using for the foreseeable future. They need a slightly deeper slot, yes, but unless you're building skinny, skinny necks that's hardly an issue (the deeper the rod's placed, the more effective). Neither requires a fillet.

Are Allied's dual action rods Gotoh? Because it doesn't say who makes the things. I honestly don't particularly care whether the things have a flat top or not. Not like it's getting glued to anything anyway...

I know Shane here has nice single action foe $12 each.

I have used a number of rods, the standard, one way Martin type, a 2 way martin style (from Gotoh I believe,) and the hot rods. Ussually I just use the one way adjustable but otherwise I like th Hot rods. The 2 way Goto one I used seemed to just bend the ends up or down instead of the whole neck, I'm not sure how to explain it but I just didn't like the way they worked.

I like the Hot Rod truss rods. The flat top rods from LMI and Allied seem a little weak.

kWhat Colin said. I'm using the Allied rods. Good price on twelve or more. (I think only about $9 each), could be wrong. A single flute 1/4" cuts a perfect, tight channel.
A two fluted bit is a bit loose.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I use LMI's TRSD double action rods they fit my .250" slots the Hot Rods from Stewmac require a .218" slot

Michael I was looking at Allieds ones as an alternative, what depthe of slot do they require.

I will check Russ I don't know off the top of my head

Looks just like The TRSD .250 wide x .375 deep Allied seems to be a better price.MichaelP38796.5136805556

Russell, they are 1/4 wide by 3/8 deep. And in lots of 12 or more they drop from $14 down to only $7.50 each. What a deal.
You can buy 12 cheaper than 10!

Ronold man38796.5213194444

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

FYI--I've bought two-way rods from LMI, Allied and Stew-Mac--a couple from each. In my limited experience, the Stew-Mac Hot Rods have, by far, the best workmanship. The Allied rods were the worst--sloppy welds on both and a torn heat-shrink on one. All the rods from Allied and LMI had some degree of twist in the solid (top) bar; other problems, too, but I can't remember right now which problem went with which company.

I use the StewMac Hot Rod and have been very happy. Never used the others so I cannot speak good or bad.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Out of 24 rods I have gotten from LMI I have had not twist in the bar nor bad welds. I have never used the Allied so can't say there.

[QUOTE=MichaelP] Out of 24 rods I have gotten from LMI I have had not twist in the bar nor bad welds. [/QUOTE]
I'm glad you mentioned that. Mine were bought several years ago, and perhaps they've improved their quality control; or, perhaps I just happened to get the two-out-of-twenty-thousand that were bad. I didn't return them or complain, so I didn't give them the chance to make it right. For better or worse, though, I bet I'm like a lot of people, in that I tend to stop buying a product if I've been burned once. Just a reminder to folks who make and sell things.

I've got locally bought Gotoh rods now but always used the LMI rods before and have never had a single rod, out of about a dozen, that were anything other than perfect.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I prefer the Allied/LMI design and have not had a problem with them.
I am currently building a Stella style concert size guitar that will not have an adjustable truss rod. Just a carbor fiber bar.

Allied has the 2 way adjustable priced at 3 rods for 9.50 eaJohn How38796.5511689815

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Thanks Ron and Michael

Michael apologies I was having a bit of a brain storm, you mentioned LMI Rods and I start asking you about Allieds ones

no problem glad you did. I will try a batch of Allied now that I have seen them MichaelP38796.6134259259

I use a 2 way martin style from LMI .400 wide very sturdy and strong. to me the Hot Rods sound very practical in theory but don't feel as sturdy and strong in person. I have tryed both.
Just my opinion anyway.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I thought Martin style channel type rods were one way. meaning you could only flex them one way either loaded or unloaded?

There are two way "martin style" truss rods as well

I have seen 2 way advertised but what I got when orded was the same as what Martin puts in their kits which is one way rods. maybe I got took