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Got an Epiphone Texan (adjustable bridge) on the bench, truss rod is adjusted by what seems to be a 5mm allen headed barrel nut.
Seems to be a bit rounded off (not by me) and stiff.
I thought SM sold tapered allen keys for this kind of problem, but don't seem available.
Any suggestions?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

They do have tapered profile hex keys in the form of screwdrivers. A very worthwhile addition to any tech's toolbox. Saved my butt countless times. But they are only available as hex keys.


Pierre

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Pierre Castonguay

Cant get a straight screwdriver type into the nut pocket

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Please post pics so we can help...


Pierre

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Pierre Castonguay

Have you tried SAE wrenches? My shop notes say that both 1/8 and 9/64 are used on some t/r's.

Older (60s) Texans would have used the same truss rods as Gibson’s, with nut adjusters. Recent, Asian production likely uses the ubiquitous 4mm hex truss rods. A pic will help a lot.


Pierre

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Pierre Castonguay

My experience with newer epi truss rods hasn't been good. The design is weak....using the reverse function of the 2 way rod unassisted usually results in breakage. The nuts are soft and strip quite easily. So again, always bend the neck by hand and take up slack with the rod when adjusting these.

Once stripped or the retainer broken.... It's replacement time.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

It's a 60's Texan, its a 5mm barrel nut on the truss rod, 6mm thread on single action truss rod and it's out.
Owner just turned up on my doorstep and when I showed him he gave me the courage to give it a tweak out (with lubrication)

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

P.S. Found the SM wrenches I had searched for, but I was using the wrong search terms.
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Truss_Rods/Gripper_Truss_Rod_Wrenches.html

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Congrats! Now that it's out, I strongly suggest you replace it...


Pierre

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Pierre Castonguay

Already ordered.
Hen's teeth apparently, but got one similar but slightly shorter, will pack out with a couple of washers all being well otherwise.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.