Official Luthiers Forum!

Seeing as how Martin accepted my payment but didn't ship the truss rods in my 1833 shop order, and nobody there seems to much care about answering the phone, returning phone calls, or replying to emails sent when the phone calls didn't generate a response, I'm wondering about an alternate source for truss rods. I've done business with Philadelphia Luthier Supply for other stuff. Any comments on the truss rods they offer?

Any other vendors whose truss rods can be trusted (besides Martin whose truss rods are made from unobtanium)?

Thanks!

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Peter Havriluk

I’ve been using the Stewmac Hotrod low profile 2 way rods. They are very similar to the modern Martin rod and easier to get. One of the neat things about this rod and the Martin rod is that you can pull it out of the slot if you take the neck off. I’ve never had to do that, but it’s neat that I could if there were a problem with the rod. And, StewMac always stands solidly behind their products.

I've bought several from here: https://www.bitterrootguitars.com/Home- ... s/1914.htm.

For a 2-way rod I don't think Mark Blanchard's truss rods can be beat for quality and function. Price is on the higher side but you get what you pay for.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

I have had too man hot roads fail I get truss rods in that drop into martin neck. contact me

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

John, are you saying that you’ve had failures with the StewMac Martin-like 2 way truss rods? If so, how did they fail? I don’t want to install another one if I’m taking a risk.

Yep, they break, absolute junk.

John, are you talking about he traditional hot rods or the newer low profile hot rods?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

These are very good IMHO.

+1 on the Blanchard - pricey but made to order and very smooth

Ed M

Why did the Martin Blue rods, 4 mm change to the Black rods, 5 mm? I really liked the blue rods better. Am I mistaken? Can I still get the 4mm blue?

ordered about 2 years ago, mine are blue and 5mm. I ordered some 12 fret rods at the same time which I think are black and I assumed we're 5 mm.

Pat

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Pat

I received my rod order on the 19th, 5 mm, wrapped in black heatshrink.

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Peter Havriluk

I have some older ones, blue, and 5 mm. Newer ones, black and 5 mm. Never had any 4 mm Martin rods. Both colors seem to work the same and are better than other truss rods I've used, and quite economical.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

Is anyone using that expensive stew Mac attachment to expand the slot at the end? I think I remember someone providing an alternative method, maybe Todd Stock?

Pat

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Pat

I've used a round nose end mill in a router table to cut this. Works fine.

Dave

I just use a small gouge.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

The StewMac boring device doesn’t make a hole that fits tightly on the adjuster end of the truss rod. The outer barrel on the rid is 9mm across and the StewMac device cuts a 3/8” hole. I don’t know where I got it, but I use a 9mm router bit to make a pocket that fits the adjuster end exactly. I use a 1/4” round-tip bit to make an slot that fits the rod exactly. It may not be necessary, but it makes me feel good to get an exact fit. The same strategy works for both the StewMac and the Martin rods—they are very similar.

Because of the profile of the Martin truss rods, I use one size round nose end mill for the part of the channel that holds most of the rod, and a slightly larger one for the adjustment end, which sticks out of the heel end of the neck. This provides a perfect fit.

That's pretty much what I do--1/4" round nose for the rod and 3/8" round nose for the adjustment end. It does fit well--I square off the shoulder where adjustment end meets the rod slot with a small gouge, but it's probably not necessary.

Dave

I get the 4 mm martin style truss rods in 12 and 14 fret length

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Mine are 5mm. Hmmm....

Pat

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Pat

The rods I got directly from Martin have 5mm adjusters. The similar rods from StewMac have 4mm adjusters. StewMac has been a bit more reliable to deal with, so I have been buying those for the past 2 or 3 years.