Official Luthiers Forum!

hey guys, my name is kyle and i am new to this forum. but i do know a few people here and a good friend (rossy) and i are both making guitars together.

anyway, i am wanting to know what size and length trust rod do i use? i am making a steel string and already purchased a fretboard (25.4 with 16 " radius...20 frets).

i usually ask john mayes all my questions, but after asking him like a million and one (maybe two) questions already, i think its fair to take some of the load off him from myself.

thanks guys and much blessings,
kyle

Hi Kyle, welcome to the OLF and congrats for your new addiction!

Shane Neifer has some for you, just drop him a PM

Serge

Welcome to the OLF!

Mike
White Oak, Texas

I usually just make sure it reaches fro the nut to the body joint. Allied/LMI are my favorite truss rods and they come in two lengths for acoustic, one for 14 fretters and one for 12 fretters I guess.

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

Speaking of the Allied/LMI rod...how deep can it be buried in the neck? Or does it have to be flush with the neck surface for the top to behave like a spline in a regular rod?

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

LArry,

I set mine flush with the top, no spline. And the Allied rods are indeed
nice (and cheaper than LMI for the same rod...)

Kyle,

you want the 14 fret TRUSS rod from allied lutherie. Here is the link.

http://alliedlutherie.com/truss_rods.htm

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Hi John, yes I've been setting them flush, but I'm considering replacing a horrible "Martin" style one from LMI..you know the kind Mario likes to use ( ) with an Allied one...I don't want to shim the bottom of the slot, only the sides...so the rod'll fit tight side-to-side, but will be 1/8" or so below the surface of the neck...will that do, or should I shim/spline?

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

ok I understand what your saying now. Yes make a spline for it. You
want it nice and tight and solid, and a spline will be better off than a
shim. I used splines on all my martin style rods when I used em (for my
first 100 guitars)

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

14" long bar, the nut configuration and nut length will vary from maker to maker and you have to take these things into consideration as well at the sound hole adjustment access or peghead access, depending. But in a 14 fret at joint 24.5" scale neck you want a 14" truss rod. LMI part no is TRSD 3/8" deep x 1/4" wide. Be aware that StewMac's Hot Rods require a different channel depth and width than LMI's I believe they are both shallower and narrower.

hey thanks alot guys. i will keep all this in mind!

blessings!
kyle

Anyone use the Grizzly 2 way rod? It's cheap.

Kurt

I just bought 12 Allied rods. For that quantity they are only about $7.50 each.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

[QUOTE=klhoush] Anyone use the Grizzly 2 way rod? It's cheap.

Kurt[/QUOTE]

Kurt, give the Allied one a try...it's inexpensive (not cheap) and an excellent rod...I think the price drops to like, 7.50 or something if you buy a dozen...

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

i think, that as OLF members, we are entitled to a "next quantity discount" at allied lutherie.
check with them before you place your order.

Udi.

I have never tried the Allied rods, have worked with LMI and StewMac's. I must give them a try. This may be something we do a "group buy" on.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Kurt, one of the rods that Grizzly sells is the Gotoh Martin style also sold by LMI. The price difference is negligible when you buy 3 from LMI. I can't comment on the other rods that Grizzly sells as I've only used the Martin style.     

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA