Fender Stratocaster Setup Part 6 of 9: Truss Rod Adjustment

This is a set of nine videos on how I set up my Fender Stratocaster guitar.

SETUP PROCEDURE: http://jeffersonone.webs.com/Fender%20Stratocaster%20Setup.pdf

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fender
• Stratocaster
• Setup
• Part
• Truss
• Rod
• Adjustment

[Aleksej79ns]

Please, do You know which is the size of that allen wrench in milimeters? Is it 5mm?

[jeffersononetwo]

@Aleksej79ns I believe that is correct

[88lopez4music]

Does tross rod adjsutment have anything to do with effecting your tuning?... i noticed my strings are tuned perfectly at open notes, but when i play them on the fret board, certain notes below the 12th fret are showing up slightly sharper than they should be.... does this have to do with how my neck is angled and i need i trust rod adjustment? i have a squier classic vibe 50's stratocaster and ive had it for 3 months and recently switched from 9 gauge to 10.

[jeffersononetwo]

@88lopez4music Well, think of the Truss-Rod as the back bone/spine of the instrument. It needs proper attention - generally, it contributes mostly to the intonation stability and action (string height to fretboard). Most action can be addressed at the bridge - but since you mention a tuning issue, I'd have a look at intonation & scale length - get saddles in right place to start - then go thru and check the rod, etc. Switching to 10s could need a minor Truss-Rod adjustment.

[BigWapiti]

Excellent videos - thank you!

[jeffersononetwo]

@BigWapiti Your welcome bro - anytime, just email me if you have trouble

[misfitsfiend615]

I'm a little high right now! Haha hjk man this helped out. I'm also a guitar tech and I just finished one of my build I got going on and I've found Strat necks are not the easiest guitars too adjust the truss rod on.

[DARKBLOOZ]

Also, last measurement should be taken after retuning, not before.

[DARKBLOOZ]

@DARKBLOOZ

I realize you don't have time to wait for the neck to respond so I guess it doesn't matter, anyway good video.

[DARKBLOOZ]

Not trying to nit pick here, it's fine to use a capo but it might be better to remove the capo after making the adjustment to allow the strings to fully pull on the neck again before you measure the relief, the second adjustment may not have been necessary.

[ColmIncendinall]

So turning the truss rod in anti-clockwise direction flattens out the neck more? I have low action on my strat from the first through to the fifth fret, then the rest of the neck the action is a little high, making it more difficult than usual when I play lead...

[Aleksej79ns]

@jeffersononetwo

Thanks, it is 5 mm precisely, I finally manage to adjust the truss rod. At first it looked like it won't move, so I was not sure for dimension, that's why I asked. To be sure...

[theshowmecanuck]

@88lopez4music No it doesn't have to do with your truss rod. It has to do with intonation. That is adjusted at the bridge (at the bottom of the guitar where the strings attach to the body). On an electric guitar each string goes over a guide in the bridge, and that guide can be adjusted up towards the neck or backwards (not to be confused with setting the strings higher or lower). This effectively shortens or lengthens the length of the string. Adjusting this is known as adjusting the intonation