Official Luthiers Forum!

I spoke with Todd at Allied about getting some of the wonderful Allied truss rods in lengths other that what are listed on the Allied site. Specifically, I was looking for a truss rod length about 16" long. Typical minimum quantities for a new size truss rod are 500 pieces, and that would be enough truss rods to last me until the year 2050 (at least.)

Allied stocks and sells 14-1/4" and 17" truss rods. That's almost a 3" jump in size between those lengths. If you build with a scale length anywhere near 25.4, and if you prefer to adjust the truss rod at the soundhole end, rather than the peghead end, the 14-14" rod is really too short, and the 17" rod is really too long.

This will be true if you glue the fingerboard extension down, but even more of a problem if you have a cantilevered fingerboard extension and/or adjustable neck joint.

Somewhere around 16" may also be perfect for baritone guitars where the truss rod is accessed at the peghead end, as well as some 13 fret body join styles where the truss rod is accessed at the soundhole end.

I mentioned to Todd that I would check on the forums (thus the cross-posting at The Luthier Community (TLC), the Australian/New Zealand Luthier Forum (ANZLF), and the Official Luthier Forum (OLF)), to see how much interest there would be in ordering a new size truss rod to fall between the current offerings. Let's call it exactly 16" (17" overall with the adjustment nut sticking out), and if you are interested, but would need 15-3/4" or 16-3/8" or whatever would be the right size for you, then please state the size you'd be interested and an approximate yearly quantity, such as "I'd be interested in about 10 truss rods at 16-1/8" (if you don't state a length, I'll assume 16" is OK.)

You don't have to commit to buy them; just state your interest. If there is interest, I'll tally it up between the 3 forums, and talk to Todd again.

Thanks!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Martin has the 2 way truss rod at that length. I like that design the best.

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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

OK, I guess we can count John out.

Seriously, does every luthier of the 99 that have read this so far have the truss rod adjustment erupting through the headstock? (If so, the 14-1/4" rod is fine.) Or, maybe you use a single piece of 1/2" or 3/4" Baltic Birch (or whatever) for a neck block. (If so, the 14-1/4" rod is fine.)

But, if you build anywhere close to a 25.4" scale, access the truss rod adjustment through the soundhole and any of the following is true:

A.) adjustable neck
B.) cantilevered fingerboard extension
C.) 2" to 3" neck block

then I would ask you to take another look and see if a truss rod maybe 15-3/4" or 16" would be a good idea for you.

Thanks!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Dennis I think I'd be interested in about 10 of them.

Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

i would be interested in a couple per year ... for baritones.


For 25.4, i use the std size and adjust thru the soundhole though .. you have to reach in to find the end, as it just juts out of the neck block, but it works fo me.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

No! Sometimes I make mine adjustable through the sound hole as well. And I can do it without drilling a hole through the upper transverse brace. Or any other braces. You have to reach around the transverse brace to find the end of the nut but, it really does not take a lot of talent to do that.

I make my own rods so I can make them any length that I want. Anywhere from about 2" to 20' long. I believe that my rods are better then anything that I can buy. For one thing, mine are removable. If for some reason the rod should ever quit working, you can take it out, replace it or fix it, and put it back in without removing the fingerboard. Some people build with the end in mind. I build with the restoration in mind. Someday, someone might have to work on one of my guitars, and I want to make it as easy as possible for them.

I can make them any length that I want. Short scale 12 fret, bass, multi scale, etc. I don't have to have someone else dictate how long or short my rods are going to be.

I do a little bit of repair work every once in a while. Every once in a while someone brings me a guitar that the truss rod does not work in it. And they usually do not like what I tell them about what it is going to take to get it fixed.

I have done a lot of welding in my day. And looking at what is available in the truss rod world, it looks like they are made by someone who is getting paid an hourly wage. Not someone who is putting their heart and soul into a major part that is going into a one of a kind, hand made, priceless instrument.

The Allied rods look pretty good though. That's probably the one that I would use if I had to.

Have a nice day and happy building D-Man.

Glen

I don't use Allied rods, but I build alot with a 25.34" scale, and adjustment through the sound hole. I believe my rods are ~14 1/4" long. The end is 1/2" from the nut. This leaves the adjusting nut sticking ~3/4" into the neck block. That's what I want. I drill a hole in the UTB, but deflection testing shows very little material needs to be added to make up for the hole.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

LMI will make them any lenght no min at no extra charge. although i do like the ones from allied better. I think they are pretty much the same other than the threads which i think is finer on allieds.

Brent