Official Luthiers Forum!

I just bought some Martin Gotoh truss rods which i have never used before and am confused about which side faces the fretboard.If i face the glue-guard side toward the fretboard,the adjustment screw would have to be turned counterclockwise to bow the neck back which is opposite from all other trussrods i have used.if i put the glue-guard toward the neck,then the adjustment would be clockwise.How are these rods installed? Any help here would be appriciatedThanks,Mark.

I just noticed that the adjustment screw would hit the soundboard if this trussrod is installed against the fretboard eitherway,whats up with that? And boy are these rods wide!Like 7/16".WOW,I can't believe Martin is using these things.

Paper glue guard down, metal side toward fretboard.

Thanks Alan! That's what i thought but wasn't sure.Now all i have to do is figure out how to get the adjuster to clear the soundboard so it can be adjusted through the soundhole.

To use it that way you need to you a wood fillet over the rod thick enough to clear the soundboard.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

i taper routed mine to clear the top, was a little nervous to take out too much on the nut end

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Frank

I've thought of doing that.Just don't like taking any more out of the neck than i have to.This rod is already wider than most.The neck it's going in is laminated,which should help.I don't think i will be using these in one piece necks though.I'm kinda looking at the stew-mac hot rods.Are they good trussrods? Thanks for all the responces.You guys are great!

The best out there is the new Allied Lutherie rod. The design on those is a great step forward, and the workmanship on them is excellent (they either got a really good TIG guy or they robot welded them)

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I checked them out and they look well made.Have you noticed any difference in the tone when using them? I don't like the tonal changes when using stainless frets.Does this rod change the tone on the guitar in that manner as the frets do? Thanks,Mark

I'm going to go with a 'no', though I also wonder if there's really a double-blind difference in tone between nickel and stainless frets...I'd imagine Rick or Mario would have brought up such a thing.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

I have played guitars with both many times and found the stainless fretted guitars have a more harsh bright tone to them which i don't like.I was just wandering if a stainless rod would effect the tone also.I'm hopeing it won't as they look nice.I just don't want to do something that will effect the tone adversely.Thanks,Mark

I had to rout a deeper channel in my neck to have the rod deep enough , I also made the top 1/8 " of the channel a bit wider and cut a thin mahogany spline to cover the top of the rod, that barely gave me enough clearance for the adjustment screw 8nder the top, jody

I agree that the new Allied is the best rod available. It weighs around 119 grams, the mechanism is so very precise that you can turn it with your fingers, and as Bob said the welds are very well done too. BTW Mark Blanchard a superb Luthier and an OLF contributor designed it.

If there is a tonal difference that someone could actually hear AND quantify with repeatability in a double blind test I'll buy you one of these Allied rods.....

I guess i'll find out as i just ordered 12 of them.Now the neck is on hold til they get here.I'm just glad i didn't route the channel in it yet.I have decided to not use the gotoh rod.Too much meat would have to be taken out of the neck.I still can't believe Martin uses them.

I just weighed one of those gotoh rods and it came in at 170 grams.Wow thats heavy.