Official Luthiers Forum!

In another forum, there is a thread about classical guitars without truss rods having a problem with the necks bowing. I am interested in the opinions of experienced players & builders on the issue of the need for a truss rod in a classical guitar. I know that a major objection by some is the added weight of a truss rod, but is there a structural "need" in a classical guitar? I will be building a classical in the future & want to know as much as I can about this.
Thanks,
kev

It is not standard practice to put a truss rod into a classical, even on high end instruments. Although some builders are now using them not so much as to deal with neck bowing as to be able to adjust to suit player preference. Most builders work with the neck bow due to string tension as a means to introduce neck relief.

If you use good wood for the neck, and pay attention to how and where you thin the neck, you should be OK. Do pay attention to the balance of the instrument, a neck heavy CG is no fun.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Some of the Master builders have been putting a graphite reinforcement, or a titanium tube in the neck....Just heard, and also got to play a Ruck with titanium tube in the neck, great flamenco blanca! See pic, sorry lousy photographer..me

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John Nowicki

In general, I do not add reinforcement to the necks of my (classical) guitars.
However I do on occasion produce a 14 frets to the body nylon string model in which I do add some reinforcement and in the case of one under way presently, a 2 way Martin truss rod.

A truss rod is really not necessary. The total string tension of a classical/flamenco is approx. 100 lbs. (1/2 that of a steel string)

As Phillipo said the CF rods contribute more than enough additional stiffness. I have been using .25" x .375" CF bars and have had no problems. I'm sure that the kind folks at Los Alamos Composites will be more than glad to give advice and some great material.

I really like the Robert Ruck titanium rod .... that's really high tech and I like it... although the cost is probably prohibitive...

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Peter

I did some net cruising and found a thin walled titanium tube, suitable for use as a reinforcement for 55$ McMaster Carr. Not that bad, but alot more than graphite, but weighs less than the wood it replaces....

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John Nowicki