4001/4003 Truss Rods
Moderator: jingle_jangle
4001/4003 Truss Rods
I was just pondering the differences of the two truss rod systems, and was just wondering what else is different about them besides the thinner aluminum bar, and washers? Are they of a different thickness in diameter? Are they made from a different type/grade of metal? If anyone has any pictures of the rods, would you post them here for better reference on how the "newer" ones are supposed to be easier to work with? Just curious, thanks.
The old rods were a single piece of mild steel that was folded back over onto itself.
One end was threaded , the other is stopped by the bar stock.As you tighten the threaded rod , it pulls the top bar into the nut .This causes the top bar to arch.
This type of rod system is used by many manufacturers. for instance; Alembic , Ibanez,Greco,Jackson/Charvel, Rickenbacker ,Harmony,Warmoth and several others
The difference between all of them is this ...Harmony went out of business long ago (this is the company that was making inexpensive guitars in Chicago, Illinois USA ...they are now a name that is applied to guitars made in ASIA)
They started this system ... at least as far as I can find out.Rickenbacker modified it , the rest ...redesigned the system .They used stronger material , and in essence , made a beefier rod .
Rick started using this system as it was different than Gibson's rod .That was patented and companies wanting to use that system had to PAY C.M.I./Gibson for the right to do so.
As guitars were made in the 1950's using different kinds of strings, different tensions, and flat wound ,for the most part .This rod worked just fine.
Then some upstart named John Entwhistle came along and asked Howe in the UK to make a string that was like a piano string.
Roto-Sound Swing Bass strings were born and it changed everything...
Rickenbacker was slow to respond to this .
They had years of marketing the dual rod system , they were tooled up for it ...and it worked .At least until The WHO came along.
Then things got tricky.
It can be made to work however .You just need to be smarter than the goofy rods.
The 'NEW' (since 1984 ) truss rods are one piece of 3/16" cold rolled steel (this is what everyone else uses at least in the USA).
There are several ways to anchor the end , and there are several ways to set the rod.
Gibson uses a gentle curve with a fulcrum point at 9 inches from the adjustment end.
Their anchor in under the fretboard .So is Fender.
Rickenbacker uses the old tooling idea , and cuts the slots the full length of the fretboard.
This is why you see the anchors at the end of the neck .
In theory you can lay the rod(s) in straight ... but I never do that in my own guitars that I make or the ones that I repair.
Why use Two rods is the next section of this question .....Why indeed? Well one big reason .
"We have always done it this way for 98% of the instruments we have made ... why change?"
That is NOT a quote from John Hall .....however ....I can imagine him saying that very statement with out any hesitation .
One end was threaded , the other is stopped by the bar stock.As you tighten the threaded rod , it pulls the top bar into the nut .This causes the top bar to arch.
This type of rod system is used by many manufacturers. for instance; Alembic , Ibanez,Greco,Jackson/Charvel, Rickenbacker ,Harmony,Warmoth and several others
The difference between all of them is this ...Harmony went out of business long ago (this is the company that was making inexpensive guitars in Chicago, Illinois USA ...they are now a name that is applied to guitars made in ASIA)
They started this system ... at least as far as I can find out.Rickenbacker modified it , the rest ...redesigned the system .They used stronger material , and in essence , made a beefier rod .
Rick started using this system as it was different than Gibson's rod .That was patented and companies wanting to use that system had to PAY C.M.I./Gibson for the right to do so.
As guitars were made in the 1950's using different kinds of strings, different tensions, and flat wound ,for the most part .This rod worked just fine.
Then some upstart named John Entwhistle came along and asked Howe in the UK to make a string that was like a piano string.
Roto-Sound Swing Bass strings were born and it changed everything...
Rickenbacker was slow to respond to this .
They had years of marketing the dual rod system , they were tooled up for it ...and it worked .At least until The WHO came along.
Then things got tricky.
It can be made to work however .You just need to be smarter than the goofy rods.
The 'NEW' (since 1984 ) truss rods are one piece of 3/16" cold rolled steel (this is what everyone else uses at least in the USA).
There are several ways to anchor the end , and there are several ways to set the rod.
Gibson uses a gentle curve with a fulcrum point at 9 inches from the adjustment end.
Their anchor in under the fretboard .So is Fender.
Rickenbacker uses the old tooling idea , and cuts the slots the full length of the fretboard.
This is why you see the anchors at the end of the neck .
In theory you can lay the rod(s) in straight ... but I never do that in my own guitars that I make or the ones that I repair.
Why use Two rods is the next section of this question .....Why indeed? Well one big reason .
"We have always done it this way for 98% of the instruments we have made ... why change?"
That is NOT a quote from John Hall .....however ....I can imagine him saying that very statement with out any hesitation .
So you too want yours "ALAPWOB"?!?!