Reshaping a Truss Rod Cover

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:53 pm

Welcome to the Forum John, 1st put blue painters tape on the back painted side to protect the logo and paint. Also put a piece on the front edge so you can mark the amount you want to remove. You will need a table disc sander that has a bed/flat surface attached to it so you can lay the truss rod cover on it flat with the end you want to trim off. If you carefully mark the end of the cover on a slight angle, this will allow the cover to clear the G tuner bushing without having to remove any of the cover except the end that's against the top nut. Now sand it up to the line and check it on the peg head for a perfect fit before you remove the tape. If the holes in the peg head do not line up with your new cover, fill the holes with a round tooth pick and drill new holes 1/8 inch deep using the new cover as a guide.

johncorth · Post by **johncorth** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:55 pm

I have a reissue TRC that I need to fit to a vintage guitar. I need to modify it, but I had to spend a good bit of money to get a genuine TRC, and I don't want to mess it up too badly. The problem is that it's just a hair too big. It needs to have about 1/16" shaved off the rear end by the nut, and needs to have the bottom edge shaved off a bit too, because the bottom edge goes over the G tuner bushing. Does anybody have any tips on how to do that without damaging the paint? Or, even better, could anybody here do that for me or suggest somebody who would be willing to? Thanks!

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:39 am

For those of us who do not have a table disc sander, you can use a file on the side against the nut. The upper, or lower edge for that matter, can be shaved down with a razor blade. When you're all done, you can polish the edges of the TRC to hide what you've done and even make it look better than when you got it.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:03 am

Just remember to go slow, and check the fir often to avoid removing too much material. Good luck!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:45 am

Can we see pics of the Rick it is going on?

johncorth · Post by **johncorth** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:52 pm

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I'm pretty nervous to try this myself, but I'll give it a whirl. Hopefully if I botch it, RIC will still accept it as a trade in so long as it isn't messed up beyond recognition.

"Can we see pics of the Rick it is going on?"
Without a proper TRC fitted? That's like asking for a topless pic of my wife!

I'll post a pic here when I'm done with the TRC.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:11 pm

John: Will it be a picture of your guitar or your wife? (he asks innocently...)

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:39 pm

I vote the latter, if , well, you know...

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:42 pm

John wrote:
"Hopefully if I botch it, RIC will still accept it as a trade in so long as it isn't messed up beyond recognition."

As long as you don't sand more than half of it away, you should be all right.

johncorth · Post by **johncorth** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:46 am

Okay, so far so good. Gently sanding off a bit at a time has kept the paint in good shape.

Next question, did the originals have the sides painted like RI TRC's, or was the paint only on the back?

If the sides should be painted, could anybody recommend a close matching paint, and a method for doing the sides cleanly?

Thanks!

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:53 am

The sides weren't actually painted. They just got over spray on them, so it's not a solid coat of paint. Some, like myself, like to sand the sides with very fine sandpaper and then polish them so they're clear. The "original" finish could probably be duplicated by masking the front of the TRC off, laying it face down, and spray painting it with flat white paint from several inches away at the back side on a 45 degree angle.

teb · Post by **teb** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:36 am

Polished edges look really elegant, don't take very long to do and are well worth the trouble.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:27 am

I agree with both Dane and Todd. These are gang-painted, a number at a time, laid face-down on a flat surface, so they get overspray on the sides. Sanding with #600 or fine, and then polishing on a wheel or by hand with polishing compound, looks great.