Page 1 of 1
Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:27 am
by sdbanotts
Hi Guys,
Been posting on the vibrola section of the site, re problems with setting up my Ric 330, and wondered where I might be able to purchase these items in the UK?
Haven't got a wad of cash at the moment to pay for them, so wondered if anyone could recommend a decent truss rod screwdriver, and ruler which will enable me to measure the distance of the strings from the frets?
I can't find a ruler anywhere which will measure 64th's, and have had to make a cardboard one, by converting the 64th measurements to millimetres, but it's such a tiny distance I want to make sure it's accurate.
Cheers
Scott
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:05 am
by beatlefreak
The truss rod adjustment tool is a long shaft Xcelite 1/4" nutdriver, available from many on-line tool suppliers for under $10. The Xcelite number you want is an L8.
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:14 am
by doctorwho
Scott, I don't know how difficult it would be to find over there, but what would also work in place of a ruler is a feeler gauge ... us old-timers remember using them to adjust the gap on the points in a car distributor.
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:05 am
by sdbanotts
Cool, I'll check the suggestions out.
Thanks
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:53 am
by leftyguitars
You'll get an 6" Imperial rule at an engineers stores (not a B&Q) in the UK, same with the ΒΌ" long handled nut driver for truss rod adjustment (you may need to grind the walls down on the driver to make it fit).
There are loads of rules on Ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-RULE-STAINLESS- ... tsupported
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2piece-STEEL-RULE ... tsupported
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:05 pm
by sdbanotts
As always Peter, most helpful.
I'm actually thinking about just taking it to a luthier.
Can you suggest someone in the London area that knows what they are doing?
Cheers
Scott
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:27 pm
by jps
Learn how to do it yourself, it is not hard.
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:28 pm
by sdbanotts
I'm trying to learn to do it myself, but i'm worried i'll make a mess of it, and bust the guitar, and then i will be most upset.
I've had another go today, and it finally looks like I'm getting there. No buzz, blah blah, and the action is good.
maybe I'm stupid, but I can't seem to tell if the neck is straight or not, looks ok to me though so I think I'm ready to get playing again..
ta-ta
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:28 pm
by jps
Hint: the strings make a nice straightedge!
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:34 pm
by leftyguitars
jps wrote:Hint: the strings make a nice straightedge!
Yes, hold the 'E' string down at the first fret and the last fret. Is there a gap in the middle? (Or anywhere else for that matter). Does it 'bottom out' in the middle before you make the first/last frets? Then do the same with the other 'E' string.
Re: Truss Rod Adjustment Tool and 64th Ruler?
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:17 pm
by sdbanotts
I do have one problem, I'm blind....
no sorry, that was a poor joke.
anyway, seriously I have sussed it now, just got it straight as the proverbial arrow, nice low action, no fret buzz, but some strange sitar like buzzing, presumably from the pick ups (which inceidentally are not touching the strings when fretted high up..)
you need the patience of a saint for this don't you- and I don't have any.
must try harder, or alternatively pay somebody who knows what they are doing, and get back to being a musician.
ta lads.