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I NEED TRUSS RODS FOR A 1976 4001
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2001 8:41 pm
by jetglow
DOES ANYONE MANUFACTURE TRUSS RODS FOR OLDER 4001'S
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2001 10:17 pm
by johnhall
We used to make several small batches a year of these to cover demand but recently we've been unable to buy the correct type of steel in the proper size. This is going to become a problem as these instruments age.
However, short of a broken rod which is rare, they can usually be removed, straightened, and carefully reinserted. They can also be shortened a bit if you need to rethread, without too much loss of function.
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:27 pm
by markthemd
Email me about this subject
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2001 1:01 pm
by jetglow
Yes the Rod is broken....
Thanks for the reply JH.
I can't see any way to fix these rods becouse one is broken off at the threads and the other is just not worth fooling with.
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2001 10:37 pm
by bails
An old style Rick Rod can be manufactured by any semi-skilled metal worker with the right equipment. I live near an industrial area, and have had many different small metal working factories make me odd things and all have worked fine. I usually pay them with beer, and think a rod is so simple, it shouldn't cost more than a six pack of Bud.
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2001 5:11 am
by bassman
Wow, bartering for Bud, who would have ever thunk it!
I love it!
Cheers
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2001 7:05 am
by headbanger
Well, get cracking Mark. I'll have a dozen.
Fosters are iced and waiting.....
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2001 7:48 am
by johnhall
These are indeed very low tech parts. One could make these using only some type of cutter (hacksaw, bolt cutter), a threading die, and a vise. But the tough part is finding the correctly sized rod material. It has to be made from flattened rod stock, rectangular in cross section with radiused corners. When you fold this in in half, you end up with square cross section with nicely rounded edges so that it can slide in and out of the neck slot easily.
You can often take a rod broken off at the threads, shorten one of the two halves of the rod by about 1 inch and thread the other half. This moves the center of curvature in the neck by the amount you cut off but the difference is so small it matters very little.