Trust Rod adjustment

[Endo]

My acoustic needs an adjustment, the action is getting too high
Where's the best place in town to get this done in terms of price/quality/wait time, etc?

[Otis Haket]

Buy a set of hex keys, and spend 3 minutes. There are guides online, and it's a really simple job.

[adam.a]

Buy a set of hex keys, and spend 3 minutes. There are guides online, and it's a really simple job.

[Endo]

Yea? I was always given the impression that 'only trained professionals can do it'. At least that's what they've always claimed in those beginner guitar start up videos. And from guitar class in high school.
Cool, I'll give it a shot.

[Otis Haket]

Well, it'll probably take more than 3 minutes because you'll likely have to loosen and tighten the strings a few times to get it exactly right. The only thing you might have to worry about is making sure you're turning it the right way. I've heard some guitars are backwards.

[Danny Gee]

Arent most stores in town about $20?? I've tried to do it once, I was too scared to go too far. Once you screw up its game over. Small turns on your allen key. Set it to a height you are comfortable with, and watch that the height isnt buzzing anymore frets (particularly up near 12)

[ryan suicide]

just do small, minor turns.
http://users.powernet.co.uk/guitars/setup5.htm is a good overview of the process

[Endo]

just do small, minor turns.
http://users.powernet.co.uk/guitars/setup5.htm is a good overview of the process

That's a great link, thanks man.
I have to change the strings on it, and the screw to get at the rod is inside the body beneath the strings. It would probably be a good idea to keep the strings on so I can measure how much I'm cranking the rod with respect to how good the action will be right? I think I can still get at enough of the rod with the strings on.

And that's a good point too Otis, I'll have to look at some specs on the guitar to make sure. I've never done this before, and I haven't brought it in for anyone else to do so I gotta do some homework and take my time on this.

[Danny Gee]

What kind of guitar? Acoustic or electric? Type of headstock?

[Endo]

Samick Greg Bennet series acoustic

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/profile_mojo_data/4/4/1/1/441184/pics/_c113426_image_0.jpg

[Destructo]

is the neck obviously curved when you look down it ? if it is and you're just loosening the truss rod to lower the action and straighten the neck, you should be ok with making minor adjustments yourself.    the main danger is in the opposite: tightening it too much, snapping it, and thusly rendering the guitar unplayable.  i'm assuming you already checked the bridge and neck joint and they look normal (sometimes i find the glue loosening and raising the action)

[Endo]

No it's definitely not anything major, and not a noticeable bend or anything. I bought the guitar new nine years ago and haven't done anything to the trust rod at all, so I'm thinking it might just need a little tweek to make up for the strain over the years.

The bridge and neck joint look good, nothing seems to be loosening or misaligned.

[Aqualung my Friend]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_rod