Truss Rod adjustment query

Voxman

Hi guys, apologies for my inexperience here but I'm used to electrics where the truss rod adjustment is at the headstock, and where when you're looking down towards the body, the adjustment is lefty loosey, righty tighty.

Last month I picked up a very nice Yamaha LL6RM where the truss rod adjustment is accessed from the soundhole ie looking up towards the headstock. I'd like to give it a slight tighten to bring the action down just a tad but I'm not sure whether it's still righty righty and lefty loosey when looking towards the headstock or whether it's reversed (as looking down from headstock, this would 'reverse' if that makes sense).

I'm guessing the truss rod is fitted such that it's still lefty loosey righty  tighty, ...but you know what they say about assume! 



 

Mellish

Yes, right to tighten but, if it feels it doesn't want to turn, don't force it  

Voxman

Many thanks, appreciate the fast response. 

The guitar didn't come with a truss rod. Would you, or anyone else, happen to know the correct size for a Yamaha?

Voxman

Ignore that, found the right size. Adjusts smoothly. 

Voxman

Adjusted the truss rod gently, just a bit at a time. Now got the action set up really nicely for a good balance as between finger picking and single note fiddly bits.  

Mellish

Glad it's worked out well. Have fun. Merry Christmas to you and yours  

Voxman

Mellish said:

Glad it's worked out well. Have fun. Merry Christmas to you and yours  

Many thanks @Mellish, and a merry Xmas to you and yours too.  Stay safe and well. 

Bridgehouse

I’ve always found with an unknown truss rod it’s worth a bit of lefty loosey first to check what it’s like and see if it’s working 

Voxman

Bridgehouse said:

I’ve always found with an unknown truss rod it’s worth a bit of lefty loosey first to check what it’s like and see if it’s working 

Agreed ...but the guitar is virtually new and I could feel the truss rod was working very smoothly right off.  If I'd have felt any undue tightness or resistance I'd have loosened it slightly first.

Bridgehouse

Voxman said:

Bridgehouse said:

I’ve always found with an unknown truss rod it’s worth a bit of lefty loosey first to check what it’s like and see if it’s working 

Agreed ...but the guitar is virtually new and I could feel the truss rod was working very smoothly right off.  If I'd have felt any undue tightness or resistance I'd have loosened it slightly first.

Yeah - if new I think it’s less important - but on an older guitar that might not have been adjusted for quite a while..

Voxman

Bridgehouse said:

Voxman said:

Bridgehouse said:

I’ve always found with an unknown truss rod it’s worth a bit of lefty loosey first to check what it’s like and see if it’s working 

Agreed ...but the guitar is virtually new and I could feel the truss rod was working very smoothly right off.  If I'd have felt any undue tightness or resistance I'd have loosened it slightly first.

Yeah - if new I think it’s less important - but on an older guitar that might not have been adjusted for quite a while..

Absolutely, and that's something I did on every one of my electrics that were nearly all bought pre-owned. With older guitars I'm right with you in that you can't be too careful!

Spikeedog

I would usually check the saddle height on a new acoustic before adjusting the truss rod. Yamaha tend to be high when brand new. The shop should offer to set it up for you after you've played it for a while.

Voxman

Spikeedog said:

I would usually check the saddle height on a new acoustic before adjusting the truss rod. Yamaha tend to be high when brand new. The shop should offer to set it up for you after you've played it for a while.

Guitar was about a year old and in mint condition that I bought second hand. Saddle height seems fine and I'm now happy with the action.

ICBM

I would always check and adjust the truss rod first - or at least after the nut height. Lowering the saddle instead of reducing the relief produces the classic bad setup where the action is too high in the middle of the neck but it chokes out at the top.

Nut - relief - bridge is the order in which each adjustment doesn't affect the ones before.

Plus, it's much easier to reverse a truss rod adjustment than a saddle you've lowered too much.

bertie

ICBM said:

Plus, it's much easier to reverse a truss rod adjustment than a saddle you've lowered too much.

ooh we've all been there......................