truss rod

[h725]

Hi, I was trying to adjust the dual action truss rod and I'm in "work" from Sunday morning. I turned clockwise to have less relief, going 1/8 of a turn a a time and seeing what happened the next day. After have completed a 1/2 turn in the clockwise direction, the truss rod has become hard to tighten but still nothing happended to the neck. I gradually returned to "center", then used the same procedure in the counterclockwise direction; I reached the 1/2 turn gradually the truss rod became hard to tighten and so I stopped again. The neck hasn't been affected at all. Any suggestions? Seems that the maximum range of turn available is 1/2 in one direction and 1/2 in the other, but this does not affect the neck relief. I found also a small piece of wood in the sound box this morning so I'm a little bit worried about having totally mistaked the adjutment method, even though I really can't say to have used a lot of strenght to force the key.
After each ajustment I waited almost one day to see the result but nothing happened.

[JB]

Hi H725 and welcome to the forums

You don't mention what guitar and model number you have ... ?

The two-way truss-rods are steel and require quite a bit of force but I have know way of knowing if you are able to adjust it or not but I would certainly suggest you take the guitar to an experienced guitar tech to check it first.

[h725]

Thanks JB for the quick answer; the guitar is a Lowden S-32. Sorry for having not said but really I didn't know if it would have been correct speaking about Lowden on this Forum. I read something about Lowden having become Avalon, but wasn't sure. Then I saw the mahogany piece of wood who seems to have come from the neck block and I went in a relative panic; that's why I posted the message regardless of having understood completely the relationship between Lowden and Avalon.

The guitar was examined by a tech who said I could even go further than 1/2 turn but I wasn't so confident.
So: If I bring the guitar back to the tech he will give a turn until the neck responds, that could be more than my "prudent" 1/8, than 1/4, than 1/2 turn.

Anyway many thanks.

[JB]

I don't blame you for panicing when you saw the bit of mahogany ... I would be the same but it is impossible for me to confirm how much to adjust it without feeling the tension myself.

I suppose that leaves it up to your guitar tech and how much you trust his judgement .... ....

[h725]

You're right.
I'm familiar with one-way truss rod and I adjust it with confidence. The double action truss rod, seems to me, works adding either bow (clockwise) or relief (counterclockwise).
I'd like to know a bit more about it since even my tech isn't familiar with this kind of truss rod. Only generic informations, not related to my guitar, or perhaps a link that have these informations.
Anyway thanks for the attention; it's very kind of You considerating that I'm not speaking of Avalon in the Avalon forum.

[JB]

Unfortunately there is very little information out there regards bi-flex truss rods and even less from the makers "Gotoh"

Here a scan from their brochure.



Larger image http://www.avalonguitars.co.uk/images/truss-rod1.jpg

They have a "neutral" position where there is no tension.

[h725]

Ok, many thanks. It's an interesting picture and it will be surely useful; I'll put it on paper and let my tech see it.