9
Neck Truss Rod Adjustment
The truss rod in your Breedlove guitar serves
to counteract the effect of string tension on
the neck of your instrument. String tension
pulls the neck forward and up, while the
truss rod pulls the neck down and back. A
properly adjusted truss rod equalizes the
tension on the neck. Adjustment of truss rod
tension changes the amount of bow in the
plane of the fingerboard. Let your instrument
adjust to its new environment before
changing truss rod tension.
Generally, a properly adjusted truss rod results in a neck with a slight
forward relief. To check for proper neck relief, push down on the low
“E” string at the 1st and 14th frets simultaneously. There should be about
0.010” of space between the bottom of the string and the top of the 6th
fret - about the thickness of a business card. You may want a larger or
smaller amount of relief depending on your playing style.
When making truss rod adjustments, turn a little at a time - an eighth or
quarter turn - and check the results before turning again. Allow some
time for the neck to ‘settle in’ to an adjustment before turning again. Use
extreme caution when making adjustments, and if you are uncomfortable
with this procedure, consult a trained Breedlove Service Technician before
attempting. To tighten the truss rod, turn the nut clockwise (as seen from
above). This causes the neck to bow backward, lowering the string height.
If you go too far, the strings will buzz. To loosen the truss rod, turn the
nut counterclockwise. This causes the neck to bow forward, raising the
string height. Go too far, and the guitar will be hard to play. Always make
adjustments with your guitar tuned correctly.
The Truss Rod should only
be adjusted in order to
establish proper neck relief
and to counteract/balance
the effect of string tension.
Do not use the Truss Rod
adjustment feature to try to
correct larger set-up issues or
other problems that are not
related to neck relief.
