651-439-9120
4
____6.
____7.
____5. Install the double-action truss rod into the slot of the
neck, as shown. (fig. 6)
Be sure to orient the barrel nut
toward the peghead, and down against the bottom of
the slot!
Press the truss rod into the slot until it is firmly seated.
Note that the truss rod works both directions, depend-
ing on which way you turn the nut. One way will put
a hump in the middle and the other way will bend the
ends upward. This allows you to correct for either type
of curve in the neck after the instrument is assembled.
INSTALL THE TRUSS ROD
INSTALL THE FRETBOARD
FIG. 6
FIG. 7
Prepare for installing the fretboard by test-fit-
ting it dry to see how it will be oriented on the
neck. Leave room near the peghead for the
blackwood “nut” to stand on the flat surface,
just before the taper of the peghead, as shown
here. The fretboard will butt up against the
nut, and the purpose of the nut will be to hold
the strings at the correct spacing and height
above the frets.
Use a pencil to mark where the fretboard
should end next to the nut. (fig. 7)
Before gluing the fretboard in place, it really helps to install
a couple of tiny “burrs” into the neck to help prevent the
fretboard from sliding out of position as you apply clamp-
ing pressure. Find the tiny nails in the hardware pack and
tap one near the peghead and the other near the heel of
the neck. (figs. 8 and 9) No need to drive them very deep.
Clip each nail close to the wood surface, leaving a small
sharp burr sticking up. (fig. 10)
Position the fretboard carefully on the neck and press it
down against the burr at each end so the underside of the
fretboard becomes dented by the burrs.
FIG. 8
FIG. 9
FIG. 10
