Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Mar 29, 2015 15:42:43 GMT
The action has lifted a little on my Lowden S25 and it's become slightly too high for me. I've had it for 6 weeks and played it for at least an hour every day and I'm not surprised that it needs an adjustment now it's settled down. I'll take it into the dealers in Exeter.
I read in the booklet that came with the guitar that the truss rod is for neck relief but not for action adjustments, so as a matter of interest how is the action altered?
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alig
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,059
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Post by alig on Mar 29, 2015 15:48:08 GMT
You'd really have to sacrifice a chicken and consult an oracle...
Failing that, a friendly luthier.
Taking the bridge out and rubbing gently on a sheet of sandpaper allows for lowering the action. Trickier on a Lowden with the split bridge though.
I'm sure Dave or Colins will offer some advice in due course...
Alasdair.
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Mar 29, 2015 16:03:12 GMT
The conventional wisdom is that the truss rod isn't for action adjustments, but I think this assumes that the truss rod itself is already set up properly. With a fairly new guitar, it might be that the truss rod needs a bit of adjustment which would also have an effect on the action. If the action has changed since you bought the guitar, this might mean that the neck has moved a little as it settles in. It's probably worth checking the neck relief before you do anything drastic to the action.
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Mar 29, 2015 16:05:58 GMT
I won't be doing anything drastic, in fact I won't be doing anything at all except dropping in at the approved dealers for its free set-up. I wouldn't dare!
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Post by Trevor TAMCO on Mar 29, 2015 16:24:26 GMT
A wile ago someone on here posted a very good explanation by Simon and Andy at Brook Guitars. I don't know if its still around?
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,545
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Post by davewhite on Mar 29, 2015 16:36:21 GMT
The truss rod is used to adjust neck relief to the desired level - doing so does of course change the action. When the neck relief is where you want it to be and assuming the neck is set at an optimum angle, then action is dialed in at the nut by adjusting the nut slot depths and at the bridge by adjusting the saddle height.
I suspect that the neck relief has increased a little under string tension as everything settles from new and a tightening of the truss rod will bring things back to where they were when you first had your Lowden. Good plan leaving it to the dealers to fettle.
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"8e2be1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0b0b0c
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Post by Andy P on Mar 29, 2015 18:00:42 GMT
Thanks davewhite alig mandovark and Trevor TAMCO, much appreciated. I'll probably be up in Exeter in three weeks so I'll take it into Project Music. Hopefully they'll be able to do it while I wait.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Mar 29, 2015 18:11:39 GMT
The truss rod is used to adjust neck relief to the desired level - doing so does of course change the action. When the neck relief is where you want it to be and assuming the neck is set at an optimum angle, then action is dialed in at the nut by adjusting the nut slot depths and at the bridge by adjusting the saddle height.
I suspect that the neck relief has increased a little under string tension as everything settles from new and a tightening of the truss rod will bring things back to where they were when you first had your Lowden. Good plan leaving it to the dealers to fettle.
Thanks Dave for this very simple but extremely clear description of something that I've never been very clear about.
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