Fender MIM 5 truss rod replacement

beyondat · #1 07-03-2011, 10:36 PM

Whats up, here is my story. I bought a mint condition MIM 5 string neck off ebay for $49. The seller said that it had truss rod issues, I thought for 50 bucks why not. Well, I managed to remove the truss rod but I can't seem to remove the truss rod nut, its really stuck for some reason. the nut is stripped so bad that I was able to fit the truss rod all the way through it. If I can't get it out would it be possible to do something like what I have drawn in the attached picture or would it not allow the rod to work properly? Also when Its time to buy a new truss rod , is there one that you recommend as a drop in replacement?
thanks

beyondat · #2 07-04-2011, 11:13 AM

Anyone?

beyondat · #3 07-04-2011, 03:04 PM

I guess everyone is too busy licking BBQ sauce off of their hands!

JLS · #4 07-04-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

Whats up, here is my story. I bought a mint condition MIM 5 string neck off ebay for $49. The seller said that it had truss rod issues, I thought for 50 bucks why not. Well, I managed to remove the truss rod but I can't seem to remove the truss rod nut, its really stuck for some reason. the nut is stripped so bad that I was able to fit the truss rod all the way through it. If I can't get it out would it be possible to do something like what I have drawn in the attached picture or would it not allow the rod to work properly? Also when Its time to buy a new truss rod , is there one that you recommend as a drop in replacement?
thanks

This doesn't make sense, yet, sorry.

**pacojas** · #5 07-04-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

This doesn't make sense, yet, sorry.

+1

beyondat · #6 07-04-2011, 04:39 PM

Hmmm, at what part do I lose you?

beyondat · #7 07-04-2011, 04:48 PM

The truss rod nut was stripped an the rod was broken. I removed the broken truss rod but the nut is lodged in the neck still.

**pacojas** · #8 07-04-2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

The truss rod nut was stripped an the rod was broken. I removed the broken truss rod but the nut is lodged in the neck still.

i suggest you take the neck to a pro unless you have the means to remove the nut. gl.

beyondat · #9 07-04-2011, 05:08 PM

That's why I thought my idea of leaving the nut in and installing one closer to the headstock might work, since a new truss rod could easily slide through the old lodged nut.

**pacojas** · #10 07-04-2011, 05:11 PM

i would be scared the nut will move and hinder the rod.

Chasarms · #11 07-04-2011, 05:13 PM

You can't simply install another truss rod. The end opposite the nut is fixed. The rod is anchored before the fingerboard is installed. The only way to install it is to remove the fingerboard.

beyondat · #12 07-04-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

You can't simply install another truss rod. The end opposite the nut is fixed. The rod is anchored before the fingerboard is installed. The only way to install it is to remove the fingerboard.

It's a fender with a skunkstripe which I believe are anchored after the fretboard ,

beyondat · #13 07-04-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

i would be scared the nut will move and hinder the rod.

Yeah thats what I am scared of also. I'll try to bang it out when my new truss rod arrives.

Chasarms · #14 07-04-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

It's a fender with a skunkstripe which I believe are anchored after the fretboard ,

In that case, you have to route out the stripe and install another rod. You can't just drop one in.

Craig_S · #15 07-04-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

In that case, you have to route out the stripe and install another rod. You can't just drop one in.

It's true. You spent $49 dollars on a canoe paddle, unless you do major surgery.

beyondat · #16 07-04-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

In that case, you have to route out the stripe and install another rod. You can't just drop one in.

I have already removed the broken truss rod by drilling a hole at the heel of the neck. It slid right out without removing the skunkstripe. I should be able to slide the new truss rod in the same way the broken one came out right?

beyondat · #17 07-04-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

It's true. You spent $49 dollars on a canoe paddle, unless you do major surgery.

I said I removed the truss rod in my original post.

Chasarms · #18 07-04-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

I have already removed the broken truss rod by drilling a hole at the heel of the neck. It slid right out without removing the skunkstripe. I should be able to slide the new truss rod in the same way the broken one came out right?

No. The truss rod has to be anchored at the end opposite the nut. Typically there is a small plate on the opposite end that fits into a slot in the wood. Were you able to remove that plate as well?

Think about it. If it is not anchored, how will the neck bow as it is tightened?

beyondat · #19 07-04-2011, 07:44 PM

Well, Its a MIM fender so the anchor is at the heel and the nut is at the headstock correct?

60bass · #20 07-04-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

Well, Its a MIM fender so the anchor is at the heel and the nut is at the headstock correct?

That is correct.

Now providing you were able to remove the old rod by drilling out the heel end of the neck and removing both the bad rod and the anchor plate you should now have a neck that has no truss rod in it at all and you could slide a new rod back in. Is that correct? So from how I understand it, the old truss rod nut is still stuck in the nut end of the neck, correct? If so that will probably cause issues and should be removed but I take it that you cant get that nut out, correct?

If all of the above is correct. Here's my advice FWIW. You need to get that rod nut out as it's going to cause problems. I've never done one but I've seen repairs that got those nuts out from under the fretboard without having to remove the whole board. You need to locate where the nut is under the board. Usually it's under the area of the first two frets. Remove the nut and the first fret. Using a small fine wire coping saw or similar, cut through the fret board where the nut slot and fret slot are down to the top of the maple under the board.

Then you need to remove that section of the board to remove the truss rod nut. Steaming it to loosen the glue and carefully taking that section off. Remove the bad nut, install new rod and nut making sure it's seated where it needs to be and the hole you drilled in the heel plugged with a glued in wood dowell or whatever. If the new rod is in OK, then re-glue the board section you removed. After a new fret and nut are installed, it will hide the repair.

An easier way might be just to remove the whole fretboard. This link describes the removal process fairly well.

Project Guitar :: Fret Board Removal

Good Luck.

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