Standard truss rod wrench, is it 3/16" or 6mm?

Stuggi · #1 01-16-2010, 11:15 AM

The title says pretty much all.

I'm thinking of basses like Fenders, G&L's etc.

selowitch · #2 01-16-2010, 11:20 AM

3/16" is actually equivalent to 4.7625 cm, so although a 5mm allen wrench may "work," it's not the exact size and that can give you problems. I don't think there's a single "standard" size for truss rod tools, but 3/16" appears to me to be the standard for MIM Fenders, though please don't quote me on that because I am certainly not an authority on the subject.

I did recently e-mail Fender support and asked them about the correct truss rod for my MIM '08-'09 Jazz, and they replied saying it was 3/16". I subsequently bought one of these.

Why Fender doesn't publish the sizes you need for all relevant tools as part of the specs for each instrument I have no idea.

JTE · #3 01-16-2010, 12:31 PM

Ain't no standard size. Fender's metric ones are 5mm, I don't recall the exact size of the SAE ones. They're all over the place for other brands, but I beleive that G&L, pre-EB Music Man (maybe post EB before they went to the wheel) and Lakland all use the same size.

John

Stuggi · #4 01-20-2010, 06:46 AM

Okay, then it's probably an 5mm one I've got since it fits both my CIJ Jazz and my G&L Tribby. :/ I need to go out and find a 3/16" and see if it fits better.

walterw · #5 01-20-2010, 09:00 PM

you'll find SAE on american instruments (1/8" for G&L, 3/16" for fender) and metric on everything else (4mm or 5mm) for the most part. i think i've seen a 6mm nut on any instrument twice in 20 years, and it was an obscure '60s japanese import both times.

do not misuse a 3/16" with a 5mm, you will strip something.

Stuggi · #6 01-20-2010, 10:44 PM

Ah, okay, then I'm gonna get both of them to be sure, hex wrenches aren't that expensive.

selowitch · #7 06-21-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

you'll find SAE on american instruments (1/8" for G&L, 3/16" for fender) and metric on everything else (4mm or 5mm) for the most part. i think i've seen a 6mm nut on any instrument twice in 20 years, and it was an obscure '60s japanese import both times.

do not misuse a 3/16" with a 5mm, you will strip something.

But Fender support is correct when they recommend 3/16" for a Mexican Fender, right?