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Did I just damage my neck?

Gfkfloyd

Gfkfloyd

Sep 30, 2017
178
272
#1
Hey, so I may have done something very silly/stupid.

I just got a new used guitar (I'm mainly a bassist but branching out..and trust the options of you guys), a Music Man Luke III...

For whatever reason, curiosity got the best of me and I got a little overzealous making sure the truss rod was working properly while I'm still in the return window..

It seems this truss rod adjusts pretty fast so I accidentally adjusted it from slack to a backbow and back again within about 20 minutes..

It's stable now and I'm able to set the relief where I like it....

Any chance I did long term damage buy moving it from end to end in a quick amount of time? It wasn't my intent by stupid things happen.

Thanks!
 
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#2
I highly doubt you did anything wrong.

I've punished some cheap, end-of-life guitar necks just to see what a trussrod can do when over tightened or backed right off. You can introduce a lot of back bow, loosen off the rod and it will straighten back out again. The worst that could happen is that fret slots open up a bit and loosen a fret or the fretboard separates. On a Fender neck with a skunk stripe it might come loose as well. If none of that is happening then assume you are fine and just watch out for buzzing frets.
 
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#5
Killing Floor said:
No chance. The wood is flexible and the truss rod is shaped to adjust against it and it is also flexible.

Also, Lukes are great. Post pics or your frets will pop out.
Click to expand...

Thank you guys very much for letting me know. It's probably fine... No issues with the frets or fingerboard as of yet!
 

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#9
Gfkfloyd said:
You're absolutely right about the patience... Actually did hear a little bit of creaking/ popping, but nothing. I haven't heard adjusting other truss rods that haven't moved in a long time
Click to expand...
yeah a bit of sound as things break loose from stiction at the start is normal sound, only loud unexpected sounds towards the extremes would be worrisome...
 
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#12
Lance Bunyon said:
I'm pretty sure you would know if you snapped the truss rod. But to be careful I really stick to never more than one revolution per 24 hours. It's just to be safe I know it's overkill...
Click to expand...

agree. Actually 1/2 a turn is more my cutoff for one session. That is assuming I’m not rescuing some POS.

I learned setups kinda by the seat of the pants before the internet but….DON’T get all crazy with yer truss rods!!!! Get the info first.

OP seems to be OK. Consider this a free pass?
 
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#13
Stylee Mousse said:
agree. Actually 1/2 a turn is more my cutoff for one session. That is assuming I’m not rescuing some POS.

I learned setups kinda by the seat of the pants before the internet but….DON’T get all crazy with yer truss rods!!!! Get the info first.

OP seems to be OK. Consider this a free pass?
Click to expand...

I'll take a free pass! It does only seem to have a half turm or so between the proper relief and the rod being out of range. I can get it into a backbow with about a quarter turn left.

Does that sound normal?
 
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#15
Gfkfloyd said:
Hey, so I may have done something very silly/stupid.

I just got a new used guitar (I'm mainly a bassist but branching out..and trust the options of you guys), a Music Man Luke III...

For whatever reason, curiosity got the best of me and I got a little overzealous making sure the truss rod was working properly while I'm still in the return window..

It seems this truss rod adjusts pretty fast so I accidentally adjusted it from slack to a backbow and back again within about 20 minutes..

It's stable now and I'm able to set the relief where I like it....

Any chance I did long term damage buy moving it from end to end in a quick amount of time? It wasn't my intent by stupid things happen.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I doubt there is a problem. Sounds like you tested it to see if it works and it did!
 
#16
Probably not, but it's a good question. Many materials are indeed more likely to be permanently damaged by quickly imparting large, opposing deflections onto them.

I'd say as long as you didn't hear any sounds like crushing of wood fibers or cracking, you're probably just fine. I doubt we could apply truss rod changes fast enough to damage a neck in this fashion.
 
#18
Gfkfloyd said:
Hey, so I may have done something very silly/stupid.

I just got a new used guitar (I'm mainly a bassist but branching out..and trust the options of you guys), a Music Man Luke III...

For whatever reason, curiosity got the best of me and I got a little overzealous making sure the truss rod was working properly while I'm still in the return window..

It seems this truss rod adjusts pretty fast so I accidentally adjusted it from slack to a backbow and back again within about 20 minutes..

It's stable now and I'm able to set the relief where I like it....

Any chance I did long term damage buy moving it from end to end in a quick amount of time? It wasn't my intent by stupid things happen.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If it didn't snap, pop, or explode, you're good
 
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