Guys stupid question...
- Thread starter Russ73
- Start date
elvis
Hamfisted String Banger
If you look at the guitar like it's on a stand, body towards the floor, neck up, where you are looking down at the neck (and truss rod bolt), counterclockwise is loosey.
I watched a Zakk Wylde video once where he demonstrated "lowering the strings" by wearing the guitar and reaching over to the truss rod nut and cranking it a quarter turn TOWARD himself (or up if you like) in order to get the strings lower when he needed to correct for weather while touring and playing various outdoor venues. I know that he was actually removing relief or applying backbow, however you want to look at it, which gave him what he perceived as lowering the strings. I use this example for myself to remember which way to crank the truss rod for a minor adjustment.
But, keep in mind that Zakk was playing a Les Paul which has a single action truss rod while PRS guitars (for decades now) have a dual action truss rod. You still turn the nut the same direction but just keep in mind on a PRS it is the middle of the fingerboard which "goes up and down". Depress the lower E string at the first and last frets and see if the string is touching the frets in the middle or not. If there is a gap above the frets in the middle while you are doing that, you need to add backbow (crank it toward you). If the string is laying against all of the frets, crank the nut away from you to add relief until the neck is perfectly flat. THEN adjust your bridge height if needed or possible.
But, keep in mind that Zakk was playing a Les Paul which has a single action truss rod while PRS guitars (for decades now) have a dual action truss rod. You still turn the nut the same direction but just keep in mind on a PRS it is the middle of the fingerboard which "goes up and down". Depress the lower E string at the first and last frets and see if the string is touching the frets in the middle or not. If there is a gap above the frets in the middle while you are doing that, you need to add backbow (crank it toward you). If the string is laying against all of the frets, crank the nut away from you to add relief until the neck is perfectly flat. THEN adjust your bridge height if needed or possible.
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Deleted member 2284
Guest
There's a RIGHT rule of THUMB here....
Take your RIGHT hand, make a fist, then raise the thumb - so you make the "OK" sign.. Or thumb's up, or facebook like thingy.
to go in the direction of the thumb (tighten), you turn in the direction of the four curled fingers. If you eg. turn a nut on a thread in the direction of those curled fingers, the nut will move in the direction of the thumb.
Always use the right hand, though
Think of the fist gripping a screwdriver with the pointy end to the thumb side. Same deal
Take your RIGHT hand, make a fist, then raise the thumb - so you make the "OK" sign.. Or thumb's up, or facebook like thingy.
to go in the direction of the thumb (tighten), you turn in the direction of the four curled fingers. If you eg. turn a nut on a thread in the direction of those curled fingers, the nut will move in the direction of the thumb.
Always use the right hand, though
Think of the fist gripping a screwdriver with the pointy end to the thumb side. Same deal
LDJ is correct. Your personal orientation to the guitar is irrelevent.
Turn the nut on the truss rod the same direction you would for any jar lid...
Clockwise : tighten
Counterclockwise : loosen
There is no "left" of "right".
Turn the nut on the truss rod the same direction you would for any jar lid...
Clockwise : tighten
Counterclockwise : loosen
There is no "left" of "right".
miroman86
New Member
Turn to the high-E to loosen, turn to low-e to tighten... its that easy to explain.
