Truss rod for action? Really?

**skydivewrongway** · 01-28-2011, 07:14 PM

Okay so first of all, I apologize for beating a dead horse with this one...I realize there are a gazillion threads in a gazillion forums about this (many on here as well I know

)...but I was just wondering what you guys thought about this.

I recently picked up my new Island Burst Petrucci BFR and it's fantastic in every way. Set up beautifully, no fret buzz anywhere, very comfortable to play, and sounds creamy smooth. Still, the action on the higher frets is a bit high for my taste. Not by a mile, mind you, but it needs a little adjustment for sure. This is my 10th guitar (my first MM and my favorite of all I might add

), and on my Floyd style trems I've always lowered the bridge to set action. Well, the EB suggestion on the FAQ page says the following:

"The best and easiest way to adjust your action is to use the truss rod. To lower your action, turn the wheel clockwise. To raise your action, particularly if you have fret buzz, turn the wheel counter clockwise. It is always a good idea to make just one or two turns at a time, then play it and see if it needs more adjustment. It normally doesn't take many turns of the wheel to notice a difference.

A "turn" as defined here is inserting an adjustment tool and moving a spoke of the wheel from one side of the opening at the body at the neck to the other side."

My trem is set up perfectly...it's far more stable than any other floating trem I've ever owned. Therefore I'd rather not touch it if I don't have to. (If it isn't broke, don't fix it...

) But is the truss rod really the best way to go on this one? Any opinions would be great. Thanks!

Btw...yes I realize I haven't posted pics yet...I will tomorrow I promise...right now I may or may not be at work...

You guys rock.

**yesandno** · 01-28-2011, 08:10 PM

Yeah, in that, once you first set up your guitar to how you like it...optimum neck adjustment and then setting the bridge height to how you like your action... over time your neck might straighten or bow more. And since your bridge doesn't move, that's now your standard with which you just re-adjust the neck to get the right action back to where its supposed to be.

**shredhed** · 01-28-2011, 08:23 PM

Call customer service. No one can tell you what to do without seeing the guitar.

But in a general, you don't adjust action with the trussrod

**skydivewrongway** · 01-28-2011, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by yesandno

Yeah, in that, once you first set up your guitar to how you like it...optimum neck adjustment and then setting the bridge height to how you like your action... over time your neck might straighten or bow more. And since your bridge doesn't move, that's now your standard with which you just re-adjust the neck to get the right action back to where its supposed to be.

Ah, that makes a lot of sense actually. I read it assuming they meant it just to adjust the action...I suppose it's more of a "re-adjustment" answer.

**robelinda2** · 01-28-2011, 08:43 PM

Yes use the truss road to adjust action, just like the EBMM quote says too. Its that simple.

**yesandno** · 01-28-2011, 08:44 PM

That'd be the way to look at it. I do that with all my guitars. Once I make my initial setup, the next time I pull a guitar out of the closet to play it the strings might be too low or up too high cuz the wood either tightened or swelled with the weather. So a small turn of the truss rod puts it all right back into place