Neck adjustment question.

[Hasmonean]

Yesterday I purchased an Axis Super Sport, which I am absolutely thrilled with. I practiced with my band that evening and it played masterfully just like I had hoped. Anywho, I took it home afterwards and began to lower the action (I am a freak for lower action and like it right above the "buzz point"). So, I loosened the strings since I was adjusting the neck down and didn't want their tension working against it and moved the adjustment gear (I don't know the technical term for what it is called, but I mean the gear looking thing at the base of the neck that is attached to the truss rod and has holes to place something in to turn it) counter clockwise.

I moved it a good little bit and tightened the strigs to see how far the neck had actually moved and it seemed like it was in exactly the same place. So I did the same procedure again and again and the neck never seemed to move. I turned the adjustment gear so far that it was literally almost touching the neck pick-up, but the neck was still in the same position.

So, I am wondering if it is possible that the adjustment gear somehow is unscrewed from the truss rod and not actually turning it, or if I am doing something wrong. I have adjusted the truss rod on dozens of guitars and do "set-ups" for friends all the time, so I'm not necessarily a novice, but I have never used the Ernie Ball system before. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[dfrady]

After making a truss rod adjustment, you sometimes need to help it along. If your adding more relief, simply grab the headstock with your left hand and then slightly push down on the fretboard with your right hand in the middle of the neck, you will hear the neck pop, it's a little freaky hearing your neck pop the first few times, but the truss rod will sometimes stick. I'm sure someone else here with more know how will chime in.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Turning it counter clockwise will loosen it and reduce tension on the truss rod, which increases relief. When it gets so loose that it comes away from the base of the neck and is hitting the neck pickup you will not see any change no matter how much further you loosen it.

Loosening the strings while you are adjusting the truss rod is not necessary.

If you want the neck flat w/ super low action, turn the wheel the other way.

 

[Rauschbo]

- a quick question: What is your reference for clockwise / counterclockwise, looking down the neck toward the head, or looking from the head to the bridge?

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Clockwise is turning the truss wheel from the bass to treble side by going "over the top" Just like if you were looking directly at a screw and tightening it.

 

[Rauschbo]

Thx -