Truss rod length

[ShaneJ]

I am just getting started on my first. I got the neck shaped today, and I started to put in the truss rod. But it looks to me like the truss rod is too long for my neck. I double checked the neck, and it's accurate to Siminoff's new book's drawing. I had ordered the 2-way mandolin truss rod from LMI a couple weeks ago. Anyway, if the truss rod is flush with the back edge of the heel, it MIGHT barely fit under a truss rod cover after the ebony is on the top of the headstock. The truss rod is 9-1/4" long. Siminoff's book suggests bending a rod at 8-7/8".

It seems to me that I should have some wood at the heel behind the truss rod rather than letting the truss rod extend all the way back, possibly touching the neck joint block.

Here's a pic.... Should I get a shorter truss rod?

[ShaneJ]

One more view...

[Jim Hilburn]

I took issue with LMI about the length of that rod. They told me there must be an "anomaly" with my mandolins.I told them they screwed up and sent photo's of the rod laying on the neck profile of the McRostie print that they sell, and had Don and Frank Ford both acknowledge that it was too long.
I recommend you send it back and order a custom made double action rod thats 7.5" long not including the adjusting nut. This is the rod that will adjust the neck both ways instead of just counter the string tension.They will make these even though they're not listed in the catalog. they're a little lighter, also.

[Jim Hilburn]

Here's a photo of the 7.5" rod installed. I'll be filling the openings at each end before it's done.
I'm in the process of having my brother-in-law, who's a toolmaker, make some of these, only with a 3/16" upper bar. The 1/4" LMI is selling is really just a shortened guitar rod and is overkill for the mandolin. It also reduces the amount of gluing area for the fingerboard.
Mine are also going to be the one way type. The two way is pretty complex to assemble.It has both left and right threads and you have to do quite a bit of welding.

[Chris Baird]

I've gotten two way rods from Steve Smith. I think he still makes em; haven't placed any orders for awhile. They are very effective and easy to install.

[ShaneJ]

Thank you, gentlemen. It didn't look right to me.

[Stanley Cox]

Shane, As a reference point , the truss rod from Stew-Mac is 8.25" This is a one way rod.
Check out my post in post a picture, "where does this ? go"
Thanks
Stanley

[ShaneJ]

I thought I'd post this.... I contacted Chris at LMI and he was very helpful. He said I just needed to return this rod and I could order one at a special length. He did say that they could only make one with the 1/4" material and not 3/16", but that's OK with me. Maybe Jim's brother-in-law will decide to go into the 3/16" truss rod business later. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif (If he does, I'll take a couple.)

Anyway, I wanted to make sure people knew of my good experience with LMI.

[Jim Hilburn]

Shane, did you order the two-way design? These are much nicer than the one you had before. They're quite a bit lighter and fit within the 1/4" channel. With that first one, you would have had to chisel out for the nut end of it, which is wider than the rest.
They need to list that they will make them for mandolin.

By the way, did I ever mention that I was born there in Abilene? I know, who cares?

[ShaneJ]

Jim, I will be getting the 2-way. Thanks for your help here.

How long did you live in Abilene? Why on earth would a kid from beautiful West Texas ever want to move to Colorado anyway? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Jim Hilburn]

I just got the truss rods that Larry, the bro-in-law made, and they're too cool to believe. he made them out of stainless and there's only 2 pieces. The allen adjuster is part of the rod and it threads into the heel end. it fits into a 3/16" wide x 3/8" deep slot, and is light as a feather. No comparison to the LMI rod that's oversized and has all the welds.
He's not interested in trying to market them, but is happy to make a few for me... FREE!
While I told him all I needed was the 1-way type, he took it upon himself to make a prototype 2-way. The LMI version relys on one end being right hand threads and the other left, so they have to assemble them and then do the welding, but Larry notched the rod and used a set screw so it just spins on the heel end while the nut end threads will put tension in either direction. Only problem with the proto is he used right hand threads which makes it adjust opposite of normal. But I don't see the need for 2-way's anyway.

[ShaneJ]

Jim, that looks really nice -- well-made! Pretty cool brother-in-law! Let me know when he has one for sale.