truss rod cover issue

[jim simpson]

During a current build, I encountered an issue with the depth of my truss rod channel and the truss rod nut not sitting low enough for the truss rod cover to sit level with the headstock surface. I kept deepening the neck slot but was concerned about going too deep. I had an ebony blank that would have solved the issue with the added thickness but it wasn’t wide enough to cover the whole headstock. I used a piece of pearwood and dyed it black but it was much thinner and didn’t give me the needed height. I then layered another piece of veneer under it and that did it.

Oddly enough, I am working on another maker’s instrument that had presented a similar challenge. The adjusting nut did not allow the truss rod cover to sit flat. I made a new truss rod cover out of a little thicker piece of ebony and hollowed the inside surface of the new cove to allow clearance.

I wonder if others run into this issue?

(sorry for the quality of the images)

[pops1]

I have filed the very end of the hex nut to a bevel so the end is slightly lower and the bevel makes getting the wrench on easier. Doesn't do a lot, but does lower it some.

[jim simpson]

Thanks pops1, I think I'm going with a carbon rod for the next one.

[MikeEdgerton]

I've never done it with a truss rod cover but I've been doing that same thing putting trim up in houses for years. From the outside it looks normal, behind it has a hollowed out spot. Nice job.

[j. condino]

Switch to the low profile allen head socket nuts that LMII sells instead of the traditional Gibson style big hex nuts and you'll never heave this problem again. You'll also be able to have a much smaller pocket cut out of the wood so that area of the neck will be stronger.

[Richard500]

Wouldn’t deepening the seat for the nut a skotch or two accomplish the job?

[MikeEdgerton]

He isn't having trouble getting to the nut to adjust the truss rod, the truss rod nut is protruding about the level of the headstock so the truss rod cover doesn't lay flat against the headstock. That level was set when he built the neck. Just hogging out a little wood under the nut wouldn't change that height.

[jim simpson]

Switch to the low profile allen head socket nuts that LMII sells instead of the traditional Gibson style big hex nuts and you'll never heave this problem again. You'll also be able to have a much smaller pocket cut out of the wood so that area of the neck will be stronger.

Thank you, I'll have to look at LMI's for my next build. I was able to solve the issue on my build by building up the headstock overlay. The one I photo'd was not my build but rather a known builder's. It made me think this might not be so uncommon of a challenge.

[jim simpson]

I thought I'd take another stab at a modified truss rod cover to compensate for the truss rod nut that protruded above the headstock surface. I started with some thicker white pickguard material, shaped it then cut out a relief area that would have contacted the adjusting nut. I topped the cover with less thick black adhesive backed pickguard material. This attempt worked while being thinner than the ebony cover from my first attempt. It also looks more like the original truss rod cover.