3 course Bouzouki (also in CBOM)

[devonmandoman]

I have been asked to look at building a 3 course flatback bouzouki with a small body to enable access to the higher frets. This gives a very long slender neck with a nut width around 1" or >25mm
This begs the question of "truss rod or not?" and if not, how to achieve enough stiffness to avoid bowing in the neck? Carbon fibre is certainly one route to go, but allows no fine tuning or later adjustment.
Any ideas?

[Paul Hostetter]

I'd put in an adjustable rod, it's the ounce of prevention.