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I have a 90s era guild on my bench currently. Owner has tried to get the truss rod to work with no success. It's been tightened to the point where the wood below the nut has compressed and squeezed the truss rod cover off.

Just curious if anyone has run into this before? If so what was your fix?

I had considered pulling the fingerboard off but it's all finished over as Guild always did. To do this would leave a pretty nasty scar line down the whole neck.

I can't post pictures via my phone but I can put some up later this evening

What is the relief?

Way too high. Middle of the fretboard is reading at .050 with the 1st and 12th frets depressed.

Does relaxing the truss rod nut allow more relief into the neck?

Is it a one way rod? Or a 2-way that adjusts reverse of typical?

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

It's a one way, basically like a Gibson style but with a 1/4 nut as opposed to 5/16

Relaxing it does not add to the relief.

This is a clue that something is really wrong with the rod. Since tightening causes wood deformation and apparently does not take up relief, and loosening has no effect, I am going to guess that somehow the rod itself is locked in the channel. Either it got glued tight when the channel cap was glued at the factory, a lot of finish ran down the rod when being finished or someone tried to fix a marginally working rod somehow by using glue. Maybe trying to glue a washer in to stop the nut from sinking into the wood? (I've seen all these)

I do not see anyway around pulling the FB to get access to the rod. And I do not think the problem can be resolved otherwise. Truss rod replacement isn't that uncommon and finish work is always a part of it. The initial problem may even be at the other end of the rod with a slipping anchor.... As that is usually poorly fit at the factory on these guitars.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Thanks for the advice Brian. I decided to remove the fingerboard this morning. I think the problem is pretty obvious



The channel was filled with some sort of weird dried up goop that chipped out. The only thing the nut was bearing against was that tiny sliver of wood below where the screw for the truss rod cover was. There was nothing substantial for the rod to push against.

And Brian like you said the anchor also looks a bit off. New rod and new fingerboard for this one and it'll be done. Thanks for the advice!