Fender Strat truss is stripped!

[ampmike]

I traded for this guitar because it was the year that the headstocks matched the body color.Its a nice yellow.I had a guy fix it once and it was 125.00 to straighten out the truss rod but its bowed again.Im not going to pay any more.Anybody have any secrets to dealing with a stripped truss.Or should I just string it with 12"s and make it a slide guitar.Kinda got duped here when I got it from G.C.I really dont want to replace the neck because that would end the whole matching paint and than its got the aftermarket deal so any thoughts,Mikey

[stelligan]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... nches.html

Will this help? Or another issue?

[Structo]

Yeah, busted truss rods are a PIA.

Which way is it bowed?

Sounds like the neck pressure was simply too much for the rod threads to hold.

There are ways to re-thread the rod if there is enough meat left but the tools are expensive and so the labor is high.

You didn't mention if it is a rosewood board or maple?

If it is a rosewood board, some guys will heat them up and use steam to separate the board from the neck.

But you can get a pretty decent replacement neck from Allparts as well.

[rp]

maybe here:
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier ... orrod.html

[Reeltarded]

Mikey explain what the damage is. Is it stripped threads or is it broken somewhere?

If they bottom out before the adjustment can be made you need a washer added.

Just stating the obvious because there are many kinds of broke things..

[vibratoking]

That frets.com article and fix is awesome...Next time that happens to me, I'll just go out into the machine shop in my garage make a new truss rod nut and all will be good again...wait...huh...what?... where are the confounded CNCs that are supposed to be in my garage?

[rp]

That frets.com article and fix is awesome...Next time that happens to me, I'll just go out into the machine shop in my garage make a new truss rod nut and all will be good again...wait...huh...what?... where are the confounded CNCs that are supposed to be in my garage?

Most true, but it is a luthiery specific site not a pleb site. I figured maybe Mike being a wood worker might have no fear and improvise at it with a sharp-toothed reptile.

Often the cool tools invented on Frets wind up at stewmac.

That stewmac link has a repair tutorial too if you scroll down.

[ampmike]

Sorry Guys,The allen key nut is stripped and the neck is bowed.I took it to Frank Finochio in Easton Pa.He got the neck adjusted somehow but said it may go back to needing work.So if there was a way to get a tool to still grab that would work.Thanks Guys

[ampmike]

Oh thanks fellas that gripper tool looks awesome.I dont have my camera home to show you the guitar but its a real cool light yellow with the same colored headstock.Really nice lookin strat!!!Thanks for the posts you guys are the Best,Mikey

[Reeltarded]

Letsseea picture of this thing? Is it just the nut is stripped? If it is loose enough go ahead and remove it. Is that all it is?

[jestaudio]

Had exactly the same happen on my 89' start, solution is pretty straight forward if its the allen nut, the dowel at the headstock needs to be drilled out, the allen nut can then be removed, fit a couple of extra washers so the truss rod does'nt bottom out, fit new allen nut and adjust, if your any good with woodwork a new walnut dowel can be ore drilled and fitted, i did'nt bither as i added a LSR roller nut at the same time

[Zippy]

Sorry Guys,The allen key nut is stripped and the neck is bowed.I took it to Frank Finochio in Easton Pa.He got the neck adjusted somehow but said it may go back to needing work.So if there was a way to get a tool to still grab that would work.Thanks Guys

I just went through the same thing on a National Style 97 tricone - stripped nut.

You might want to get two of the Stew-Mac tools - one of the "correct" size and the next size larger. The tool is a lil' bit odd in that the small end of the tapered hex is SMALLER than optimal size - makes no sense to me. If the hex in the truss rod screw is too shallow, you won't get enough purchase on the nut. Another alternative would be to grind back the tip of the tool.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Truss_rods/ ... 3&xsr=9126

If you can get the nut to move at all, get it OFF rather than adjusting it. There's no guarantee that you be as lucky next time.

If you completely fail and want to keep that neck:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Truss_rods/ ... e_Kit.html

G'luck!

[Structo]

That Stew Mac broken truss repair kit is nice but how do they justify the price?

$245? Really?

[vibratoking]

Stew Mac - "You can't pay more, but you can buy better"

[ampmike]

Miles I will post a pic on Saturday when the good camera comes home.The 1/8 key is really stripped almost round.I should have seen it before I got it from G.C.I traded a very dead sounding strat and some cash for this one.
Anyway Ill get the 1/8 inch and the 3/16 size gripper.About 20.00 bucks for the 2,Mikey