Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone tried the StewMac low-profile 2-way truss rod? If so, how have you liked it? Any problems or concerns? I would appreciate any input. THanks.

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Truss_Rods/Adjustable_truss_rods/Low-profile_2-way_Truss_Rod.html

Looks like the Martin 2-way rods I've been using and which I like. They take a shallower slot than most, do not require a filler strip and can be installed with TiteBond.

I don't know if the Stewmac rods are the same. If they are then they should be good.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That's good to hear. The StewMac website says they are used by Martin, Epiphone, Ibanez, Squier, ESP and Godin, so you're probably right about them being the same. Thanks for the info, Steve.

I bought a couple when buying other items.

Pretty much identical to the Martins which I have used but haven't tried them yet.

The price is definitely right.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

The Martin TR is exactly 14" totally encased in blue shrink wrap (14th fret necks) -- those are 14.25" I've seen what appears to be identical unit at Aliexpress and also Ebay sellers about $8.00.

and here:
http://www.amazon.com/YSTD%C2%AE-Course ... truss+rods

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I saw those blue wrapped rods, as well. Same thing, or too good to be true? I'd be interested if anyone has used them. They're cheap enough try in a mock-up.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I have several of those Stew Mac low profile rods, they look pretty sturdy, nice looking welds.
They're not at all like the ones in the Amazon link above. On those looks like the rod turns, not so
on the Stew Mac rods. Looks like adjustment is by a captive-nut type arrangement. I've mostly
used the Gotoh two way rod but like the 3/8 in. depth that the Stew Mac rod allows for a slim neck profile. TMALSS I went right ahead and planted one in a 14 fret neck.
Ken

So I am in the shop now -- Neither of the aftermarket truss rods SM or the Ebay /Amazon version are constructed like the Martin steel Two-Way rod. The Martin rod (.245" x .366") does have the flat bar and the rod, but the tightening/adjusting mechanism is totally unique. I've always used Martin rods for peace of mind, assuming they too do not want to deal with failures.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Kudos to our pals at Stew-Mac. If you recall the Hot Rod rods had a number of blow-outs the back of folks necks (on their guitars....) and we saw at least three of these blow-outs. Problem was the tall profile and builders not leaving enough baseball bat behind the rod.

Stuff happens, an understatement but when an organization moves to make it right that's notable and what we would want to see.

Quality folks at Stew-Mac (Hi Dan!!!)!

Kinda took them long enough.
I've still got a few hot rods to use, no failure yet (only 2 in service, 3 years)

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Yeah it did take a while, true. Mind you there is nothing wrong with the traditional Hot Rods if you allow for this and like baseball bat necks....

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm going to order a couple and give them a try.

For a long time, I used the LMI double acting rods, until I got a batch where they had these beautiful welds, but they really weren't welds, they were fills. They had a classic flattened stack of nickels look, but when the weld broke, you could see where they beveled for the fill, but in an attempt to not have to do too much cleanup, they never got the weld temperature up high enough so there never really was a weld.

So I switched to the Hot Rods, and have never had a problem since. They are installed flush with the surface of the neck, and the only area where they are deeper is about 1/32 or so of clearance under the allen barrel. My necks aren't particularly unique, about .825" at the 1st fret, and I don't use a volute or a duck tail transition, more of a Gibson-y transition that begins just past the first set of tuners. I've never had a blow out, even on a baritone 12 string with some 320lbs of tension.

I suspect the folks who had blowouts either buried the truss rod with a cover strip, or carved the neck too shallow.

I bought a few of the new stew mac rods for some builds I'm working on. They look well made and sturdy.

I was able to inspect one of the StewMac rods yesterday and they do look well made. They are not the same as the Martin two-way rods though they do look very similar.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

What were the differences?

Kevin Looker

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

_________________
Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

The SM rod adjustment nut rotates inside a fixed sleeve. I suppose this is to avoid off-axis loading on the connection between the nut and threaded rod. The Martin does not have the fixed sleeve. Both appear to be strong designs. Time will tell on the SM rod.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Actually the Martin rod has dual fixed sleeves forward and reverse and they capture a proprietary nut with a center stop. The sleeves are secured with multiple welds, the concept is pretty cool even includes brass bearings, its difficult to see without removing the shrink wrap which I did for the photos below. That said I believe the SM rod requires a much more shallow channel.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I ordered two of 'em.
Not sure why they call it "low profile"?

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

I was going to order a few as well, but got some Blanchard's from Hesh's clearance sale.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I stand corrected. I have never pulled the shrink tubing off. Thanks for showing that.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Were those ones made by Blanchard, or the Allied version?

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Pat

I bought two for electric builds.
Be warned that the 18-1/2" length is longer than a Gibson fretboard.
Dan

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Has anyone tried to hand carve the specialized channel for the low profile rod?

I like the idea of low profile and less weight but since I do everything by hand this might be a deal breaker.

Why don't companies include the weight in the specs?

-j