How to create an electric bass guitar via wood lamination and other various woodcrafting techniques

Step 12 Prototype #2: How to make a Truss Rod & how to install it into the neck:

The truss rod is the internal support bar that runs through the inside of the neck. The truss rod will provide stability to your neck and can be tightened or loosened to correct the curvature of the neck with the strings attached. Over the years many various styles of truss rods have been created. If you would like to create your own truss rod instead of buying one here is how to do it:

1. Single Action: For a single action truss rod you will need a 3/16 in threaded steel bar just a little longer in length than the neck it will go into. You will also need to fasten a hex key nut to one end of the threaded rod. This hex nut will be accessed from the top of the neck on the headstock and will be the way the truss rod is tightened or loosened. On the other end of the threaded bar you will need to find a way to secure it into the body. A simple method would be to use a tree nut.

2. Double Action: My Prototype #2 has a double action truss rod inside of it. This is a little more complex to fabricate but I like its strength much better than a single action style. For the set up make a single action truss rod minus the bottom end tree nut. Fasten the single action rod onto a smaller rod of the same length at the top of the rod. Use your imagination if you want. Fasten the rods together at the bottom also with whatever method you designed. The double action rod when tightened works in unison with the two rods to create much better torque than a single action rod.

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1. If using a single action truss rod you will need to route out a line down the center of the neck that is just a little deeper than the height of the rod. You want it to fit nicely while not being too loose. Route out the line from the top portion of the neck, underneath where the fret board will glue onto.

2. If using a double action truss rod you will also need to route out a line down the center of the neck just a little deeper than the rods height . Be more careful when routing this line out because of its larger height.

TIPS: *When routing remember to make multiple passes each time getting a little deeper.

• Either use a line template to route out a perfect line or go incredibly slow.