Drill Jig For Truss Rod Access Hole Gibson Style Headstock.

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Post Reply
Gilbert Fredrickson
Posts: 291
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:07 pm

Drill Jig For Truss Rod Access Hole Gibson Style Headstock.

Post by Gilbert Fredrickson »

I have enlarged the adjustment end with chisels and gouges in the past. I was about to buy a jig when the supplier ran out of them. How do you make an access hole for headstock adjustment? With a two way truss rod, it is really unnecessary to enlarge that end of the routed truss rod channel, so ...am I making more work? Can I just leave the channel square?
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Drill Jig For Truss Rod Access Hole Gibson Style Headstock.

Post by Barry Daniels »

Yeah, don't cut away any more wood than necessary. This is a spot that you don't want to weaken anymore than necessary.
MIMF Staff
Freeman Keller
Posts: 494
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:34 am

Re: Drill Jig For Truss Rod Access Hole Gibson Style Headstock.

Post by Freeman Keller »

I route truss rod channels on a little router table before the head plate is glued on. After I've run the slot I bump the bit up a few thousands and bump the fence back a few thousands (precise, aren't I) and hit the end of the channel where the adjuster sits (I only use dual acting LMII rods but I would do the same if it was any other kind). The head plate gets drilled for access and I clean that up with a rasp.

I also make scarf joined head and thing they are a lot stronger than cut ones but I still make the access as small as I can.
Gilbert Fredrickson
Posts: 291
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:07 pm

Re: Drill Jig For Truss Rod Access Hole Gibson Style Headstock.

Post by Gilbert Fredrickson »

Yeah, it's been four years since I've made a steel string guitar. Thanks. One of two I'm making now adjust from inside. They're Martin 000 and Gibson J-45 copies.
Post Reply

Return to “Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars”