I just broke my first truss rod
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:46 pm
On a client's guitar.
I'm just sharing. I think we are going to deal with this in an equitable and friendly manner.
The neck is a bolt-on purchased on ebay by the client and was part of a "would you make me a body from this block of wood, a pattern for the body design, all of the parts, and a neck from ebay. A build/assemble job.
The neck is made from semi-exotic woods. Strat style, korina neck, spalted maple headstock veneer, bocote fingerboard, and purpleheart binding. The fretwork was so-so and the truss rod was a dual adjustable neck with the sdjustment at the heel.
Not that it matters at all but I foolishly underbid on the job. I was in the home stretch doing the final setup and there was too much relief in the neck. I capoed the strings loosened them a bit, and removed the neck. The adjustment was already very tight and 1/4 turn later I got that sick feeling of no more resistance and the rod was broken. The head of the rod came out of the hole with about six threads up to the break. The shiney part of the break clearly indicates that there was an existing fracture that was greater than 1/3rd the area of the face of the break -- I have no explanation for that but it is quite obvious.
I called the client and when he arrived I explained what happened and asked him to contact the seller of the neck. I've asked him to pursue the seller first and if necessary, I would be willing to talk to the seller also. I am considering the options of what to offer this client if the seller is not responsive. I do not feel responsible for the broken rod but I need to maintain my credability and this client's loyalty is important to me. There may be a chance to pull this rod out if I do some surgery to the heel but the rod is already under a lot of tension and it would depend on how much glue from the fretboard installation is holding the rod also. I could pull the fretboard but I'll only go down that road if I need to. I'm speaking honestly and openly to my client about the loyalty issue and will probably offer any additional work at 50% of my labor rate. I could build him a better neck at cost.
Any experiences or suggestions? Its hard to walk the thin line of being considerate, not giving yourself and time/work away, maintaining loyalty, without apearing guity or being a hack.
I'm just sharing. I think we are going to deal with this in an equitable and friendly manner.
The neck is a bolt-on purchased on ebay by the client and was part of a "would you make me a body from this block of wood, a pattern for the body design, all of the parts, and a neck from ebay. A build/assemble job.
The neck is made from semi-exotic woods. Strat style, korina neck, spalted maple headstock veneer, bocote fingerboard, and purpleheart binding. The fretwork was so-so and the truss rod was a dual adjustable neck with the sdjustment at the heel.
Not that it matters at all but I foolishly underbid on the job. I was in the home stretch doing the final setup and there was too much relief in the neck. I capoed the strings loosened them a bit, and removed the neck. The adjustment was already very tight and 1/4 turn later I got that sick feeling of no more resistance and the rod was broken. The head of the rod came out of the hole with about six threads up to the break. The shiney part of the break clearly indicates that there was an existing fracture that was greater than 1/3rd the area of the face of the break -- I have no explanation for that but it is quite obvious.
I called the client and when he arrived I explained what happened and asked him to contact the seller of the neck. I've asked him to pursue the seller first and if necessary, I would be willing to talk to the seller also. I am considering the options of what to offer this client if the seller is not responsive. I do not feel responsible for the broken rod but I need to maintain my credability and this client's loyalty is important to me. There may be a chance to pull this rod out if I do some surgery to the heel but the rod is already under a lot of tension and it would depend on how much glue from the fretboard installation is holding the rod also. I could pull the fretboard but I'll only go down that road if I need to. I'm speaking honestly and openly to my client about the loyalty issue and will probably offer any additional work at 50% of my labor rate. I could build him a better neck at cost.
Any experiences or suggestions? Its hard to walk the thin line of being considerate, not giving yourself and time/work away, maintaining loyalty, without apearing guity or being a hack.