A Fender baritone came in for a setup and a check on whether the guitar and its parts were genuine Fender. The setup stopped when the truss rod turned out to be broken.
What Came In
A Fender baritone. The owner wanted it set up and wanted to confirm the guitar was a genuine Fender with original parts.
What We Found
Pulling the neck and the pickguard let us check the parts, and they checked out as genuine Fender. The setup needed a truss rod adjustment to start, but the truss rod just spins. It isn't taking up any tension, which points to a break inside the neck.
What We Did
Removed the neck and pickguard, verified the parts were real, then went to set the neck relief. The truss rod nut turns without firming up, so the rod can't be adjusted in its current state. About 30 minutes on the bench.
Result
The parts are confirmed genuine Fender, but we could not complete the setup because the truss rod is broken.
Worth Knowing
A truss rod that spins freely without ever firming up has usually failed inside the neck, either a stripped nut or a broken rod. That is not a setup problem, it is a repair, and it is worth diagnosing before buying any guitar with high action you cannot dial out.
Fixing a broken rod is involved work and sometimes means a neck replacement, so it is a real factor in what a guitar is worth.
Bring It In
Not sure whether a guitar's truss rod still works, or whether the parts are original? Bring it in. A standard setup is $79, and if we find something like this we will tell you what your options are before going any further.
Related
- What a Guitar Setup Includes and Why It Matters
- How to Know If a Guitar Is Worth Repairing
- When to Take Your Guitar to a Tech vs. Fix It Yourself
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com