Scott Henderson Discussion

[countandduke]

I have a fairly expensive guitar that has a heel adjustment truss rod. The only way to adjust it is by taking the neck off the guitar. It’s a pain in the ass and I’ve heard the reason the company does it that way is to maintain the “classic” tone of a strat. I don’t think I have an ear good enough to hear that difference. Scott??? Or anyone else..? Can you hear a difference in a truss rod if it’s accessed through the heel versus the much easier adjustment via the headstock?

Thanks...

Chris

[countandduke]

Not sure why that listed twice. Sorry about that.

[Kevin Thomas]

Since you're talking about truss rod...
I'm not here to make any kind of advertisement, but the question is coming to my mind: I know the french brand Vigier makes necks with a piece of metal inserted all the way on it, so it doesn't bend, and keeps a perfect tuning all of the time.
Does anyone know if this works, or if it's pure commercial BS?

Kevin

[countandduke]

I’ve had 2 Vigier guitars. An Excalibur model and then the Shawn Lane model which is basically the same as the Excalibur but with a flat fingerboard and s shorter scale length I’m pretty sure. The necks on both were VERY stable and I never had any issues. BUT, without a trussrod, IF something DOES ever need adjustment, you can’t.

I’ve built a few Basses and guitars and I DO use truss rods “just in case”. From what I’ve heard, Shawn travelled the globe with his Vigier guitar through all different climates and had no issues, but that’s just what I’ve heard. I WILL say, that the Vigier trems are one of the smoothest I’ve EVER played!

[countandduke]

The Vigier necks have CARBON FIBER, not metal in them. Just to clarify...

[Kevin Thomas]

Yes you're right. I can imagine how stable it would be with metal in the neck

[Scott Henderson]

I've never made a comparison of guitars in regards to truss rods and tone - sorry. My Suhr guitars have truss rods which are adjusted from the bottom of the neck, but there's a rout in the body which lets you get an Allen wrench in there. How can you possibly adjust a neck correctly if it's not on the guitar?

[countandduke]

Thanks for the reply Scott. The truss rod in this guitar has a Phillips head adjustment at the heel that is flush with the neck so it’s ONLY accessible when I take the neck OFF the guitar. It’s a bummer for sure... otherwise it’s a fantastic guitar...