Truss Rod on the 8.1

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Travel banjo

Join This Group

For those interested in travel sized banjos - all makes and models welcome to be discussed

68 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: sdfarris (owner)

< Back to Home

From Strelnieks on 1/28/2021 2:18:24 PM

I have a Tranjo 8.1 and the action on the strings seems a bit high, although the bridge is not. I don't see a curve in the neck, but I thought, "maybe I should give the truss rod a few turns". But obviously, that is risky.

Now, I have the impression from the owner's manual that the truss rod is the opposite of all other banjo truss rods. Is this the case?

It says: "Turn the wrench clockwise to correct a back bow. Turn the wrench counter-clockwise to correct a forward bow".

I assume a "forward bow" means that the neck is bowing toward the front of the banjo, or that a forward bow means that the action is high in the mid fretboard and low on the ends. Thus, a "back bow" would be the opposite - low action in the middle.

So if my action is too high I have a "front bow" and need to turn counter clockwise.

The Deering webpage describees their banjo truss rods thus:

Turning the nut CLOCKWISE tightens it; arches the neck back/flattens a bow.
Turning the nut COUNTER CLOCKWISE loosens the nut, putting a bow in the neck.

I think these contradict each other, but I am not certain. Either the truss rods are differently set up (and claims that all truss rods are made with the same directions in mind are false) or one of the instructions is wrong.

Clues?

Or less risky ideas of how to lower the action on the strings?

Mark

9 Comments
	Grum says: 1/28/2021 2:41:22 PM I have a Tranjo and a few other banjos as well. Over time the neck will change it's bow slightly. I agree that the descriptions seem contradictory but there is a simple solution. Get a Straight Edge - a long straight bar (I use a piece of extruded Aluminium). Rest it along the neck on the frets and check the clearance at the 12th fret. You should use feeler gauges but common items like slips of paper, cardboard, credit cards will do. Now give the truss rod a 1/8 turn clockwise (no more). Measure the gap. Is it bigger or smaller? No change? give it another 1/8 turn only. You should now know which way is the right way to go.
	Dai Evans says: 1/28/2021 3:01:59 PM Why not email Sam Farris, the builder of the Tranjo. He should be able to answer the question more competently than the rest of us. I love mine but he should be the Guru
	Dai Evans says: 1/28/2021 3:01:59 PM Why not email Sam Farris, the builder of the Tranjo. He should be able to answer the question more competently than the rest of us. I love mine but he should be the Guru
	Dai Evans says: 1/28/2021 3:03:50 PM Why did this post twice. I don’t have a stutter
	Strelnieks says: 1/29/2021 3:34:53 AM Grum's approach is right, but I hesitate to experiment. If I turn the truss rod even slightly it starks to creak and groan. I really don't want to trash the tranjo! I have written to Sam. We'll see what he says. BTW, I have also loosened the head a bit, but it hasn't helped enough. Action is still higher than I want. Mark
	Strelnieks says: 1/29/2021 4:28:15 AM Grum's approach is right, but I hesitate to experiment. If I turn the truss rod even slightly it starks to creak and groan. I really don't want to trash the tranjo! I have written to Sam. We'll see what he says. BTW, I have also loosened the head a bit, but it hasn't helped enough. Action is still higher than I want. Mark
	Strelnieks says: 1/29/2021 6:02:38 AM I've decided to make it simple to answer my query. Is the diagram at this URL correct or incorrect? hatlie.de/files/Truss-Rod_Diagram.bmp
	Strelnieks says: 1/29/2021 6:03:42 AM I don't mean to imply that anybody is avoiding an answer. I just want to help the answer be clear. Because of time zones, I assume I am the only one on this list awake right now anyway. Mark
	sdfarris says: 2/7/2021 9:29:16 AM Mark - I finally got around to checking, and you're absolutely right, the manual has it backwards for the new truss rods. I'll make the change in the manual ASAP. My builder probably told me this years ago when he switched to the new 4mm truss rod but I never thought about changing the manual before. Sam
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by Frailblazer 12 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by GrizClaw 12 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by GrizClaw 12 years ago
Photo: (untitled) Linked by B0bIII 13 years ago
Forum Post: (untitled) Linked by GrizClaw 13 years ago
	The Bear Patch, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 6 July 2013 Linked by MiG-19 13 years ago
	Cades Cove 11 Tennessee, 10 July 2013 Linked by MiG-19 13 years ago
	Keenland Race Track 3, Lexington, KY 13 July 2013 Linked by MiG-19 13 years ago: Tranjo at Keenland Race Track, Lexington, KY.
	Cades Cove 2, Tennessee, 10 July 2013 Linked by MiG-19 13 years ago: Tranjo in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
	Cades Cove 6, Tennessee, 10 July 2013 Linked by MiG-19 13 years ago