Martin style truss rod installation

[Kevin Sjostrand]

John,
I will be using the Martin style rod in a box truss rod for the first time. I have two. One came from Stewmac the other came from LMI. The stewmac rod is shorter by about an inch than the other one which I thought was strange. I think one of these is made by Gotoh, not sure if they both are.
My question because I need to be sure; is this rod installed with bottom of the box up...against the fretboard?
The short rod will barely stick out of the heel block when positioned just past the first fret position.
Thanks for your help.

Kevin

[tippie53]

can you post a PIC? I don't think these are really martin style
The same topic was covered on another forum .
I want to be sure. I have had rods from stew mac and LMI fail. They are often welded or brazed on the threaded rod. This causes a hardness on the rod that snaps when you got to adjust them. I only use CF Martin rods. They are not welded on the threaded rod and are more reliable.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I'll shoot a picture tonight of the two rods and post it if needed, but here are pics from the net.
The first one is the SM rod, the second the one from LMI.
By the way, my first and last Hot Rod rod failed the first time I tried to adjust it when the guitar was completed.

Kevin

[tippie53]

yes
that is a 1 way martin style rod.
I used epoxy ,CA and nothing. tape side down.
The nut end will fall right behind the upper transverse brace.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

so these are one way rods, not 2 way?

[Kevin Sjostrand]

interesting. Lmi is calling it a 2 way, SM says its a one way

[tippie53]

that is infact a 1 way rod

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Okay here is my next question. I have pictures of both rods laying on my neck blank. The long rod from LMI extends way out of the tenon with the other end positioned at about midway between the nut and first fret. The shorter rod from SM does not extend as far, and the other end is positioned right about at the first fret.
Where is the correct placement in the neck for these rods? I'm really wondering why one is 1 1/2" longer than the other. In my previous truss rod installs, using the LMI 2 ways, and even the SM Hot Rod (which failed on me), only the adjusting nut protruded from the tenon.
Thanks for your further help on this. I wanted to try this style of rod and hope I like it.

Kevin

[tippie53]

I have used a lot of them. The rod should start between the nut and 1st fret and the barrel nut will fall right behind the truss rod brace.

[sylvan]

As John says, they are indeed the Martin style one way rod. I have been using that type for a very long time. However, I do not glue them in. My neck joint allows for easy removal and replacement should it be needed. If you think about the rod, once it is under tension it is not going to rattle and, of course cannot come out of the neck. So, before fretting, I pre-tension the rod a 1/4 turn. That cases an "up bow" in the fretboard which I then sand out when leveling the board. Now it is not only tensioned but provides some backward relief should you need it. This is just another example of trying to build in the guitar easy and simple fixes down the road should the instrument require it.