Broken Truss Rod

[mrmurph]

Is there any way to replace a broken truss rod in a Strat neck? Or am I better off just getting a replacement neck. It's one that adjusts at the base of the neck.

 

[Bob V]

the real question is whether you have access to a luthier or tech who's well recommended. A broken trussrod can be replaced by drilling the walnut plug and tapping out the old rod and replacing it. Then again, how the rod broke in the first place is a good question. Was the neck a piece of spaghetti that kept bending and needed the trussrod to be adjusted beyond it's range before it snapped? did the threads simply gall or rust from never being adjusted then suddenly being yanked with a breakover bar? You need to discuss these things with the luthier. Then consider that "licensed" replacement necks by and large are not the same quality as factory originals (in fact I'd go with the alternative of an aftermarket neck from USA Custom Guitars or Musikraft). Weigh the prices and do the math. A replacement neck still needs a fret dressing.

 

[gunslinger]

Is the rod itself broken or might the nut be stripped?

 

[mrmurph]

Yeah...I"ve got the same questions.....I bought the guitar from a fellow TGP-er and when it arrived I thought it just had a bad set-up and too much relief in the neck. Anyway, when I went to adjust the truss rod, it just turned with no resistance....so I thought "stripped", but when I took the neck off the bottom end of the truss rod dropped out of the hole. It's a parts-caster anyway, so I'm thinking I might try a neck from USACC...I think the one on it is from WD. The thing I'm concerned about is if this one was so bent that the truss rod broke while someone was trying to straighten it...it probably isn't worth the $$ to put a new one (truss rod) in and the associated costs.