Guitar Neck Relief is a crucial aspect of guitar setup that significantly impacts playability and sound quality. It refers to the slight curvature of the guitar neck, viewed from the side. This guide will explain what guitar neck relief is, why it’s important, how to check it, and how to adjust it for optimal guitar performance.
What Exactly is Guitar Neck Relief?
Guitar neck relief is the degree of bow in your guitar’s neck. Imagine sighting down the fretboard from the headstock towards the body. Ideally, you should see a very slight concave curve. Here’s a breakdown of different neck conditions:
- Excessive Relief: This is when the neck bows too much forward, resembling a banana shape. There’s a deep concave curve.
- Zero Relief (Flat Neck): A perfectly straight neck with no curvature. If you place a straight edge on the frets, it would touch all of them evenly.
- Back Bow: The neck is bent backward, creating a convex shape. This is the opposite of relief and is generally undesirable.
- Proper Relief: A very subtle concave curve, almost straight to the naked eye, is ideal. This slight bow is what we aim for when adjusting neck relief.
Why is Proper Guitar Neck Relief So Important?
Correct guitar neck relief is fundamental to achieving comfortable action, eliminating fret buzz, and ensuring your guitar plays in tune across the entire fretboard. It’s the foundation upon which a great guitar setup is built.
- Comfortable Action: Proper relief allows for lower, more comfortable action (string height). Without enough relief, you might need to raise the bridge action excessively to avoid fret buzz, leading to a high and less playable action, especially in the upper frets.
- Eliminating Fret Buzz: Insufficient relief often causes fret buzz, particularly in the lower frets. The strings vibrate in a wider arc in the middle of their span. Relief provides space for this vibration, preventing the strings from hitting the frets and buzzing.
- Even Action Across the Fretboard: With correct relief, you can achieve a consistent string height from the nut to the bridge. Too little relief can result in very low action at the nut that progressively increases and feels too high as you move up the neck.
- Intonation and Tuning Stability: While neck relief isn’t the primary factor in intonation, it contributes to overall tuning stability and accuracy across the neck. An improperly relieved neck can indirectly affect intonation.
Conversely, too much relief can also cause problems:
- High Action in the Middle of the Neck: Excessive relief often results in high action, especially in the middle frets. While the action might be acceptable at the ends of the neck, the center becomes difficult to play.
- Potential Buzz in the Middle Fretboard: In some cases of excessive relief, you might even experience fret buzz in the middle of the neck if the string action is set too low at the bridge to compensate for the large neck curve.
The goal of setting proper neck relief is to create just enough space for the strings to vibrate freely, allowing for even action and eliminating fret buzz across the entire fretboard.
What Causes Guitar Neck Relief to Change?
Guitar necks, being made of wood, are susceptible to environmental changes and constant string tension. Several factors can cause your guitar neck relief to shift over time:
- Humidity and Temperature Fluctuations: Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature. Higher humidity can cause the wood to swell, increasing neck relief (more bow). Lower humidity can cause it to shrink, decreasing relief (less bow, potentially back bow). Seasonal changes are a common culprit.
- String Tension: The constant pull of the guitar strings exerts significant force on the neck. Over time, this tension can gradually pull the neck forward, increasing relief.
- Truss Rod Adjustment: The truss rod is an adjustable steel rod inside the guitar neck used to counteract string tension and control neck relief. It can be adjusted to correct changes in relief caused by humidity, temperature, or string tension.
Regular checks and adjustments of your guitar neck relief are part of routine guitar maintenance, especially when the seasons change or you notice changes in playability.
When Should You Check Your Guitar Neck Relief?
Knowing when to check your guitar neck relief is key to maintaining optimal playability. Here are the primary times to perform a check:
- Fret Buzz: If you start hearing fret buzz, especially in the lower frets (frets 1-7), checking neck relief should be one of the first steps in troubleshooting.
- High Action: If your guitar action feels higher than usual or becomes difficult to play comfortably, particularly in the middle of the neck, relief adjustment might be needed.
- Playability and Tuning Issues: Changes in neck relief can affect overall playability and, indirectly, tuning stability. If you notice general playing discomfort or tuning inconsistencies, relief should be considered.
- Seasonal Changes: As humidity levels change with the seasons (especially between summer and winter, or during transitions to drier or more humid periods), it’s wise to check your neck relief.
- String Changes: Changing string gauge or even just replacing strings can slightly alter the tension on the neck. Checking relief after a string change, particularly if you switch to a different gauge, is a good practice.
A good rule of thumb is to check your guitar neck relief every time you change your strings. This ensures your guitar is always playing at its best.
Where to Find the Truss Rod for Adjustment?
The truss rod, the mechanism for adjusting neck relief, is accessed via a nut, usually located in one of three places depending on your guitar type:
- Headstock: On most electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and bass guitars, the truss rod nut is located at the headstock. You’ll often find a truss rod cover, a small plastic piece with 2 or 3 screws, that needs to be removed to access the nut.
- Soundhole (Acoustic Guitars): Some acoustic guitars have the truss rod access inside the soundhole, near the base of the neck. You’ll need a long, L-shaped truss rod wrench to reach and adjust the nut inside the body.
- Heel of the Neck (Vintage Style Guitars): Less commonly, especially on some vintage-style electric guitars and basses, the truss rod adjustment is at the heel of the neck, where the neck joins the body. Adjusting these often requires removing the neck partially or completely from the body to access the truss rod nut.
Consult your guitar’s manual or manufacturer’s website if you’re unsure of your truss rod location.
Tools Needed to Check Neck Relief and Adjust the Truss Rod
To accurately check and adjust your guitar neck relief, you’ll need a few essential tools:
- Feeler Gauges: These thin metal strips of precise thicknesses are used to measure the gap between the string and the fret, allowing you to quantify the neck relief. You’ll need gauges in the range of .006″ to .010″ (or metric equivalents).
- Capo: A capo is used to effectively create a “straight edge” using the guitar string itself when measuring relief. A standard capo or even a pick capo will work.
- Truss Rod Wrench: You’ll need the correct size wrench for your guitar’s truss rod nut. Truss rod nuts come in various sizes (metric and imperial Allen wrenches, nut drivers). Using the wrong size can damage the nut.
- Screwdriver (Optional): If your guitar has a truss rod cover at the headstock, you’ll need a screwdriver to remove it.
Important Tips Before Adjusting Neck Relief:
- Strings On and In Tune: Always adjust the truss rod with the guitar strings on and tuned to pitch. String tension is crucial for accurately assessing and adjusting neck relief.
- Small Adjustments: Make small, incremental truss rod adjustments. A quarter or eighth of a turn is usually sufficient for each adjustment. Avoid making large, sudden turns, as this can stress the neck.
- Let the Guitar Settle: After each truss rod adjustment, allow the guitar to sit for a while (15-30 minutes) to allow the neck to settle into its new position before re-checking the relief.
Adjusting the Truss Rod: Which Way to Turn?
Understanding which direction to turn the truss rod is crucial to achieve the desired neck relief. Think of the truss rod nut as a standard bolt:
- Counterclockwise (Loosening): Turning the truss rod nut counterclockwise loosens the truss rod. This allows the string tension to pull the neck forward, increasing neck relief (creating more bow).
- Clockwise (Tightening): Turning the truss rod nut clockwise tightens the truss rod. This counteracts string tension, pulling the neck straighter and decreasing neck relief (reducing bow, moving towards a flatter neck).
Visualize standing behind the wrench, looking directly at the truss rod nut as you turn. This orientation helps avoid confusion, regardless of whether the nut is at the headstock or heel.
What If the Truss Rod Feels Stuck?
If you encounter resistance or a “stuck” feeling when attempting to adjust the truss rod, never force it. Forcing a stuck truss rod can lead to damage or breakage. Here’s how to handle a potentially stuck truss rod:
- Try Loosening First: Attempt to turn the nut counterclockwise (to loosen) first. Sometimes, this can help break it free if it’s slightly seized.
- Gentle Back and Forth: Apply gentle pressure back and forth in small increments to try and loosen the nut.
- Lubrication (with Caution): In some cases, a tiny drop of specialized truss rod lubricant or penetrating oil applied to the threads (where the nut meets the rod) might help. However, use this very sparingly and cautiously, and avoid getting oil on the wood.
- Seek Professional Help: If the truss rod remains stuck, or if you feel uncomfortable proceeding, it’s best to take your guitar to a qualified guitar technician or repair shop. They have the experience and tools to diagnose and resolve stuck truss rod issues without causing damage. A seized truss rod could indicate stripped threads or other serious problems that require expert attention.
Recommended Neck Relief Specifications
While personal preference plays a role, there are generally accepted neck relief ranges for different types of guitars:
- Electric Guitars: .006″ (.15mm) is a common starting point. Electric guitars often benefit from a slightly straighter neck for lower action.
- Acoustic Guitars: .008″ (.20mm) is generally recommended for acoustic guitars. They typically require slightly more relief than electrics due to heavier string gauges and acoustic vibrations.
- Bass Guitars (4, 5, 6 String): .008″ (.20mm) is a good starting point for most bass guitars.
- Classical Guitars: .010″ (.25mm) is often recommended for classical guitars, which use nylon strings that vibrate in a wider arc and require more relief to prevent buzzing.
These measurements are guidelines. You may need to adjust slightly based on your playing style, string gauge, and personal preferences.
Step-by-Step Guide to Checking and Adjusting Neck Relief
Here’s a detailed process for checking and adjusting your guitar neck relief:
- Capo at the First Fret: Place a capo on the first fret of your guitar. This will act as one end of your straight edge.
- Determine Feeler Gauge Size: Select the correct feeler gauge thickness for your guitar type (e.g., .006″ for electric, .008″ for acoustic/bass, .010″ for classical).
- Tune to Pitch and Playing Position: Ensure your guitar is tuned to standard pitch and hold it in your normal playing position.
- Press String at the 12th Fret: With your fretting hand, press down the low E string (or the lowest string on your instrument) at the 12th fret. This will act as the other end of your straight edge, creating a straight line from the 1st fret (capo) to the 12th fret. The maximum relief is typically measured around the 6th-8th fret area. We’ll use the 6th fret for this measurement.
- Measure Relief at the 6th Fret: Using your other hand, gently slide the selected feeler gauge between the bottom of the low E string and the top of the 6th fret. Observe the feel:
- Too Much Relief: If the gauge easily slides through and there’s a noticeable gap between the string and the fret, you have too much relief. You need to tighten the truss rod (clockwise).
- Too Little Relief (or Back Bow): If the gauge doesn’t fit, or if the string is pressing down on the gauge and lifting it off the fret, you have too little relief (or back bow). You need to loosen the truss rod (counterclockwise).
- Correct Relief: If the gauge slides through with a slight drag or just barely touches the string, you have close to the correct relief, and no adjustment may be needed.
- Adjust the Truss Rod (If Necessary): If adjustment is required, use the correct truss rod wrench. Ensure the wrench is seated firmly in the nut. Turn the truss rod nut in the appropriate direction (clockwise to reduce relief, counterclockwise to increase relief). Make small adjustments (no more than 1/8th of a turn at a time).
- Re-Check Relief: After each adjustment, remove the wrench, let the guitar sit for a few minutes, and repeat steps 1-6 to re-measure the relief. Continue adjusting in small increments and re-checking until you achieve the desired relief.
For a visual guide, you can watch helpful videos online demonstrating this process, such as this video on YouTube.
Still Getting Fret Buzz After Adjusting Neck Relief?
If you’ve correctly set your guitar neck relief and are still experiencing fret buzz, the next step in a proper guitar setup is to adjust your string action height at the bridge. Neck relief is just the first step in achieving optimal playability.
What’s Next? Proper Guitar Setup Steps
Setting neck relief is a crucial part of a complete guitar setup. To fully optimize your guitar’s playability and sound, you should follow a systematic setup process. Resources like MusicNomad’s Keep It Simple Setup (KISS)™ and their Setup Flow Guide provide excellent step-by-step instructions for a comprehensive guitar setup, including action adjustment, intonation, and more. Mastering guitar neck relief is your first step towards a perfectly playing instrument.
