Louisab623 Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 I just acquired a 1963 Gibson 12 string acoustic. Took it in to get it set up and they told me that they think the truss rod is broken. I have a couple question's. 1. Is this common? I understand all the extra tension from the added strings. 2. Would this be a single truss rod? I read about some dual or double acting (may not have that worded correctly) 3. If this is indeed the issue how much would a repair like this be ballpark? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 (edited) Most probably a single action. Older guitars sometimes get the nut seized up or maybe the strings were not loosened as they should be before adjusting on older guitars. They usually break off at the end of the thread, There is a repair where they cobore deeper and chase new threads. It works, I've had it done. Stewmac sells the tools . The luthier I use has the tools to do it. Search - StewMac Edited April 2 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisab623 Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 Wow thank you that is an excellent idea. Now I need to find a good luthier in the Milwaukee area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 The luthier I use is in Indiana if you can’t find one. It would be less expensive to ship it to him versus removing the fret board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 (edited) Taking more meat away from the already 17 degree classic angle, on a 12er with about 50 to 75 percent more tension than a 6 string? Sounds risky. Edited April 2 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 (edited) I have owned a '63 B45-12 and currently own one built in 1961. Yes, it is a single action truss rod. And while truss rods will snap, I would not call it common. If anything, the issue you will run into associated with the added tension is a deformed top. While I cannot speak to the B25-12, if that is what you own, prior to 1965 its jumbo kin were braced no differently than a six string. Great for sound but not the best recipe for survival. If kept tuned to pitch, they literally could twist themselves apart. Gibson finally figured it out and beefed up the bracing. If the truss rod is broken though it is very possibly the result of somebody overtightening it in the misguided attempt to lower the action. I can speak from experience that the sound of that truss rod snapping is something you will never forget. How much repairs cost I do not have a clue. If it is the truss rod, it depends on a bunch of factors not the least of which is where you live. The last broken truss rod I dealt with was on a Harmony Sovereign. In this case, it was a simple matter of pulling the rod out though the TRC opening, cutting and re-threading, replacing the nut, and re-installing. Whole operation took around 30 minutes. Edited April 2 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisab623 Posted April 3 Author Share Posted April 3 Thanks for the insight. It’s a B-25 12 in cherry burst. The shop that was going to do the setup just gave it back when the truss nut just spun so more investigation is needed. I inherited this guitar so I don’t know a lot about it. Have a lot of Gibson’s just not an acoustic 12 string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Just now, Louisab623 said: Thanks for the insight. It’s a B-25 12 in cherry burst. The shop that was going to do the setup just gave it back when the truss nut just spun so more investigation is needed. I inherited this guitar so I don’t know a lot about it. Have a lot of Gibson’s just not an acoustic 12 string. If the truss nut spun, it may just be the nut. Buy a new one for about $5, clean the threads on the rod (may be full of brass shavings) and give it a shot. If that doesn't work because the rod is stripped, add washers before you put the nut on. The threads may be okay once you get away from the worn area. I've used both of these methods, but I do have a die to clean off the threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, zombywoof said: I can speak from experience that the sound of that truss rod snapping is something you will never forget. Ditto here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 4 hours ago, Louisab623 said: Wow thank you that is an excellent idea. Now I need to find a good luthier in the Milwaukee area. Wade's Guitar Shop. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 15 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Taking more meat away from the already 17 degree classic angle, on a 12er with about 50 to 75 percent more tension than a 6 string? Sounds risky. What's the option? Turn it into a harp? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, DanvillRob said: What's the option? Turn it into a harp? Art 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 16 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Art Or a slide guitar.....not sure I've ever seen a 12-String slide guitar before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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