- 1). Mark the bridge position on the guitar's body. The Gretsch Super Chet uses a floating bridge that is not permanently mounted to the guitar's body. The bridge will slide out of position as soon as the strings are removed. Use a grease pencil to trace the outline of the bridge's position on the body prior to string removal.
- 2
Remove the strings for easier access to the truss rod and fretboard.Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
Remove the strings. Removing the strings makes it easier to work on the guitar's neck. Loosen the strings until they are completely slack. Unwind the strings until they are no longer wrapped around the tuner's posts. Pull the strings through the end of the Super Chet's Bigsby tail piece. - 3
Unlike other guitars, the Super Chet uses standard rather than Phillips screws to mount the truss rod cover.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
Remove the truss rod cover. The truss rod's cover is located at the base of the Super Chet's headstock. Use a small standard screwdriver to remove the set screws that hold the truss rod cover in place. To avoid losing the screws, place them in a plastic bag. - 4). Spray the truss rod with a lubricant. The truss rod is threaded, allowing the anchors on either end of the rod to move in or out. Since the truss rod in not adjusted on a regular basis, the anchors can be frozen in place. Spray the truss rod with a lubricant, placing the spray nozzle into the truss rod's cavity. Spray a small amount of lubricant onto the rod. Allow the lubricant to soak in for at least 30 minutes.
- 5
The truss rod cavity is large enough to accommodate the truss rod wrench.Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
Insert the truss rod wrench. The Super Chet comes with its own wrench. Place the head of the wrench on the truss rod's adjustment nut in the truss rod cavity. - 6). Adjust the truss rod. If the neck has a valley-like warp, with the neck dipping in its middle, move the wrench toward the low "E" string. If the neck has a hill-like warp with the neck rising in its middle, move the wrench toward the high "E" string.
- 7
Use a still metal ruler that will not flex when checking the adjustments.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
Check the adjustment. Place a metal ruler on its edge along the length of the fretboard. If the fretboard is straight, each fret will touch the ruler's edge. Make any readjustments and test the fretboard again. - 8). Restring the guitar. After restringing the guitar, place the truss rod cover back on and screw the mounting screws in place.
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