Searching for Help for S-500 Truss Rod

[wildjimmie]

Hi guys, I got a S-500 for two years and recently the neck got a little bit bend. But when I try to adjust the truss rod, I found it's hard to fill the 4mm allen wrench in. I'll post the photos here. As you may see, the truss rod's top is somehow "round", not like other guitars' hexagon shape. I also found another S-500's neck picture, which looks little bit different(can't see the truss rod from outside). I never adjust the truss rod on this S-500 before, and I got it as brand new 2 years ago. Please do me this favor, thanks a lot! :'(

[image]http://v2.freep.cn/3tb_140816164935knde512293.jpg[/image]

[image]http://v2.freep.cn/3tb_140816164935k6ka512293.jpg[/image]

[image]http://v2.freep.cn/3tb_140816164935sf3d512293.jpg[/image]

[image]http://v2.freep.cn/3tb_140816164936tas8512293.jpg[/image]

[image]http://v1.freep.cn/3tb_140816164936jexb512293.jpg[/image]

[Craig]

Unfortunately, your photos are not showing up.

Does your photo sharing service have some kind of permission settings control?

[wildjimmie]

Unfortunately, your photos are not showing up.

Does your photo sharing service have some kind of permission settings control?

Not sure...I can see the photos actually...Let me upload them again, thx Craig!

[yowhatsshakin]

Not sure...I can see the photos actually...Let me upload them again, thx Craig!

wildjimmie,

They can be seen now. And it seems you are a pit in a pickle here. If you read the the tables on this page, you'll see that your instrument indeed uses a 4mm wrench but that older models need an 1/8" wrench. Translated to the same units, the latter is 3.175mm, hence smaller. My bet is that somebody used such a wrench (because they only own a set of imperial sized wrenches?) and used it, ruining the nut in the process.

One thing you might try is to get an Allen ball end screwdriver. You might be able to insert that at an angle and deep enough to get stuff done. But in the end that is just a stay of execution. The nut needs to be replaced so if you can get it back to your dealer, they should be able to fix it good. Hopefully there are some other people that will chime in. Member darwinohm has done a number of jobs on necks on his guitars. You might want to search through his posts.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

[Craig]

Your photos are now visible.

This photo is of interest to me:

[image]http://v2.freep.cn/3tb_140816164935sf3d512293.jpg[/image]

As I can see metal shavings in the top of the allen nut, indicating what Jos mentioned that the wrong size allen wrench was likely (recently) used
to attempt to turn it. You can order a Replacement Truss Rod Bullet Kit from G&L on their On-Line Store. The kit includes the 4mm allen wrench.

Hope this helps.

[GeorgeB]

Looks like a bi-cut or skunk stripe neck to me (no glued fretboard), so it might have the older truss rod with an 1/8" (3.18mm) key nut and somebody tried to force a 4mm wrench into it?

[darwinohm]

I had the same issue with a 1/8 truss rod nut and removed it by filing a larger hex wrench smaller and tapping it in lightly with a small hammer. It did the trick so I could replace the truss rod nut. I would first try an 11/64 wrench if you can find one or 3/16 wrench and file it down at a taper and try that. It worked for me. The truss rod nut will have to be replaced. If you have a small dremel tool with a small cutting wheel, you could cut a grove in the top side end of the nut and try removing with a flat blade screwdriver. Obviously you must protect the area of the neck where you would be working. If you are not totally comfortable doing any of this, take it to a competent tech for repair. -- Darwin

[Craig]

Looks like a bi-cut or skunk stripe neck to me (no glued fretboard), so it might have the older truss rod with an 1/8" (3.18mm) key nut and somebody tried to force a 4mm wrench into it?

Definitely not a skunk stripe neck and the OP said he "got it as brand new 2 years ago", so it would be a post-2005 neck with the metric truss rod nut.