Video Question: Setting Neck Without a Truss Rod

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Date: May 12th, 2009 | Length: 6.3 | Instructor: Brad Henecke

Niandra asked "Hi guys...i'm not sure whether a question similar to this one has been already asked. I have a '51 Martin 0-15. All in all the guitar is in a nice condition but im not sure whether it would be the right time for a new neck setting. What is an indicator for that? As far as i am informed martins from this age didn't yet have theese/those TrussRods (or how it is spelled-sorry for my english it's beschissen ;-) so in case IF i have to bring it to a professional luthier. Actually i think the playing is very very nice and the spaces between fretboard and strings up to the 12th fret seem normal but im not sure and what do you think would be the "average" price? And bye the way--- can you tell what's up with mr . fishmann's lessons???? Thanks." Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

5 in Chords - November 5th, 2007 (1 minutes, 35 seconds)

Garfield asks: "What does the 5 stand for in chords such as G5 & F#5. The same goes for the #7 on some chords. Thank you" View Response

Learning From Tabs - February 3rd, 2009 (2 minutes, 45 seconds)

Lucasholland asked "Hello, my question is on learning songs from TABs. I'm trying to play this simple song: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/john_mayer/little_red_corvette_tab.htm I'm struggling with the chorus. I just don't know how to do it. It says I'm supposed to play the low E on the 3rd fret, the A string on the 5th fret and the D string on the 7th fret. That is a huge stretch that I doubt is possible to do. How would I fret that first chord? So my question is really 2 questions: 1. How do I fret the chord in "Little Red Corvette"? 2. How do I figure out chord fingerings from TABs in general? Thanks! Lucas." View Response

Learning How to Solo - December 16th, 2008 (4 minutes, 44 seconds)

Ianb63 said "Hi all and thanks to Jamplay for a truly wonderful site. You guys are all amazing. After quite a few years of frustration alot of the theory has started to make sense at last. I know, and understand all twelve key signatures and there relative minor scales. I can play all the scales in five different patterns on the neck. I also know every note on the guitar neck by name. Chord theory makes sense to me and i understand how they are constructed. Modes took a while to get my head round, but i got there in the end. Given all this knowledge you would think i would have no trouble improvising, but in fact i am really struggling. My problem is this. If i concentrate on where i am on the guitar and what i want to play, i lose track of where i am in the chord progression i am following. If however i concentrate on counting the beat, i can keep track of the chords but then i cannot keep my focus on where exactly i am on the neck and it all goes to pieces. Any chance of a lesson to simplify the process and build n on how to up to it in stages....Thanks Ian" View Response

Tuning - July 11th, 2008 (3 minutes, 25 seconds)

Jdemail78 asks, "I have a pretty simple question, I think, on the correct way to tune a guitar. I have an acoustic/electric guitar with a tuner built right into the electronics but my question would apply to any guitar with any sort of tuner. When you go to tune a string, should you give the string your tuning one good strum and then adjust the tuning peg, or is it better to continue to pick the string while your adjusting the peg? It seems like I can get a slightly different result doing it one way or the other. In the end, I think either way has the guitar pretty much in tune but I'm just curious if one way is better over the other or if it really doesn't matter. Thanks and keep up the great lessons." View Response

Rhythm and Strumming - July 16th, 2009 (6 minutes, 70 seconds)

Drnat1 asked "I am trying to play songs & am finding it difficult to work out a suitable strumming pattern. How to I work this out when all I have is the cords & the lyrics? I try to listen to what the original is but find it hard to work out what is actually played or how to sort the timing of my strumming so it corresponds to the cords & lyrics? This seems to be holding me back!! Many thanks for any help!!" View Response