The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hi everybody

Just wondering if anybody can tell me which was the first guitar to have a truss rod ?
Is there any photos or at least the make, model and year.
What other methods were used to add strengh to the neck. I do know that my father built two guitars in the early sixies one resembling a burns sonic. On that one he made the neck out of one piece cut into four and glued back together with the grains alternated and the fretboard laid on top.

Many thanks in advance for any replies!
Dave

d jones wrote:Just wondering if anybody can tell me which was the first guitar to have a truss rod ?
Is there any photos or at least the make, model and year.
What other methods were used to add strengh to the neck. I do know that my father built two guitars in the early sixies one resembling a burns sonic. On that one he made the neck out of one piece cut into four and glued back together with the grains alternated and the fretboard laid on top.

The first maker of guitars with adjustable truss rods was Gibson, in the 1920s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_rod

But even before that, Gibson and Martin guitars were being fitted with steel reinforcement rods and sections. In fact, it's only in relatively recent years that Martin (the longer-established maker by far) has started to instal adjustable truss rods in its guitars at all.

Gibson (or, more strictly, some of its employees) introduced many of the features now seen as normal in guitars: the adjustable truss-rod, the carved arch-top, the tailpiece, the floating bridge, F-holes, pickguards(!) and eventually, the electric pickup built into a normal guitar in the shape (no pun intended) of the ES-150 with Charlie Christian pickup.

JN

Hi Jim

Many thanks as always for all the info and link, you're a real goldmine!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Dave

Regarding what Jim said about Martin guitars, the first Martin I obtained was a D18 in the early 1980's and that was one of the last ones not to have a truss rod. It must have been around the mid 1980's when they introduced them because I acquired 3 more during that time and they all had truss rods - great guitars!

Nick

Thanks JimN for the wiki link! Very true, the first maker of guitars with adjustable truss rods was Gibson.
The Espacenet.com publication bibliographical data sheet gives details of dates for Thaddeus patent. "Neck for musical instruments" filed Apr. 5,1921 and granted Feb. 27, 1923.

I have in my collection a Gibson model "O" guitar made in 1922, serial no. 69578, factory order no. 11638. Besides being considered the most prestigious guitar of its time, it has many of the features that you mentioned seen as normal in guitars today. It`s also the first model made by Gibson to have an adjustable truss-rod.

Carved top, single pointed cutaway,odd 15 frets to the body, oval soundhole. Curiousely, many parts has stamped patent dates. Adjustable floating bridge ( patented Jan.18 - 21). Elevated pickguard ( pat. Mar. 30, 09) with adjustable bracket ( pat. July 4, 1911). Tailpiece (pat. July 19, 1910).
Tone ? somewhat dry, loud enough for Django style. I`ve seen a picture of Big Bill Broonzy playing this model while performing at Carnagie Hall in the 1930`s. This was the famous Alan Lomax promoted concert, Big Bill was the substitute for Robert Johnson who had passed away.....

Hi ecca, thanks for your interest.

First of all, sorry for givin slightly incorrect info of the 1938 "Spiritual to Swing" Carnegie Hall concert. The organizer was John Hammond who`d chosen Big Bill Broonzy to play in Robert Johnson`s place.

http://www.broonzy.com with an image of Bill as a young man holding a model "O". Also info text on Bill`s instruments.

I do not have the means to put up a photo of my 1922 Style "O", but there`s several sites on the net with pictures that match. As you know,1922 was a transitional year for Gibson instrument r&d .Some "0" made in 1922 has the tailpiece that was designed for the new f-hole L-5 but still with the old style, drop shaped pickguard. My guitar has the earlier celluloid/pin tailpiece and double shaped pickguard.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-style-O-1922

Cheers, Pol.

EDIT Add to previous text: Just noted that, Johnson passed away on August 16, 73 years ago. If survived, he`d been celebrating his 100th birthday this year..