Kent 821 12 String - Stuck Truss Rod

[Dessery]

Hi all

I had a GAS attack at the weekend and treated myself to something I have wanted for a long time, a 12 string!! I found this beautiful Kent 821 Electric 12 String from I believe some time in the 60s. It wasn't a brand I knew much about but from what I can gather from some googling they were Japanese guitars built by several companies but the 800 series appear to of been built by Kawai. A few pics:









It is a really lovely guitar and I am delighted with it but there is only one problem. When I first got it, hitting the 8th fret on the 5th string, the strings were actually touching on the 9th fret and I was getting the wrong note. I have adjusted the action on it to raise it up so I am getting the right note, however I am still getting some buzz but I am loathed to raise the action any higher and loose playability.

Anyway, seemed like an easy fix to tweak the truss rod to get a little more relief and that should do the job, however I don't seem to be able to turn it anti-clockwise to loosen it, I can turn it clockwise but that doesn't help me! I have tried a little oil down the truss rod to try and loosed it up but with no joy.

Can anyone recommend anything that might help? I don't really have any specialist tools or anything or really much experience so I can't undertake any serious work. I expect it may be a trip to a luthier but I thought some of you genius people might be able to recommend something first.

Many thanks
David

[lexluthier]

Hi!
I can't see or open the pictures you've posted so don't know what kind of truss rod you have. If it has a nut at the top rather than the allen key/bolt head type, I would apply small amounts of WD-40 and allow it plenty of time to soak in, then heat the nut with a soldering iron. Too much torque on that nut will strip it so take it easy!
If you do have the Allen key type, consult a repairer, your problem is surrounded by wood at the base of the neck and is going to need a creative solution!

BTW. I'm pretty sure Kawai wasn't a manufacturer, just a brand name. Japan had three big manufacturers back then as I remember, a little research should pin it to one of these.

Chris

[Deleted]

You might want to take off the neck to get better access to the truss nut, which us at the base of the neck. Then try to adjust the nut both ways. I guess the neck must be bowed forward from the 12 string tension. You could bend it back when the nut becomes adjustable to tighten.

[Dessery]

Hi guys.

Thanks for your responses. I have hopefully fixed the images now which may help!!

That makes sense on the 12 string tension. It's not obviously bowed so if it is it doesn't appear to me in too bad shape.

If I'm feeling brave I may take the neck off and put some wd40 down there and have another go. Might put in a call to my local luthier first though and see what they would charge to take a look. Thanks for the advice!!

An article I read stated that a lot of people claim they are made by Tiesco but they seemed to believe it was Kawai. I don't think there is really much definitive info on these.

Apart from the minor buzz it plays and sounds great though ?

Thanks again
All the best
David

[lexluthier]

Hi again.
I can see the photos now and I would say forget about the WD-40 or oil as it would have to travel the whole length of the truss rod to get to where it needs to be and most will soak into the wood on the way, not what you want!
As the truss rod turns one way but not the other, it would suggest the rod has been cut quite short, peened over or is burred and can't return back through the plate. Not much to be done about that without some surgery.

I'm guessing that despite that, there's probably not too much wrong. A repairer may be able to correct the problem by a bit of fret leveling or neck cramping to 'persuade' the shape back. Hard to say with out seeing it in person but any good repairer will soon get the sense of what needs doing when they see it.
It's a groovy looking thing and worth some attention.

The guitar shows similar features and parts as Teisco, Kawai, Audition and a number of other '70s Japanese makes. Chickenbone John knows a fair bit about these guitars and is a good repairer too.

Chris  

[lexluthier]

Hi again.
I started to think what I said about Japanese manufacturers was wrong and relevant only to the '70's after the smaller makers had been swallowed up by the bigger players. Some research showed this to be so, so sorry about that!

Anyway, while checking that out I found this which I'm posting just in case you've not seen it.



The same guy has more videos on Japanese pick-ups(guitars really) that you may also find of interest.


Chris

[Deleted]

If you have the guitar strung up and under tension, check the fretboard with a straight edge or sight down from the nut. If it is straight or has a slight amount of relief (forward bow) you just may need to shim the heel/neck pocket if it is buzzing down toward the bottom of the fretboard. If there is a hump down towards where it meets the body will need some fret dressing... Cool guitar....