I haven't found anything about this in prior threads, so if it's been discussed before I apologize.
Happened to flip open Siminoff's Construction Manual today just because it was handy at lunchtime. The book opened to his section on making and fitting truss rods, which was a coincidence because I had been milling a bunch of octave mandolin truss rod slots and nut pockets. Never paid any attention to this before, but Roger says the truss rod slot should be angled through the neck, and be significantly deeper at the neck heel end than at the headstock. He specifies angled filler strips to accommodate the design, which makes sense. But he doesn't say why, he just says to do it that way.
I've never used anything but straight truss rod slots in whatever the instrument. Never had any trouble, either. The question(s): Is an angled truss rod important/better? If so, why? Is this peculiar to Roger Siminoff? Is he just stating Lloyd Loar orthodoxy?
It was a surprise to read this, and it aroused my curiosity. If anyone can offer enlightenment, I'd sure appreciate it.
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