Twist

A neck whose curvature differs across its width, so one edge bows forwards while the other bows backwards or stays straight.

A twisted neck cannot be adjusted out with the truss rod, because the rod affects the whole neck uniformly, and the practical consequence is that a single action setting can only suit one side: the low strings play cleanly while the high ones buzz, or the reverse. It generally results from poorly seasoned timber, uneven drying or long-term string tension on a flawed blank. Correction involves planing the fingerboard level, which is a significant job.

Example: a guitar that buzzes on the treble strings and plays fine on the bass strings at the same action is often twisted rather than badly set up.

Twist

See also