Truss Rod at Maximum Looseness: Just Put On Heavier Strings?

[crunchee]

A guy in my apartment complex came to me looking for advice, as he knows I play. He's got a Gibson SG (one of the recent cheaper ones), his complaint or worry isn't that the action is bad (it seems pretty low to me without buzz) or the neck isn't straight (as far as I can tell, it is), but that the truss rod nut is about as loose as it can be and still be on the truss rod, and that tightening it is going to induce back bow. His string gauge set is .009. My suggestion to him was to go up to a set of .010s and see what happens. The question I have, is that is it just that simple of a solution? Is that ALL that needs to be done, or CAN be done in this situation? TIA!

P.S. Just to clarify: Bigger strings = more string tension = increased tendency for the neck to upbow or have 'relief' = increased room for function on the truss rod to counter the 'relief' as needed...or so the theory goes. Again, does this work? Are there other solutions?

[tbonesullivan]

i had that problem for a while with an Epi G400 I had.

then I had it in a hot car for a half hour as I drove to see my guitar tech. that fixed it. it was fine ever after.

Right now I've got the opposite problem: my Cherry Diablo almost needs to have a washer or two added under the nut. I think the wood near the anchor has compressed over the years.

[murkat]

Have him take it back if recent new purchase.

if not,

the neck needs a lil heat and stress bowed in the right direction