Stripped neck screw hole

I've got this '90 Strat plus neck that I absolutely love. Had it on a half a dozen guitars and it's currently on a parts Esquire (I know it's a sin to have strat headstock on a Tele style guitar). It's my FrankenStratEsquire. Anyhow, one of the screw holes isn't grabbing either due to being installed and taken off so many times or I'm just a bit ham fisted and over tightened it.

So what's the best way to go about fillin and redrillin?

In an emergency I've just crammed a couple of birch toothpicks (use birch only, it's important for the tone) in the stripped hole, and bolted it right back on. Works fine.

In a non-emergency, I do the same thing, but put some glue in there as well and let it dry overnight before bolting the neck back on.

If you're finding that you do the neck swap thing a lot, it might be worth it to buy some threaded inserts and use allen bolts instead.

+1 wood glue and toothpicks. Cured wood glue is stronger than wood.

If you completely or mostly fill the hole, you will want to drill another pilot hole for the screw. Careful with that drill!

Cool. Thanks. Used the toothpick trick for other stuff, just not anything structural like neck screws.

I've got this '90 Strat plus neck that I absolutely love. Had it on a half a dozen guitars and it's currently on a parts Esquire (I know it's a sin to have strat headstock on a Tele style guitar).

...



No sin. Arguably cool. Clapton made the strat-neck-on Tele-body OK for everybody with the Blind Faith Tele.

You do not need to drill another pilot hole. Just put the neck on and tighten the 3 screws that aren't stripped, to line up the neck to where is supposed to be, and screw in the screw for the filled hole last. A bit of soap on the screw threads from a bar of wet soap will make screwing it in easy. While you have the neck off, you could drip some glue into the other 3 holes. Just fill the holes with glue and let dry...:grin:

I install steel threaded inserts on all my builds, that way you can remove the neck as much as you want and never strip out the wood. The toothpick trick will absolutely work, and its a very quicky and easy trick.

If yall are interested in installing neck bolts yourself: This is how I would go about it.

Order from McMaster Carr

2521A642 General Purpose High-Speed Steel Hand Tap Bottoming, 5/16"-18, H3 Pitch Diameter, 4 Flute each $5.84

90248A018 Steel Self-Locking Thick Wall Insert 8-32 Int Thrd, 5/16"-18 Ext Thrd, 19/64" Length, packs of 10 , $7.50

91802A204 18-8 SS Oval Head Phillips Machine Screw 8-32 Thread, 1-3/4" Length, packs of 50 pack $6.82


When I do this on a guitar.

1. Remove the neck, and plug existing holes.
2. Place neck back in neck pocket, clamp it to the body, and install the E strings to line up the guitar neck.
3. I take a brad point bit (same diameter as the body mount holes) and center punch all four holes.
4. Remove neck.
5. Place neck in a drill press vice so its perpendicular to the drill bit in the drill press.
6. Drill all four insert holes.
7. I take something like a diegrinder stone to and bevel the top of the holes. If you do not bevel the top of the holes, the inserts like lift up the top layer of wood. Causing it to crack.
8. Tap all four holes.
9. Install threaded inserts.
10. Put the guitar back together.

Thank you for the detailed info on the inserts. That was going to be my next question. The only source I've seen is Vintique which is uber spendy and according to what I've read here and other places is sometimes tough to do business with.

Thank you for the detailed info on the inserts. That was going to be my next question. The only source I've seen is Vintique which is uber spendy and according to what I've read here and other places is sometimes tough to do business with.

There is a fellow on eBay selling threaded insert kits. While I gave him a hard time about some of his BS marketing hype, I am sure its a solid product.

Neck Bolts (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/279164-neck-bolts.html)

Forum member Chet Johnson also sells threaded insert kits. He also does installations.

+1 for threaded inserts. I make my own using 5/16-18 stainless set screws. I drill and tap them and then use them like Colt described.

I install threaded inserts in EVERY bolt on instrument build of mine. The strength and the sustain gained from a tighter clamping of the neck into the pocket makes this a GREAT upgrade.

I use Steel inserts only. The Brass can strip if cross threaded or over tightened, and the zinc ones break easily.

CHET where do we track these items down to buy?

You can get the good steel ones from www.mcmaster.com