threaded neck inserts

[Cantplay]

I have an undrilled strat neck in cocobolo rosewood.

I'm thinking that since this is such an extremely hard wood it might be better to tap the holes and use metal inserts. I'm very worried about it splitting as wood screws go into a drilled hole.

I'm also thinking of installing studs and using nuts instead of screws to give a more even stress, and to enable torque wrench.

anyone ever try this?

John

[Luthierwnc]

This is an ergonomic baritone I can't quite seem to finish. I have both the brass inserts and the steel ones you put in with an Allen key. For cocobolo I'd definitely go with the steel since a wood that hard will rip the brass ones to shreds. This guitar has a cocobolo fingerboard and even the maple/rosewood laminate deformed the brass on the way in. McMaster has all kinds.

If you really wanted to make it strong, put the nuts in on the neck blank facing down before you put the fingerboard on. Then chuck some small pieces of threaded rod in the drill press and file them to a centered point. Stick them in the neck (not so far you can't get them back out easily) and press it into the neck pocket to get your reference holes.

Good luck, Skip

[Structo]

The secret for using wood screws for mounting bolt on necks is to drill the holes in the body large enough so the screw can be inserted without binding.

The holes in the neck should be the same size as the shank of the screw minus the threads, so only the threads cut into the wood.

The way to prevent broken screws or stripped threads is to use bees wax on the threads before tightening them the first time.
If you don't have bees wax, candle wax can be used or even soap.

Drill the holes in the body first then fit the neck, checking alignment before you mark or drill the holes in the neck.

The main reason I have avoided using inserts in my bolt on guitars is because sometimes you need to bump the headstock one way or the other to align the E strings to the sides of the neck.

Another trick is after you get the guitar strung up to pitch, loosen the neck screws a bit which allows the strings to pull the neck into the pocket tighter.
Then tighten the screws again.
This will ensure a good tight fit which will help sustain.

[Luthierwnc]

Good advise Tom. Always wait to cinch the neck down after you have the E strings on. Then a little pop with your palm will get the alignment how you want it before you make the last half turn. sh

[rp]

I think these are threaded. Oh... guitar neck...? Nevermind.

Actually, never did a guitar but I tend to use the inserts or t-nuts for pine, I've had pine so soft screws straight in just spun the first time in. That cocobolo is prolly hard as steel, doubt you need the inserts, IME with maple you can take the screws out dozens of times and they always stay tight. Tom's instructions are dead on. My friend has bees and makes candles, she gave a pretty beeswax xmas tree ornament - it's in my toolbox

[Cliff Schecht]

Tom that is again some great advice. I've bookmarked this page even though I've already drilled the holes for both my Strat and Tele builds . I actually dorked the Tele bridge pretty bad the first time I installed it, I had to dowel all of the holes and redrill them. Luckily I got the alignment dead nuts on the second time, I would have been pissed if I had to dowel those already doweled holes! At least the bridge hides all of my misery..

[LeftyStrat]

The main reason I have avoided using inserts in my bolt on guitars is because sometimes you need to bump the headstock one way or the other to align the E strings to the sides of the neck.

Ah, the bain of every three hole Strat owner. We do it on a daily basis. Thanks CBS.

[Cantplay]

Thank you all for your experience.

This is going to wait till I have the body ready to fit it to.

I am definately going to use the idea of pointed transfer punches to locate the holes. I do this at work with dowel pins for some of the jigs we make.

John

[rp]

Ah, the bain of every three hole Strat owner. We do it on a daily basis. Thanks CBS.

I thought this too till I discovered Leo era G&Ls. The 3 hole thing is fine, in fact the tilt thing is sweet. The secret is a very well made tight fitting neck pocket (it's only supposed to move up and down in plane with the top) something CBS couldn't be bothered with.

[Reeltarded]

The main reason I have avoided using inserts in my bolt on guitars is because sometimes you need to bump the headstock one way or the other to align the E strings to the sides of the neck.

Ah, the bain of every three hole Strat owner. We do it on a daily basis. Thanks CBS.

Thin wood glue, just a little dot, with a couple drops of water, lightly dab it in the pocket and then screw the neck down tight and correct. When it dries you will have to tap the neck to make it let go. The wood glue comes out of the pocket with a warm damp cloth in the future. You just start over..

[Cantplay]

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Sanded to 600, hit with scotchbrite pad and then buffed with Magic Eraser.

John

[statorvane]

Oh man, that is a cool neck. Very nice.

[Structo]

Beautiful.

Cocobolo is one of my favorite woods.

I understand that the dust and oils can be toxic.