How to Fix Stripped (enlarged) Neck Screw Hole?

Chrisk-K · #1 01-08-2011, 07:35 PM

One of the neck screw holes of my Geddy Lee Jazz is stripped. I barely feel resistance when tightening the screw.

I guess I need to fill the hole with something. Maybe, wood putty?

If you had a stripped neck screw hole, how did you fix it?

Trevorus · #2 01-08-2011, 07:36 PM

Temporary fix, toothpick and wood glue. Permanent fix: machine inserts.

Slowgypsy · #3 01-08-2011, 07:50 PM

Actually, filing a hole with toothpicks and woodglue is, by every standard, considered to be a permanent fix. Here's a past thread with some good info....
Strap Button Repair

Chrisk-K · #4 01-08-2011, 07:55 PM

Do you mean that I should cut a toothpick into smaller pieces and jam them into the hole?

Plays_For_Dog · #5 01-08-2011, 08:10 PM

Doesn't have to be toothpicks, just any round stock of wood that will fit in the hole snug and flush. Saturate it in wood glue, then wedge it in there. Wipe off the excess glue squeeze out from the top. Allow plenty of time to dry. If necessary, gently sand smooth and flush. Then, drill a pilot hole roughly the size of the screw MINUS THE THREADS. Make sure your pilot hole is deep enough for the length of the screw, but no more. This will prevent the screw spliting the wood insert, and possibly the body of the bass. It's a simple fix, but if you're not sure of your skills, then take it to a luthier. They do this kind of thing a lot.

Slowgypsy · #6 01-08-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

Do you mean that I should cut a toothpick into smaller pieces and jam them into the hole?

Essentially, yes. I use the small end of flat toothpicks. You might only need a couple to get the job done. First I dip them in wood glue, then push the toothpick as far as it will go, then pull it out very slightly and trim with diagonal snipes. After the hole is filled, put the screw in... it pushes the toothpick/glue mixture to the sides of the hole and helps set the glue. After the glue is set (couple of hours) gently back out the screw, re-install neck and you're good to go. Note... it's important to make sure the glue is dry before re-installing the neck on the body. Gluing the neck to the body would be a bad idea

ThrashMaster · #7 01-09-2011, 11:10 AM

in order from worst to best solution

user a screw with a larger diameter / toothpicks and glue / drill out the hole and make a maple dowel to fit it / drill out all holes and upgrade to threaded inserts

Slowgypsy · #8 01-09-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThrashMaster

in order from worst to best solution

user a screw with a larger diameter / toothpicks and glue / drill out the hole and make a maple dowel to fit it / drill out all holes and upgrade to threaded inserts

Actually, I disagree. Using a screw with a larger diameter probably means drilling out a slightly larger diameter hole in the body. My first rule is always "do as little damage and/or modification to all parts as possible." So that method would not be my first choice.

C.Linton · #9 01-09-2011, 01:47 PM

Just as a side note about the toothpick method - you don't need to fill the hole completely, you just really need two or three pieces.
I use round tp's. Insert the tp into the hole, mark the depth with my thumbnail, cut the tp just below that mark, make three pieces like this from three different tp's. Coat the piece with a very little white or carpenter's PVC glue, insert them into the hole, pointy end up, fat end down, and then screw in the screw ( without the neck), and allow to dry for at least a couple of hours, or overnight, just to be sure.

Pilgrim · #10 01-09-2011, 02:02 PM

If the toothpicks don't work (they will), drill out the hole, plug and glue it with a hardwood dowel, cut off the dowel flush with the surface, re-drill and re-mount. This has been described many, many times on TB and you can find the procedure by searching for "dowel plug".

bassbenj · #11 01-09-2011, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If the toothpicks don't work (they will), drill out the hole, plug and glue it with a hardwood dowel, cut off the dowel flush with the surface, re-drill and re-mount. This has been described many, many times on TB and you can find the procedure by searching for "dowel plug".

The above is the "traditional" fix and will work. But I've found that threaded inserts are the fix of choice. They are easier to do than glued dowels. Just drill the screw holes in the neck out to insert hole size. And crank them into place with an allen wrench. Use 8-32 stainless socket head flathead to mount neck. Fix is easy. permanent, takes no glue (though you can put a touch of gorilla glue on the inserts to really make them permanent if you like) and in general the tone and feel of the bass will improve or certainly never be worse than it was before. For ratty neck joints it always seems to improve tone.

These: http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=94442305

You want to get the unflanged type.

It's 100 of them. I got mine from Amazon where they cost more but you could just buy a few. I see Amazon is out of stock right now. Another alternative is ACE hardware. They are in one of the screw boxes names "furniture hardware".

Simple, easy, works great.

Chris K · #12 01-09-2011, 11:20 PM

+1 on threaded inserts. More secure, less messy.

ia02 · #13 01-09-2011, 11:32 PM

this is what you need: http://cgi.ebay.com/Threaded-neck-In...#ht_500wt_1156

Chrisk-K · #14 01-09-2011, 11:47 PM

I didn't know about threaded inserts. I'll buy them tomorrow!

Wait...there are so many different ones at Amazon.

Should I buy this one?

http://www.amazon.com/-Z-LOK-Threade...642169&sr=8-10

Thanks again!!!

Chris K · #15 01-10-2011, 12:02 AM

As you will need matching bolts and maybe rings as well, I'd skip Amazon and take your bass to a good oldfashioned hardware store where there's somebody who may give you good advice on width of drill holes, types of rings, types of bolt heads et.c etc. etc. Quicker, safer, nicer.

ia02 · #16 01-10-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ia02

this is what you need: http://cgi.ebay.com/Threaded-neck-In...#ht_500wt_1156

The kit I mentioned includes everything you'll need. A good buy in my opinion....

P.S. Just FYI, I'm not affiliated with the seller in any way

Pilgrim · #17 01-10-2011, 10:57 AM

Here's my rundown with pix on installing threaded inserts. Modify as needed.

Installing threaded inserts (insert nuts) on a neck (long)

You can buy the parts in the Ebay kit for half or less of their price at ACE Hardware. I think the 8/32 inserts and bolts are a good choice. Pay attention to the type and length of bolt - ACE does carry chrome bolts and you want the heads to fit well in the neck plate.

Turnaround · #18 01-10-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If the toothpicks don't work (they will), drill out the hole, plug and glue it with a hardwood dowel, cut off the dowel flush with the surface, re-drill and re-mount. This has been described many, many times on TB and you can find the procedure by searching for "dowel plug".

There's a problem with the "dowel" method. If you insert dowels you will be screwing into endgrain which is never recommended. The chance of the dowel stripping is fairly high. If you want to plug the hole with wood, you really need plugs cut across the grain and be sure to align the grain parallel to the grain of the neck.

Probably easier to install inserts as suggested by others.

Slowgypsy · #19 01-10-2011, 03:35 PM

Or just glue in a couple of toothpicks.

mongo2 · #20 01-10-2011, 04:31 PM

I've used all the methods above and my favorite is to enlarge the hole for a plug I cut from a very hard piece of maple I keep specifically for that purpose, then redrill the holes.