Tricks of the Trade

[iriegnome]

So, what I am looking for is suggestions for simple, easy, low cost things. Repairs, fixes, alternative solutions type of things.

14g electrical cable makes great speaker wire. Cheap too..

A 35mm film container works great for a case humidifier. Press a sponge into the container, wet it, poke a couple of holes in the cap and put it into your case. Works great and lasts about a month or so.

If your strap button loosens up, use a tooth pick to fix it.
In general, you can add a dab of glue into the hole, break off a toothpick in there and put the screw and strap button back on. Not a luthiers first choice, but it really works.

[BiggieSmalls]

Nice info... never thought about the humidifier idea before.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by iriegnome

If your strap button loosens up, use a tooth pick to fix it.
In general, you can add a dab of glue into the hole, break off a toothpick in there and put the screw and strap button back on. Not a luthiers first choice, but it really works.

Actually, it would be a luthier's first choice...

I think people would be less resistant to it if you said "find a sliver of the same type of wood your body is made from, place some wood glue into the hole and place the slivers of wood into the old strap hole, then screw in the strap button. The glue will bond the body wood to the wood slivers and the screw will bite into the wood slivers which are bonded to the body."

Saying "toothpick" instead of "body wood matching wood slivers" makes it seem like it's a "jerry rig fix."

[dougjwray]

I used to tour with a guitarist who discovered that he could use harpsichord wire for guitar strings. He was going to investigate buying big spools in all the appropriate gauges (a lifetime supply of guitar strings, and then some), but I don't think he ever followed up on it.
He also taught me how to test a 9V battery: touch it to your tongue. (Maybe that's why I can't taste anything anymore...)
Oh yeah, he also taught me the toothpick trick (discussed above).

[StyleOverShow]

Not really a fix, but convenient. The other day I was playing at a jam session club the bass player before me pulled the instrument chord out of the amp input just enough to disengage the locking tip. Killed the sound to the bass and he unplugged his bass and I plugged in my without a single speaker sound. When I was ready I simply pushed the amp side instrument cable in about an inch.

[iriegnome]

Also, if you have a hole that the threads do not catch on any longer, you can use Super Glue. The super glue will bond to the threads that are left and make the wood grain swell so the screw should work again. I know this trick comes in handy with pickup to body screws and pick guard screw holes.

[stflbn]

Wood/Elmers glue is a better choice actually. SuperGlue has little give to it and doesn't really bond into the wood. Removing a superglue'd screw can do wood damage rather than the screw simply backing out as intended.

[iriegnome]

The super glue is not for glueing the pieces together, but rather used to expand the grain of the wood.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by iriegnome

Not a luthiers first choice, but it really works.

I've seen an experienced luthier do this before. I know one who keeps toothpicks on his desk as miniature dowels. Seemed hinkey but it worked.

[mambo4]

Bread clips =cheapo strap locks

[Calebmundy]

Hinkey?

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by mambo4

Bread clips =cheapo strap locks

Or rubber washers from Grolsch bottles.

If you use Schaller straplocks, I wholeheartedly recommend investing in a small bottle of blue Loctite Threadlocker.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Or rubber washers from Grolsch bottles.

If you use Schaller straplocks, I wholeheartedly recommend investing in a small bottle of blue Loctite Threadlocker.

Clear nail polish- loads cheaper. .99 for a bottle it'll last for years and years.

Nice thing about nail polish- it's strong enough to hold threads but brittle enough to break when you want to undo it. No solvent necessary, and you can just scratch off what you don't want with your fingernail.

[Bluesy Soul]

Originally Posted by tplyons

...If you use Schaller straplocks, I wholeheartedly recommend investing in a small bottle of blue Loctite Threadlocker.

YES ! ++1 !

I see "the toothpick trick" and superglue touted in thread after thread; but Loc-Tite is quick, inexpensive, easy, small in size and is NOT permanent or damaging like superglue.

Bluesy Soul

[soong]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Or rubber washers from Grolsch bottles.

If you use Schaller straplocks, I wholeheartedly recommend investing in a small bottle of blue Loctite Threadlocker.

Explain what you mean by this?

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by Calebmundy

Hinkey?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hinkey

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by mambo4

Bread clips =cheapo strap locks

=emergency picks

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by I Suck At Bass

Explain what you mean by this?

By what? The Grolsch top or the Loctite?

The Grolsch top is a rubber washer on a flip top lid of Grolsch beer.

Loctite is a thread sealant to keep the nut on your Straplocks from coming undone.

[Jerose]

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

Not really a fix, but convenient. The other day I was playing at a jam session club the bass player before me pulled the instrument chord out of the amp input just enough to disengage the locking tip. Killed the sound to the bass and he unplugged his bass and I plugged in my without a single speaker sound. When I was ready I simply pushed the amp side instrument cable in about an inch.

Yep! I do this too, easiest way to safely switch instruments or just put yours down without fully unplugging or turning off the amp.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Jerose

Yep! I do this too, easiest way to safely switch instruments or just put yours down without fully unplugging or turning off the amp.

I've done this as well.