my bass is falling apart

[jordan_frerichs]

so i take my vm squier p home today. had to attach the neck to it. (was usiung it for templates.) the neck bolts are beginging to strip. i got the neck on, and went to do the usual turn of a screw loseening and tightening. tried tightening the bridge screws, and they only turned in place. the worst was the headstock. the thing that puts pressure on the D and G strings was loose, so decided to tighten it. damn thing snaps right off, so now i not a piece of s screw in the neck i can't get out. i cut strips from the towels to wrap onto the headstock to try and compensate for the P.O.S. breaking. looks bad, plays bad.
my qustions are :
(1) where can i get replacement neck bolts
(2) any thing i could do to the bridge to help
(3) how can i get the screw piece out of the headstock, and
(4)where can i get a replacement for that peice?
after this i will never use tiny little bridges like the stock bridge, or be as trusting to headstocks with this type of string depresser (whatever its called)

[MNbassist]

Replacement bolts...stewmac, bridge, take the bridge off and put a few drops of glue in each hole, then take small slivers of hardwood that you can chip off a full piece with a chisel and shove them and hammer them into the screw holes. Cut and sand off the excess flat, then rescrew the screws a couple hours later. Depending on how deep the screw is in the headstock i would say dremel and chisel to open up the screw hole till you can get a pair of pliers on it, then turn. Replacement....stewmac....How to not do it again, pre drill holes, use wax or bar soap to lube up the screws in hardwoods. Have fun

[Mon Rominee]

Geez, how hard are you tightening things? How OFTEN are you assembling / disassembling things? Templates for what? You're building, and you don't know where to source parts or better yet you don't know how to FIX A STRIPPED SCREW HOLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!.

I mean come on. It's called a string retainer. AllParts, StewMac, WD, etc. Geez. Inform yourself a little before you start doing silly things.

Oh, and this
http://homerepair.about.com/od/inter..._extractor.htm

This should be in setup and repair anyway.

[fenderphil]

Originally Posted by jordan_frerichs

so i take my vm squier p.....

dang, just replace the bass!

[MNbassist]

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

Geez, how hard are you tightening things? How OFTEN are you assembling / disassembling things? Templates for what? You're building, and you don't know where to source parts or better yet you don't know how to FIX A STRIPPED SCREW HOLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!.

I mean come on. It's called a string retainer. AllParts, StewMac, WD, etc. Geez. Inform yourself a little before you start doing silly things.

Oh, and this
http://homerepair.about.com/od/inter..._extractor.htm

This should be in setup and repair anyway.

yea, im gonna jump on the boat with this guy. You've really gotta do some research before you jump on here and ask questions like how to fix a screw hole. Simple things like that are basic carpentry skills that you NEED for luthiery, On top of a guitar building book, you should definitely get a carpentry book of some kind. I, however do not know of any good ones but I do suggest it.

[Son of Magni]

You're not using air tools by any chance?

[Mon Rominee]

I apologize if I come off a little harsh, but it's one thing to tinker, it's quite another to torque the piss outta every screw unnecessarily, and take apart and put back together repeatedly, with no rhyme or reason, and even less knowledge of the impact it will have on your reference instrument, and THEN claim IT a POS here for your ignorance. YOU did it, not the instrument, and you need to realize that.

Also, I agree with MNBassist in that you really cannot just jump into something like instrument building, even as a "wouldn't that be nice to do" shop project without any prior knowledge of tools and / or musical instruments.

I am not trying to discourage you, nor am I saying mean dispairaging things about your person, but facts are facts.

[Rodent]

hey MR -

as a Masshole, I thought you were pretty light in your reply

all the best,

R

*a former Masshole myself

[Mon Rominee]

Originally Posted by Rodent

hey MR -

as a Masshole, I thought you were pretty light in your reply

all the best,

R

*a former Masshole myself

LOL! Hahahaha...PHEW, whatta relief. I was starting to feel crotchety.

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

You're not using air tools by any chance?

[xchristopherx]

well... before bashing on this kid. i will say, the hardware on squire instruments is garbage. i will agree with what everyone said here, this is all basic stuff, but we cant jump down his throat because he doesnt know any better... um, as for your broken screw, try using a dremel to put a notch into the center of it, and maybe you can back it out with a flat head before you chisel around it. also, i would pull all the hardware off, fill all the holes, and re-drill everything with new screws.

on another note: i just bought a squire precision for $20 in perfect condition just so i could route the body and put a MM HB in there by the bridge. regardless, good luck with your repairs. (and if you mess it up, they'll make more, dont worry)

[TeeMartin]

The hardware from the new VM Squiers is far from garbage. Even the crappiest basses don't just crumble in your hands.

I don't know what you're learning in woodshop class but as a general rule of thumb if something takes too much effort to turn you should probably stop.

[Jimmyplaysabass]

you could light it on fire, because the effort and money aren't worth it.

if you want another work at Mcdonalds for a month.

problem solved

[jordan_frerichs]

Originally Posted by TeeMartin

The hardware from the new VM Squiers is far from garbage. Even the crappiest basses don't just crumble in your hands.

I don't know what you're learning in woodshop class but as a general rule of thumb if something takes too much effort to turn you should probably stop.

i am hoping to get it up in playing order. as a back up/project bass. i want to get it in playing order, put on an abolone pickguard, a fender thumbrest (fender position), a gold bridge, and add a jazz at the bridge. a little bit here and there. i am going to buy a new backplate and set of bolts. it would be sweet if i could track down a maple FB jazz neck to put on it, or make one in a couple years when i get good at that