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2 screws loose when putting neck on

#62
Toothpicks can and do work quite well without glue. For the narrow range of repairs that will see repeated removal and replacement I would lean towards inserts, that's their strong suit. For those who've tried toothpicks without glue and had them fail, did you do the repair properly? If not, why blame the methodology when the technique is the problem? I've tried it both way... can everyone trying to shoot down another method say that?

I've never had a toothpick repair fail. The last time I advocated that glue wasn't necessary here on TB I caught a raft of crap about it, even from a mod. Because there's only one "right" way that could possibly work. Sadly that's just how things go sometimes. Sorry but IME this counterpoint needs to be out there... and I know how much some seem to hate that. Oh well. Shout it down if you must.

If you fill the hole TIGHTLY with pickups they typically work very well. There's no curing and you get a strong hold immediately vs. waiting for softened toothpicks to harden. And the repair stays that way. I have nothing against someone using glue, knock yourself out. Why others imagine other methods can't work, particularly without even trying, isn't exactly surprising anymore.

I keep toothpicks in my gig bag along with tools, batteries, etc. If by some chance I'm on a gig and a strap button loosened I'm not going to do a glue repair and wait for it to dry. I don't have that kind of time to spare. And no, that doesn't make the non-glue repair just a temporary fix.
:)
 
#63
If you read carefully, I believe you will see a lot of good asvuce that the toothpicks alone will work fine, until you remove the screw 2-3 times, at which point the toothpicks can start splintering out, requiring the repair to be redone.
 
#64
I never allow the glue to cure before placing into service. I insert the toothpicks (slathered in glue), trim the 'picks, wipe off the excess glue, and re-introduce the screw....and we're off to the races. Field repairs are a whole 'nother story as I rarely carry glue in my kit. I do keep a handful of flat & round tonewood toothpicks, though.

True story: my guitarist approached me the other evening with his Telecaster lamenting that the butt-mounted strap button (...which I had installed!) was backing out. Checked it out and, sure enough, the button was waaaay loose and could be spun like a top. I took a PH screwdriver to the mounting screw and it was tight as a tick....hhhmmmmm. Turns out the underlying felt (plastic?) spacer had deteriorated to the point where it just fell off leaving a huge-ass void.

Riis
 
#65
Zooberwerx said:
I never allow the glue to cure before placing into service. I insert the toothpicks (slathered in glue), trim the 'picks, wipe off the excess glue, and re-introduce the screw....and we're off to the races. Field repairs are a whole 'nother story as I rarely carry glue in my kit. I do keep a handful of flat & round tonewood toothpicks, though.

Riis
Click to expand...

Tonewood toothpicks, that should get the tonewood doesn't matter crowd fired up.

What type of toothpick should I use to get a bright, snappy sound? I was thinking maple, but perhaps ziricote would do nicely?
 
#67
abemo said:
If you read carefully, I believe you will see a lot of good asvuce that the toothpicks alone will work fine, until you remove the screw 2-3 times, at which point the toothpicks can start splintering out, requiring the repair to be redone.
Click to expand...

If you're talking to me, I did mention conversations prior to this thread. If not never mind. It happened.
 
#68
Can we simply agree that if you're at a gig and have no glue, picks alone is great? H E hockeysticks, you can even use paper in a pinch at a gig emergency. Even that may never fail you, but can you count on it?

Can we agree that if glue is at hand or you have the time to go get some (glue has a million household uses; good to have around :eek: ), it's just better to just use it?
 
#69
I can count on the non-glue repairs so no, I can't agree using glue is "better". It is an option. So is epoxy. So are dowels. And usually unnecessary IME.

I have glue. I've used glue. Now I use it when it's really needed. IME this typically isn't one of those situations. Can we just agree that we're allowed to have our own experiences and relate them minus the group think?
 
#71
96tbird said:
Can we simply agree that if you're at a gig and have no glue, picks alone is great? H E hockeysticks, you can even use paper in a pinch at a gig emergency. Even that may never fail you, but can you count on it?

Can we agree that if glue is at hand or you have the time to go get some (glue has a million household uses; good to have around :eek: ), it's just better to just use it?
Click to expand...

At a gig years ago I used a piece of chopstick from the Chinese restaurant across the street from the venue that I jammed in the hole and snapped off for an emergency strap button repair for our guitarist. I still have the remainder of the chopsticks in my gigbag.
 
#72
Brad Johnson said:
I can count on the non-glue repairs so no, I can't agree using glue is "better". It is an option. So is epoxy. So are dowels. And usually unnecessary IME.

I have glue. I've used glue. Now I use it when it's really needed. IME this typically isn't one of those situations. Can we just agree that we're allowed to have our own experiences and relate them minus the group think?
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Obviously I'm not trying to convert YOU, I'm trying to mold young minds here. :D
 
#74
walterw said:
sorry man, you're on your own with this one.
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No, I'm not. I know many who've had experiences similar to mine, they just don't want to participate in the close it down approach many counter with. It's like that with a lot of subjects.

If you don't put enough toothpicks in, you can't really blame the toothpicks for the failure. Who here has done that and had them fall out?

I like to use the pointed cocktail style vs. the softer flat toothpicks. You can tap them in (as many as possible) until the hole is pretty much closed, cut them off flush and a screw will bite firmly when reinserted. There's more wood there than the orignal hole in most cases unless you used a self-tapping wood screw and no drill. And IME stay put for years AND allow for screw reinsertion if need be.
 
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#75
96tbird said:
Obviously I'm not trying to convert YOU, I'm trying to mold young minds here. :D
Click to expand...

Understood.
:D

In all seriousness, I wonder what people are thinking when they decide their way to do anything is the ONLY CORRECT WAY?

It happens so often here it's tiring. Don't use this type of string on that type of bass, don't mix cabs, trust the TB experts, who often suffer from the same thing. Some of the stuff is beyond absurd but you get the "right" person saying it and the followers fall in line and typically try to shout down anything that conflicts with their in the box thinking. I guess I'm talking to the young minds that haven't bought into that yet.

I have nothing against anyone who wants to use glue, a bigger screw or whatever they think is "mandatory for a proper repair". Of course that POV doesn't allow for any others.
:cool:
 
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#76
Jack Butler said:
Update:
Went with the toothpick method, no glue. Worked like a champ. All screws tightened nicely. Did a setup, fantastically low action, great intonation. Gigged it Sunday no issues whatsoever. Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

I love these threads where the op has long since confirmed a successful completion of the work, and then everyone piles on with huge arguments over who gave the best advice and why everyone elses advive was wrong. I know we're all guilty of it sometimes, but good god, the repair is done and taken care of. Congrats to the OP.
 
#80
Brad Johnson said:
In all seriousness, I wonder what people are thinking when they decide their way to do anything is the ONLY CORRECT WAY?
Click to expand...

There are often adequate ways to do a number of repairs. There is usually only one best way. Best to you may be the easiest, or it could be the most durable, or the cheapest. Lots of room for interpretation.
 

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