Asking help before moving on

Seems as though you want to remove the plate entirely - right?

Not a very good idea since that plate spreads the load from the screws over a much larger surface.

If you just countersink the screws removing the plate, they will have even less material under them to absorb that pressure and they may either sink into the body or they will split the body where they try to wedge it open as they sink out of sight.

Now if you are thinking about countersinking the whole plate and the screws, then that may be more possible and the body MAY be able to withstand the pressure with the reduced amount of wood under the sunken plate.

I don't think taking the plate off is a very good idea - but your question isn't very articulated for me to make that assumption.

 

Use neck bolt ferrules for this process, make sure you fill and redrill the bolt holes also, as your shorter bolts may not have the same thread size.

 

I think it's a great idea. All you need are a set of these, along with shorter screws.



Actually, if it were me, I'd take the opportunity to install threaded inserts into the neck, and machine screws for attachment.

 

I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to look.

StewMac isn't cheap, but these are cheap enough, and StewMac is a great retailer.

 

I would save yourself the time & hassel and just use one of the existing plate screws, or drill through the plate for a location of your own choosing.

FWIW - my Gibson Nikki Sixx bass had the neck pin located in this position: