Neck Bowing at Joint?

['59]

I have an MIM Strat that appears to have a fairly odd issue. The two screws closest too the headstock on the neck plate are stripped, and this is making the tension that is created by the strings force the neck too bow.

Does anyone have any solutions that don't involve glue?

[AlexR]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Not really. You can redrill/drill out and install machine screw inserts intead of wood screws.....but I probably would want to epoxy in the inserts for added security.

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Would wood filler be suitable for this application?

[ICTGoober]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Would wood filler be suitable for this application?

Wood filler is NEVER suitable on guitars. Leave that to the cabinet makers.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Would wood filler be suitable for this application?

it wouldnt harden properly
a hardwood dowel on the other hand
drilled and glued in would be like new
start your holes all over again

in fact this process can be repeated til the neck rots away

[PS412]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Just out out of curiosity, could you insert a threaded insert say like a heli coil or something similar and then bolt it?
Never mind AlexR got it covered.

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

it wouldnt harden properly
a hardwood dowel on the other hand
drilled and glued in would be like new
start your holes all over again

in fact this process can be repeated til the neck rots away

What could I use as a dowel? And is titebond a suitable glue?

[ehdwuld]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Hardware store - maple or oak
Hardwood dowels whatever size you need
5/16 probably plenty big
Match it to the size you drill the holes out to

Be careful not to drill too deep

Cut the towel a bit long
Slather with glue
Slather hole as well
Tap firmly into hole

Wait a day to set up

Trim excess dowel flush

Titebond is excellent

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Okay thanks, I can do that. Two last questions, what should I use to trim it flush and what size whole should I drill the second time to put the screws in?

[Darg1911]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

Depends on the screw size. I think they are #8's but not sure. https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-i...Hole-Size.aspx

The dowels wont need to be large diameter. Small flush cut trim saw would work to flush the dowel up. Barring that, you can probably score them deep and close to flush with a razor knife and snap them off. Then flush them up carefully with a small, sharp wood chisel, by hand. But you have to be careful not to get into the surrounding wood.

But hang on, I'm sure the luthiers have some better ideas.

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

I saw this on another thread:

If the issue is that the neck wood isn't holding the screws tight enough, Dan Erlewine's Repair Guide has a trick...you fill the neck mounting holes with super glue, let it soak into the wood, and repeat a couple times. It tightens up the holes a little and firms up the wood. I did it to one of my old MIM Strats and was really impressed with the results.

What do y'all think?

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

The super glue trick only works if your screws are starting to get a little loose, but if the holes are totally stripped it will not do the trick.

Drilling out the screw holes and gluing in dowels is the best solution, but not the only thing. The simplest way to fix the problem is to use round hardwood toothpicks glued in with Titebond. Add as many toothpicks as it takes to completely fill the hole...the last toothpick should have to be hammered in. Just break off the toothpicks as they are inserted in to the holes. If they break off slightly below the surface, that is OK. If there is some wood still sticking up, just trim it with a sharp chisel or Exacto knife.

There is bound to be someone who will badmouth me for suggesting toothpicks, but if they are tightly filling the hole, this works just fine. It is a very quick and simple way to fix stripped screw holes and you eliminate the risk of drilling too far when doing the dowel fix.

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

I think I might go the dowel route. How deep should I drill into the neck to place the dowel?

But the holes aren't totally stripped, they are just loose to the point of the neck bowing about 1mm out of the pocket, so would the glue work then?

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

I'd still use toothpicks...1mm means that the wooden threads in the neck ARE completely stripped.

I forgot to say that with the toothpick fix, after hammering in the last toothpick into the screw hole, you can screw the neck back in place immediately (no need to wait for the glue to set as with the dowel fix or to redrill the hole). And I guarantee that this fix will be stronger than new...especially after the glue hardens.

['59]

Re: Neck Bowing at Joint?

I'm having trouble understanding how the toothpick fix works in my head. If you glue the toothpicks into the the holes drilled for the screws, aren't you sort of glueing the neck to the body?