Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

[357mag]

I just picked up a Jimmie Vaughn Signature Strat and I gotta tell you it's really good. Very good craftsmanship. Mean tone. Good paint. American components. Sounds darn good.

But my plan all along was to take the neck off and put on my spare Malmsteen neck. Now the neck on my yellow Malmsteen Strat is attached with machine screws I guess. I think this allows the neck to grip the body in a tighter fit or something which is beneficial.

I was wondering if I could simply go to the hardware store and try to find some machine screws and use them instead of the wood screws that are on the Jimmie Vaughn now to basically insure a tighter fit.

Yes? No?

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

if the Malmsteen neck indeed has the furrels needed to attach a neck through the use of machine screws, then I don't see it posing a problem. You should probably post a few pics just so we can be sure.

 

[357mag]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

What is a furrel? I don't think I can post pictures. No digital camera. If it helps the neck is a 2004 model which I believe came out before Fender did the upgrades like machine screws.

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

a furrel is something like a metal bit (there should be 4) embedded into the neck where the screws are. A machine screw will not pull wood tight to the body. The threads are much too small. http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/hardware.html

Looks like that.

 

[357mag]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

My neck does not have any of those 4 black circular things which you are calling bits or furrels.

I've been reading about inserts on this forum but I gather that it's not without the risk of ruining the neck.

I may be better off just sticking to the traditional wood screws. It worked for Hendrix.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

If the neck you want to switch to uses incerts and machine screws you HAVE to go back with the same setup. Use the screws from the neck and roll with it.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

a furrel is something like a metal bit (there should be 4) embedded into the neck where the screws are. A machine screw will not pull wood tight to the body. The threads are much too small. http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/hardware.html

Looks like that.

Actually, its ferrule. Which is not what is wanted here. What is wanted here is a threaded insert. Actually, you need both. The insert goes into the neck to receive the machine screw threads, and the ferrule goes on the body opposite the threaded inserts to prevent the machine screws from pulling through the body.

Ferrule:

Threaded Insert:

 

[357mag]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

If the neck you want to switch to uses incerts and machine screws you HAVE to go back with the same setup. Use the screws from the neck and roll with it.

I fail to follow this. But I can follow the photo of the ferrule and the insert. My new Malmsteen Strat must have these inserts then. Fender must be using them since the Malmsteen Strats have machine screws.

But I don't think I'm gonna invite trouble here.

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

Actually, its ferrule. Which is not what is wanted here. What is wanted here is a threaded insert. Actually, you need both. The insert goes into the neck to receive the machine screw threads, and the ferrule goes on the body opposite the threaded inserts to prevent the machine screws from pulling through the body.

Ferrule:

Threaded Insert:

I stand corrected. Thanks.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

If your Malmsteen Strat does NOT have a bullet truss rod adjust at the headstock, it should be attached using wood screws; I believe that those 2 changes were made at the same time.

I'm confused about what you're asking. Are you saying that you'd like to attach the Malmsteen neck with machine screws, but you know that it's not set up that way OR that you think it is set up that way and are asking if generic machine screws will fit?

If your neck is NOT already set up for machine screws, I'd be very careful about trying that on an expensive neck without any experience; from what I understand it's easy to put the inserts in wrong and cause cross-threading of the machine screws. OTOH a shop could set it up for you, but I don't know about your bang for the buck on that option.

If the neck you want to switch to uses incerts and machine screws you HAVE to go back with the same setup. Use the screws from the neck and roll with it.

Now this I agree with; whatever the neck is set up for now, I'd stick with that (if you're putting a YJM neck on the JV that uses machine screws, stick with them. If the YJM uses wood screws, stick with those).

 

[357mag]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

The Malmsteen neck is a 2004 model. Therefore it is a slightly older model. Therefore it was not set up for machine screws. There are no visible inserts that I can see on it.

I have not taken off the neck on the Jimmie Vaughn Strat yet but I'm just about positive that it is just a normal wood screw set up. Because if it wasn't Fender would have said so right on their web site.

Therefore I conclude that both my 2004 Malmsteen neck and the Jimmie Vaughn Strat were intended to be mated using wood screws not machine screws.

The reason I asked the question in the first place was because I thought perhaps I could just buy some machine screws and get a tighter fit. But after reading more on this subject it does not appear that it's that simple as there are these things called inserts and ferrules involved.

And I refuse to take any dumb chances on a beautiful Malmsteen neck which are rather hard to come by I might add.

So I'm just gonna stick with good old fashioned wood screws.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

Not 100% sure I understand the question (If I do: you´re asking: "Can I attach a neck that has no threaded inserts with machine screws w/o modifying it?") , but generally the bottom line is:

If the neck was attached with wood screws and has no metal inserts in it, you need to stick to wood screws. Machine screws won´t grasp the wood properly becasue the threads are too fine.

If it was attached with machione screws it needs to continue to be attached that way. Wood screws won´t thread into the machine inserts properly and witll often damage them because the screws have a much coarser thread.

On the topic of ferrules: you only need those if the body doesnt have a standard neck plate. They´re common for ex. on Ibanez guitars with the AANJ or many bolt ons with sculpted heels. The purpose of these iis to redistribute the pressure from the screw head onto a larger surface area so the screw doesn´t pull through, something the neck plate does even better

 

[sosomething]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

Good post, Zerb, but please allow me to elaborate.

The bottom bottom line is:

Don't.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

I fail to follow this. But I can follow the photo of the ferrule and the insert. My new Malmsteen Strat must have these inserts then. Fender must be using them since the Malmsteen Strats have machine screws. But I don't think I'm gonna invite trouble here.

Ok, here is the simple version...if the Malmsteen strat has inserts in the neck to be used wiht machine screws you CAN NOT use wood screws to mount it to ANY guitar so if you want to put the Malmsteen neck on the Jimmy Vaughan body you will HAVE to use machine screws.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

His Malmsteen neck DOES NOT have inserts so he absolutely CAN NOT use machine screws.

Keep up, dude.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Can I use machine screws to attach neck?

His Malmsteen neck DOES NOT have inserts so he absolutely CAN NOT use machine screws.

Keep up, dude.

You'll notice I said IF...

Thanks...