Drilling Trem Post Holes

vel0c1ty

vel0c1ty

New member
Hey all, recently I've installed the Gotoh Floyd Rose in my Ibanez. It came with its own posts, but I felt too inept at woodworking/lutherie that I just left the old ones in. Now the problem is that the post on the treble side has deformed the wood so much that it's leaning towards the headstock. The intonation is off, and I'm worried that the bass-side post will follow suit. The Gotoh posts have a bigger diameter and are longer than the standard Floyd Rose posts meaning I'll have to drill the existing holes wider and deeper. What's the best way to do this without a drill press?
 
Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Yea like David said... take your time and go slow and the bit will follow down through nicely.
I did see some youtube videos where you can make a press with little work involved... or find a shop or a garage and throw them a $20 for using theirs for a few minutes.
 
Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Yeah, just do it right and use a drill press. If you don't have a friend who owns one, do what metalchurch said.

Are you sure the wood isn't cracked on the treble side forcing it to lean forward?
 
Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Kamanda~SD said:
Are you sure the wood isn't cracked on the treble side forcing it to lean forward?
Click to expand...

That’s certainly something to check for.

On my old Kramer the wood became compressed and the screw leaned towards the neck.

Some years later it cracked, so I inlayed a piece of maple.

9744a73fa268da95a419c5ce12ef3a2e.jpg



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Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Nice!
In addition Ive seen some guys take a steel strap and screw it to the front side as a retaining wall sort of... gotta be thin so it doesn't interfere with the bridge pickup if using a humbucker.

On top routed superstrat types the posts are always the weak point as most of us are all too familiar with unfortunately.... Thankfully none of mine are showing signs of wear, but its also another benefit of my use of 8-38's with two trem springs... Less opposing force.

I'm sure youll get it man, take your time and remember to tape your bit to mark it's depth so youre not going too deep. Id also use that press with a chunk of brass or wood to press the bushings in when youre done.
 
Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

A step drill would be the best way to start the hole, keeps the hole central, I would still use a drill press

mono31483436-170728-02.jpg
 
Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

metalchurch79 said:
Nice!
In addition Ive seen some guys take a steel strap and screw it to the front side as a retaining wall sort of... gotta be thin so it doesn't interfere with the bridge pickup if using a humbucker.
Click to expand...

You can buy those pre made. Found this on eBay.

b8a0b91f01b23a07ae3faa9e2472e0e1.jpg



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Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

That's a really great idea also David and if I'm remembering correctly, didn't Ibanez have a similar design at some point in the 2000's? Maybe it wasn't them, but I remember someone did and always thought it would be a great alternative to some of the mods and reinforcements guys chose to do.

I was talking about the front side of the trem posts/ rear of the pickup cavity area...in case I didn't explain it correctly. <Its kind of a hacked way but its really solid from what Ive seen. Id be tempted to use an alum strip myself with counter sunk screws instead of a magnetic material.
 
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Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Thanks for the replies, all. The 11.3mm diameter calls for a 7/16 bit, would 3/8 work too?

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Re: Drilling Trem Post Holes

Believe it or not: Jacksons come standard with that screw stopper job (well mine did anyway). Didn't know what it was at first!!! LOL!!!
 
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