Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

M

mst

New member
Hello everybody!

now this is a HUGE problem, because, as I am a an electronic geek I always open the cavity a lot and guess what..... The screw holes become bigger and the screws stay looser after a while..
Now the solution I would like to adopt ( aside from velcro, Thanks Steve Vai) is to use a little metal insert ( usually brass) that goes into the wood and a metal nut that screws into it.

The problem is finding metal inserts small enough for screws of a decent size ( i of course cannot put three to five 5mm screw for a control cavity....), i would say to fit a 2mm ( max 3mm) screw.

any suggestions?

Keep in mind theta the average i could find out there is a 8mm insert !

Here's a link to a CARVIN guitar pic, that shows what i want to achieve!
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

M3 is the smallest I've seen for wood. But, the problem is likely to be the required hole size to accommodate the outside threads. https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-threaded-inserts/=19oneyc
Keep looking and you can probably find an M3 (or maybe smaller) tap in that would work, even if you have to glue them in.

Or ... Just stuff a toothpick or two in the screw hole and cut flush. You can repeat as needed.
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

May I suggest mini magnets instead?
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

Coma said:
May I suggest mini magnets instead?
Click to expand...

That is a very interesting idea for easy access. Is anyone currently using them for guitar cavities or is it just a clever thought?
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

mst said:
Hello everybody!

now this is a HUGE problem, because, as I am a an electronic geek I always open the cavity a lot and guess what..... The screw holes become bigger and the screws stay looser after a while..
Now the solution I would like to adopt ( aside from velcro, Thanks Steve Vai) is to use a little metal insert ( usually brass) that goes into the wood and a metal nut that screws into it.

The problem is finding metal inserts small enough for screws of a decent size ( i of course cannot put three to five 5mm screw for a control cavity....), i would say to fit a 2mm ( max 3mm) screw.

any suggestions?

Keep in mind theta the average i could find out there is a 8mm insert !

Here's a link to a CARVIN guitar pic, that shows what i want to achieve!
Click to expand...

I have found 4mm in LeroyMerlin , but you are butchering the guitar actually.
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

I saw a video of some boutique builder using magnets for covers and pickguard/scratch plate
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

greekdude said:
close to pups? the purists will ring the bell of degaussing your pups.
Click to expand...

Doubt it would be an issue.
Would be many inches away and they could be very small,,,,,,,,,, because how much power does it really take?
It would of course have to be a ferrous-metal cover, but could be made super-thin if need-be.
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

My Brian Moore uses inserts for the control cavity. I'd have no problem with magnets, either- I can't imagine that they would be strong enough to affect the pickups. But inserts should be standard practice on neck screws, too. Even strap buttons could probably benefit from inserts.
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

dave74 said:
That is a very interesting idea for easy access. Is anyone currently using them for guitar cavities or is it just a clever thought?
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plcnkReIfag&feature=youtu.be&t=170

Personally, though, what I would do is just carve a very small cutaway along the side with a slanted inside for inserting and bending with a pick. Sort of like the taches on some electronics where you just bend it open with your fingernail.
 
Last edited:
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

I just put a little wood putty into the holes and it restores it just fine.
 
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

mst said:
you're the man! actually i've settled on these:

http://www.ebay.it/itm/Knurl-Insert...var=421067089275&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Thank you again!
Click to expand...

I'd go with the smallest OD they have for the screw/thread size that you need. Maybe M3 thread x 4mm OD. If you drill a deeper hole than the insert but with a smaller bit (smaller than the od of the insert but large enough to accommodate the screw), then length really isn't that big of a deal since the bottom of the inserts are open. Just make sure you drill level so the screw heads sit level in the cover plate.
 
Last edited:
Re: Guitar Brass inserts for control cavity screws.

I was also wondering about this very topic, so thank you to everyone who replied with all of that good information. Very good stuff indeed.
The mini magnets idea is another really neat idea that Id like to utilize sometime as well, so it was nice to see them included here as well.

Has anyone ever used velcro for their control and trem covers? Id imagine youd need a slot or some other way to get under the edge to be able to remove it once its on. Id love to see pics of that type of setup, but perhaps thats another thread, dont wanna side track this one all that much.
 
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