tele: converting 3 screw to 4 screw bolt on

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4/21/2000 8:05 PM

Halouis

tele: converting 3 screw to 4 screw bolt on anyone ever convert their tele from a 3screw to 4 screw bolt on?? Obviously I'd need to get the plate, and do a couple of drill holes. Is there any big reason NOT to do this?     I ask because I noticed the neck was a little loose, and I tightened the 1 loose screw, but I am afraid the hole maybe close to being stripped. Perhaps I should jjust fix the hole with some glue to keep the neck on tight.     any ideas would be greatly appreciated.     halouis

 

4/21/2000 8:26 PM

Gustav

please don't!(of couse you can do what you want), I like teles alot, Have a few(is more than 5 a few?). The problem with the 3 bolts and loose necks is that sometimes the holes in the body are to big. I HAVE NOT done this yet on an 70's fender(a friend has a 74?strat with a loose neck I hope to try this on)remove the strings take the neck off(first use a very low tack tape to mark the alignment of the neck to body)Wrap the screws where they fit in the body with teflon tape so that they are a snug fit in the body holes. Install the neck and see if it moves.     FWIW I like the look of the 3bolt neck. I only have a JJ asat and 70's RI strat with the 3bolt. I am also a fan of the big headstock strats they "sound different". The back view of a 3 bolt just looks "right" to me.

 

4/21/2000 8:35 PM

Halouis

I certainly would not do it if it posed a problem. the guit is a mid 70's tele deluxe. the model w/ 2 fender buckers and the big strat-stylr headstock that you mention you like.     I shall try the teflon tape idea, and see if that'll do the trick. I gotta change strings soon, and take care of cleaning my vol/tone pots, so I can do this all at the same time.     I am cetainly no guitar tech, but I don't mind doing simple fixes. ANd I wasn't sure if the 4 screw method would be a smart one. I shall tkae your advice.   thanks man.     halouis

 

4/23/2000 4:56 PM

jp

Halouis:     Look at Vintique's web page (linked on Harmony-Central). They have inserts that you put into a bolt on neck so bolts see threaded metal and not wood that can be stripped out. They have G & L 3 bolt neck plates as well as 4 bolt fender style. Ask them if they'd also work on 3 bolt fenders.     (IMO, the 3 bolt Fenders are lousy, largely due to lousy CBS era quality control. The neck pockets were so loose they really could have used an extra bolt to make the joint a bit more stable. The Vintique thing promises to improve the stability of the neck joint, but I haven't tried it.)     jp

 

4/23/2000 6:01 PM

Jeff S.

Halouis,     Here's another repair option for you to consider. Remove the neck, take a pice of scrap maple (assuming that the neck is made of maple) and with a pocket knife make three pieces that are about 2" long and tapered so that the thick end is slightly wider than the screw hole and the thin end is a blunt point--they should fit snuggly in the screw holes and go as close to the bottom of the screw hole as possible. Using a good wood glue (I would recommend Titebond), fill the screw holes; then, insert the pieces of maple that you just made (I would use a malet to seat them firmly into the screw holes). Use a damp cloth to remove the glue that overflows out of the screw holes. When the glue is fully dried, cut off the excess wood and drill new screw holes (obviously make these smaller than the current ones). Take care to put the new screw holes in the same location as the original ones. Then screw the neck back on and the problem should be fixed permenantly. Good luck and take care.     Jeff

 

4/23/2000 9:03 PM

dale

heres a simple way to fill the body holes enough so that there is no movement. put a drop of super glue on a matchstick or similar, and put it in the hole and spread it around a bit. do this a few times then shoot some accellerator in the hole. try the screw and if it's not tight enough, repeat. i've done this many times and it works fantastic because no matter how many times i take the neck off it, the holes never widen up and the neck has been tight as hell since.     another thing that works to keep the neck tight, and can be done when drilling holes for a new neck, or when filling body holes as i described above is this---   when drilling the holes in a new neck, first mark where you would normally drill, but instead of drilling exactly on the marks,drill about 1/16" to 1/32" further towards the hi E string side of the neck, and slightly towards the headstock by the same amount. what happens is that when you screw the neck on, the screws will pull the neck tightly against the upper side and front of the pocket. this will give it a fit so tight you can't move it if you try, and it'll stay that way for good. you can also do the same sort of thing when doing the super glue fix i described above. apply the glue only to one area of the hole where it would be facing the area of the body where your arm goes over while playing. or even put a tooth pick there along with the glue. get it?     the point, no matter how you do it, it to make the screws and holes NOT line up exactly, but insted in such a way that the screws will pull the neck against the upper and front walls of the pocket. i've done this for years and i've since never had any problems whatsoever with necks moving in the least.     dale

 

4/24/2000 12:59 PM
Lou	All these are great ideas for fixing loose necks. I have tried the teflon tape method and used too much and cracked the heel of the body! Please be very careful when doing this repair.   Cheers   Lou

 

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