Bolt in/on neck?

[bamboofrog]

Hi all

I am carrying on with my guitar design (very much on paper at the moment) it is going to be a bolt on neck and have been toying with the idea of using recessed bolts with threaded inserts to, I hope achieve a better joint and do away with the metal plate.

Is this a good idea?

I have no idea where to source such things from, a slight snag but I am hoping someone will be able to help me out.

Many thanks

[ToneMonkey]

I've seen it done on Project Guitar a few times.  I'd have a search over there, other than that, I can't help.

[WezV]

i have yet to try it, but i have a few necks lined up that will be receiving them

Philly Q had some so might be able to help you with a supplier but i know he had to buy quite a few to get them

also simo over at the UKGB forum sells some of a different variety, i have had loads of stuff from him so i can vouch for his reliability as a seller but havnt tried the inserts to verify how well they work
http://simnettguitars.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1119.0

[gwEm]

feline did this on my steinberger, and i'm very happy with the results. it looks neat and feels smooth.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I have used recessed bolts on a couple of my own personal guitars
With some you need to be careful as you install the threaded bushing and apply enough downward pressure as they tend to rip up the wood if you don't keep the pressure on

[Philly Q]

Philly Q had some so might be able to help you with a supplier but i know he had to buy quite a few to get them

Yeah, I have some brass threaded inserts and matching stainless steel screws.

I could definitely let you have some screws, but not sure how many inserts I have left, I'll check later.  I got them from the USA, there may be places in the UK that sell them but I couldn't find anywhere.  I know where you can get brass inserts fairly easily, they also make steel ones but I couldn't find any suppliers who'd ship to the UK - and I spent months searching!  In the end I had to get someone in the US to order for me, then send them on to me.

Anyway, the inserts are this type, I think I have the 8-32 and 10-24 sizes, in brass.  The screws for the 8-32 are basically the same size as regular Fender neck screws. the 10-24 are a bit bigger:

http://www.ezlok.com/InsertsWood/hardWood.html


For fitting the neck without a neck plate, you can get bushings from Allparts:

http://www.allparts.uk.com/recessed-neck-screw-bushings-p-3362.html?p=product

I think Axes'r'us also have something similar.

[Oli]

I've got the ones from Simo at UKGB that Wes recommended, and they're very good. To add another point to Jonathons', make sure that the length of the bolt is appropriate for the hole that it's going in (ooo er!)- if the bolt is too long, then as you screw it in, you'll hear a nice *crack*, where it's pushed the fretboard off of the neck.... not that it happened to me :P (just took a hacksaw to the bolts to make them 3mm shorter) Very secure method, and i much prefer it to a neck plate, it looks much better too imo.

[ToneMonkey]

Philly, technically speaking you shouldn't use two dissimalar metals to bolt something together. You get an eddy current flowing through them that can damage the metal.  Chances are that you know this aleady though, so I'll just carry on watching the darts  :lol:

[bamboofrog]

Thanks for all the info, I may have to think a bit more about this idea.

It is one of those little details that I have been considering. I am still stuck on the big decision of giving into the lure of ready prepared warmoth parts or going it alone with a lump of wood and some patience. :D

[Philly Q]

Philly, technically speaking you shouldn't use two dissimalar metals to bolt something together. You get an eddy current flowing through them that can damage the metal.  Chances are that you know this aleady though, so I'll just carry on watching the darts  :lol:

Huh?  :?  You give me far too much credit.  :lol:

In fact on my Tele I used s/steel screws and inserts, so shouldn't be a problem I guess. 

But seriously, is this eddy current malarkey likely to be an issue when all the screws/inserts are doing is holding some bits of guitars together?

[ToneMonkey]

Probably not in all honesty.  Who ever owns the guitar after me and you are long gone might have a bit of an issue getting the screws out (or they come out way too easy).

Different metals have a different electronegativity and the difference in this creates a little electric current that flows around between the two of them.  This can speed up any aging process and speed rust along in steels.  You'll probably find loads more if you google it, it's been a few years since I studied it.

[WezV]

bamboo, i can read the PM but cant respond from work, but  can use the quick reply button here :?

to get rid of the metal plate  you need  neck ferrules/bushings

http://www.allparts.uk.com/recessed-neck-screw-bushings-p-3362.html?p=product

and probably some shorter screws as well, especially if you are shaping the heel

http://www.allparts.uk.com/neck-plate-screws-phillips-head-inch-short-p-3376.html?p=product

i use a forstner drill bit the same diameter of the ferrules to recess them

[bamboofrog]

Cheers Wez, that is exactly what I needed to know.  :P