Threaded neck inserts- opinions sought

[wemedge]

Has anyone replaced their normal wood screws at the neck heel with threaded inserts and machine screws? I'm considering this for my Universe neck. I know there's a mounting kit available (quite expensive if I recall), but I'd like to get the inserts at the hardware store and try that.

Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.

btw: I did a search on "neck" and "attachment" and "threaded" and "inserts" and didn't find anything (if I missed previous discussion, sorry, please remove, thanks)

wemedge

[nuno]

what's wrong with yours?

[darren wilson]

http://www.mcnaughtguitars.com/index40.htm

Seems like a great idea to me, especially with the threaded inserts epoxied in place like Mr. McNaught does. You can probably go to your local hardware store and find exactly the parts you need without paying "boutique guitar parts supplier" prices.

[wemedge]

Originally Posted by nuno

what's wrong with yours?

Actually the question should be, "what's wrong with wemedge?" ha :

I routed some new cavities on the body,refinished the guitar, and then re-refinished again, re-carved the neck heel on the body- can't stop tinkering, etc., well, you get the picture. neck comes off quite frequently. (only the neck is Universe, body is replacement-so no horrific carving on a Universe body, no fear). The neck heel is not holding up too well with the wood screws.

Darren, thanks for the link. I'll head to the hardware shop shortly.

wemedge

[darren wilson]

Here's another source of info:

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/in...619&hl=inserts

[frankfalbo]

For the longest time I've thought about installing a T-nut style system before you put the fretboard on. So you'd have the pressure pulling down over a wider surface area between the fretboard and the neck. What I really wanted to do was to build something that looked like a little "coffee table" where you had a table top, and four "legs" The legs would be cyllinders and be threaded inside. It would go under the fretboard and then you'd have about 5 square inches of even downward pressure. The Maxxas used two T-nuts with two screws, and believe it or not, Westone had the threaded inserts with flat "pancake" topped bolts. I've seen everything for sale in woodworker's supply, including the Westone style system. The problem I would have is the same as the Seagulls and other acoustics that use that method sideways. If the threaded insert pulls a little, now you're just tightening the bolt against the insert. In other words, there have been some Seagulls where you could get a business card through the neck area even though the bolts were tight. So long as your inserts are 1/16" recessed everything should be fine and I love the idea. BTW what you don't want are T-nuts, because you can't install them, or the "expanding style" inserts. Those are usually fluted and knurled, and when you put the bolt in they expand to hold their place.

[wemedge]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

....So long as your inserts are 1/16" recessed everything should be fine and I love the idea. BTW what you don't want are T-nuts, because you can't install them, or the "expanding style" inserts. Those are usually fluted and knurled, and when you put the bolt in they expand to hold their place.

Thank you for the tip; I wouldn't have known to do that- I'll recess the inserts. Couldn't find threaded inserts at Canadian Tire. Maybe Home Depot will have 'em.

Darren-thanks again for the info.

wemedge

[frankfalbo]

http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1

These are the ones Westone used. They used the "D" style which you'd have to recess with a countersink or a dremel, but the E style can go beneath the surface because it has no flange.

[Scott of Actual Time]

using threaded inserts and machine screws to mount a neck will give you a little bit stronger/tighter neck joint, but the main advantage is if you take the neck on and off a lot, say for travel purposes so you can stash the guitar in a suitcase or something.

"Helicoils," a type of non-expanding threaded insert that auto mechanics use, are good for mounting in necks. however, you'll need to be extremely careful drilling out the neck holes -- they must be exactly straight or the screws won't go in, there's no wiggle room like with wood screws. a drill press is mandantory for this type of precision drilling, and you should probably practice on some scrap first.

[Fry]

I think helicoils got replaced by permacoils. I don't know, I just can never find helicoils any more. I'm not sure how well they would work in wood though. It's just like a spring that you screw into the new threads that you drill. Seems like they would just slip and destroy the wood threads that it was seated in.

[Scott of Actual Time]

Originally Posted by Fry

I'm not sure how well they would work in wood though. It's just like a spring that you screw into the new threads that you drill. Seems like they would just slip and destroy the wood threads that it was seated in.

you have to match them to the diameter of the hole, but the threads will grip fine.

[wemedge]

Thanks so much to all for the input and suggestions.

I used the E type threaded inserts and recessed them slightly(Thanks, Frank).

Attaching the neck was much easier after that; took less effort. Feels like a more solid attachment to me now.

wemedge

[Fry]

hey Scott, are there heli coils at your local stores? The stores around me say that they are replaced by permacoils, but they are kind of stupid.

[Scott of Actual Time]

Originally Posted by Fry

hey Scott, are there heli coils at your local stores? The stores around me say that they are replaced by permacoils, but they are kind of stupid.

i haven't looked for them recently, so i don't know. if they have been replaced with something else, that may change things.