software

I've noticed that the strap button behind the bridge is extremely loose. I just have to pull very slightly on it and the screw comes right out.... the place where it goes in is almost completely stripped.

Are there any ways to fix this without getting new strap buttons or paying big money? Thanks :afro:

shove some toothpicks in that *****!

Take out the screw
Stick a toothpick in the hole to see how deep it is
Break the toothpick so it's a bit shorter than the hole is deep
Dip the toothpick in glue (preferably wood glue and definitely not super glue) and stick it in the hole with the point facing out
After pushing the toothpick all the way to the bottom of the hole (so the point faces out but does not protrude), put the screw back in
Pat yourself on the back for fixing your guitar while you wait for the glue to dry 1 To Alec´s post

2 to alec's post.

3 but make sure the glue is dry before you drill the screw back in. You also might want to drill a little pilot hole smaller than the screw itself.

4,

do it hear a 5?

5

I was thinking you might use, if you want a more permanant fix, some of those rods you can buy at decoration stores made out of any number of woods. A nice piece of mahogany of the same diameter as the hole with some glue might do the trick, but you would obviouslly have to drill a new hole afterwards.

I'd go with the tooth pick if I wasn't one to go with the hard option.

How does that little piece of toothpick keep the screw in the hole?? Won't it be insecure?


Originally Posted by Metalman_666How does that little piece of toothpick keep the screw in the hole?? Won't it be insecure?

refer to the 'glue' part in alec's, post.

and alec only got 5 's cause he beat me to it


Originally Posted by Nite_Maresz_25refer to the 'glue' part in alec's, post.

and alec only got 5 's cause he beat me to it

Excellent point.... lol I'll give it a shot and post the results tomorrow.. thanks guys.

6

I can only add that you might want to rub the threads of the screw with a bit of bar soap to ease friction.

I gob some glue in the hole, stuff it with toothpicks, wipe up excess, allow the glue to dry overnight, screw the strap button/straplock in.

The reason you don't wish to screw in the screw with the glue wet is that the glue will stick to the screw. While it's nice to think that quot;I'll never take the screw outquot; or quot;I'll never remove the strap buttons,quot; you'll probably surprise yourself. The glue could end up gumming up the threads in the screw, and either not holding as well, or not allowing you to re-use the screw or making it exceptionally difficult to remove the strap button if you've got big wads of glue on the screw.

The idea is the glue bonds the toothpicks to the body of the guitar and the screw bites into the toothpicks which are bonded to the body of the guitar.

I wouldn't use soap, you're trying to achieve tightness in the bond between the screw and the body of the guitar, not lessen friction- that's what quot;elbow greasequot; is for.

6.9

I think I'd let it dry first, too. Then screw the button back in.

So should I actually SCREW the screw back in or just shove it in?

glue, toothpick, dry, screw in.

Essentially, you're making the hole in the body smaller so the screw threads have something to bite into to hold the strap button in.

ahhh ok... I'll do it then. Thanks

Dan Erlewine adds a step that sounds like a really good idea to me.

1) Glue in dowel of match stick to plug the hole

2) Drill correct-size hole (slightly smaller than the screw)

3) Screw the screw in to cut threads in the hole, then remove.

4) Put a drop or two of superglue (liquid, not gel) down the hole, not to fill it but just to soak the quot;threadsquot;. (I wicked the extra out with a little bit of twisted-up paper towel). LET THE SUPER GLUE DRY. It will strengthen the threads.

5) Replace the button amp; screw.

This should last longer than just filling the hole with new wood.

It's done, it works... here's the update:

Right, so I took the screw out, covered a single toothpick in glue, shoved it in the hole, let the glue dry, screwed the screw back in and everything is as tight as when I bought the guitar! You guys are amazing with all your sweet ideas. Keep up the good work!

Glad it worked!

If the hole in your body was stripped to the point that the screw was just sliding around, you may wish to repeat that process. I'm assuming you're pretty active while playing, and the more you move around the more stress you're placing on the strap button, screw and wood. You may have used a bigger toothpick than what I'm thinking of, but I'd want to make sure the screw threads are really biting into the wood/toothpicks.