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The screw holding the strap button on the bottom of my strat is loose. any advice on how to fix it without drilling a new hole. if i used a longer screw would that work?

I have had this problem on several guitars. An easy fix is to cover a toothpick or two (or any other small thin pieces of wood) in glue, cut to length and insert into the stripped hole. Let the glue dry, then screw the strap button back in and voila!
Matt


Originally Posted by kramerI have had this problem on several guitars. An easy fix is to cover a toothpick or two (or any other small thin pieces of wood) in glue, cut to length and insert into the stripped hole. Let the glue dry, then screw the strap button back in and voila!
Matt
1

Thanks for the help guys I'll give it a try tomorrow hopefully.

Most of my guitars have had the strap lock buttons stuck into the body with Epoxy Resin Adhesive (haven't got around to doing it on my Gordon Smith, Gibby and my Fender Strat yet).

After the adhesive has dried overnight, the strap buttons don't move again, ever

Just an idea

Craig

I did the matchstick thing with some hardcore wood glue, they haven't come loose yet.


Originally Posted by kramerI have had this problem on several guitars. An easy fix is to cover a toothpick or two (or any other small thin pieces of wood) in glue, cut to length and insert into the stripped hole. Let the glue dry, then screw the strap button back in and voila!
Matt

This is the way Pros have been doing it for decades


Originally Posted by rinse_masterI did the matchstick thing with some hardcore wood glue, they haven't come loose yet.

1 and no problems so far...


Originally Posted by kramerI have had this problem on several guitars. An easy fix is to cover a toothpick or two (or any other small thin pieces of wood) in glue, cut to length and insert into the stripped hole. Let the glue dry, then screw the strap button back in and voila!
Matt

Jupp. Works a charm!

Here's a way to keep it from happening again. I think I read it in one of Dan Erlewine's books...

Fill the hole with a dowel or matchstick, glued in. Drill a new hole of the correct size for the strap-button screw. Run the screw in, then remove it. Then, put a drop of Superglue in the hole. Swab out the excess with a pipecleaner or something before it dries. The idea is to wet the threads that the screw cut with Superglue, so it dries and reinforces them. After it's dry, put the screw back in.

Tape off the guitar before you go near it with the Superglue.

1 for the toothpick. I like to install the screw before the glue cures so that the pressure created by the screw acts as a clamp. Either way it's a simple fix.

Yup. Works wonders.