Like the title says, I was just planning on changing the strings on my 1977 Takamine F-360 acoustic. I bought this guitar in 1987 and it has been my go-to ever since. It has been ridden hard and put away wet, including every music festival jam session and camping trip sing along, and though never abused, it is definitely experienced. One of the signs of age was that some of the tuning machine screws were stripping and could no longer be snugged up. This time, when I removed the G string, the screws gave out and the tuner fell right out. Well, once it was out, I decided to pull the tuning machine apart, give it a good cleaning and light oiling. One thing led to another and pretty soon all of the machines were off for cleaning and oiling and all of the loose screw holes were being repaired.



Toothpicks? Yes, toothpicks. I know some don't believe toothpicks are a legitimate repair technique, but for this application they were the perfect size "hardwood dowel." Kind of looks like guitar acupuncture. Drilled new pilot holes, and Viola!

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

Perfectly legitimate repair technique.

Looks like a professional job and the guitar is once again ready for service. You have nothing to feel guilty about IMO.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

cool pics strato.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Excellent idea on the tooth picks!

Nice work.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

Oops, where are my manners!

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

I use toothpicks for most of my dowel needs.
Let any snobs use what they wish. For screw hole repair you're far better off with a cheap soft toothpick that will mulch up to the sidewalls of the original screw hole and make for a tight fit.

A good job well done there Strato.

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No no and no

Toothpics are an indespensible item in the Rebelsoul tool box,from the intended use,to guitar cleaning/repair,gunsmith cleaning aids,and anything in between.
Is that beer brand a local brewed beer?

Good work. Toothpicks ARE dimensional dowels, albeit short and pointed.

Yes, brewed in Chico, California.

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

Excellent Job!! I keep toothpicks on hand for Guitar repairs too!! They are fabulous for repairing pickguard screw holes.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

+1!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

My guitar is from 2007 so I dont have to worry about the aging yet. I do take my guitar every season change to get a setup so I make sure it's very well taken care of. I think you did a very good job at getting the guitar back to a playing state it looks great.

Toothpicks are a fine choice for that type of repair.

Anyone who says that toothpicks are never a legitimate repair technique is wrong -- they're ideal for many jobs. But it is correct to say that for some repairs, toothpicks aren't the best choice. If you were replacing the tuners with a different type that used different screw positioning, toothpicks wouldn't be ideal for the cosmetic repair of plugging the old exposed holes. Toothpicks/dowels fill the holes with end grain instead of side grain -- cut plugs are a better choice for that type of repair. (Even if the neck is an opaque color and you spot-refinish the holes, over time end grain will sink differently than side grain.)

Another place where they aren't ideal is neck mounting screw holes. They'll work ok but just barely, and they aren't as durable as a proper plug repair. Again, end grain vs side grain -- screws chew up end grain.

They're fine for things like strap buttons (the screws sink into the body's end grain anyway) and for low stress applications like pickguard screw holes and tuner holes.

Neat job..

I used to use matchsticks for small hole repairs, but quickly worked out they were too soft. I use cocktail sticks now, but will acquire some toothpicks as well given your success.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

If toothpicks are inappropriate, duct tape is the answer!

Seriously though, although not, "by the book" so to speak, toothpicks are an adequate and permanent remedy for many small jobs. I readily admit that I use them from time to time myself.

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You dig?