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Post subject: Re: Took the neck of my Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:41 am
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Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
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Yep...I gotta add my $.02 worth here...

While I am NOT suggesting people should pop their guitar necks off every other weekend, I do have to say that there is a rather significant degree of undue paranoia regarding the issue of wood screws and the damage done by removing them occasionally. I've got a couple guitars that I've had for 20 years or more now where yes, I've had the necks off more than a few times for various reasons with no adverse affects at all. Seriously - I've had -MANY- guitar necks on and off my instruments over the course of the 30+ years I've been playing and I have yet to actually strip a neck screw (or wood). In fact, whenever I bring home a new (used) guitar, I usually take it completely apart at the first re-string to photograph/document every aspect of the instrument (if for no other reason than insurance purposes) and every few years or so, on my favorites at least, I usually break them down completely to give them a good thorough cleaning and such.

Lemme give you an example...Ol' Blue, my '96 MIM and long time #1 favorite "go to" instrument. The first time I had the neck off was back in late '96 shortly after my wife bought her for me in order to photograph/document everything. Some time after that, the neck was on and off again twice, regarding an alignment issue (a bit of an odd story there). Then the neck was on and off again to put a shim under the heel for a bit of neck tilt (I was going thru a phase, LOL) and later to remove the shim (finally got over said phase). The neck (or neck screws at least) were out again when I changed the neck plate (I decided the stock chrome plate was just boring, LOL). The neck was on and off again sometime around '01/'02 in order to install the LSR roller nut...and none of this includes the times that I've had the neck off for cleaning and such. That neck has probably been on and off the body close to a dozen times over the years...and ya know what? I'm -still- using the original neck screws and I have NEVER had to use any kind of insert or glue any additional wood back into those holes (not that it would bother me that much if it were ever needed).

Yes, wood does wear with the screws going in and out, but OMG - this just isn't something that really deserves such fear and drama. -If- we were talking about guitar necks (or bodies) made of a soft pine or balsa, yea...I'd be a bit more concerned, however the fact that most guitar necks are (in general) made of maple or mahogany...we're talking about some pretty resilient hardwoods here (which is why such woods are used for guitar necks in the first place). What's more is that if you look at a lot of genuine vintage instruments, some of those beasties have had the necks on and off countless times over their lifespan, again with little/no adverse affects...particularly in the case of collectables where each new buyer wants/needs to inspect the instrument (and it's parts) in excruciating detail before forking out some truly unfortunate sum of cash. Seriously...would you fork out $10,000+ for a mid 50's Strat without wanting a look at the neck heel and neck pocket? How many times have people come to these forums asking "is it legit" where the first thing members ask for is pics of the heel and neck pocket??

Again, not saying you should be taking the neck off every other weekend and I can even go with the attitude of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but for the occasional inspection, cleaning, mod/upgrade, etc., it's just not something to get THAT worried, let alone paranoid about either.

Just my own opinions.


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Post subject: Re: Took the neck of my Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:33 pm
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Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:22 pm
Posts: 234
lomitus wrote:
Yep...I gotta add my $.02 worth here...

While I am NOT suggesting people should pop their guitar necks off every other weekend, I do have to say that there is a rather significant degree of undue paranoia regarding the issue of wood screws and the damage done by removing them occasionally. I've got a couple guitars that I've had for 20 years or more now where yes, I've had the necks off more than a few times for various reasons with no adverse affects at all. Seriously - I've had -MANY- guitar necks on and off my instruments over the course of the 30+ years I've been playing and I have yet to actually strip a neck screw (or wood). In fact, whenever I bring home a new (used) guitar, I usually take it completely apart at the first re-string to photograph/document every aspect of the instrument (if for no other reason than insurance purposes) and every few years or so, on my favorites at least, I usually break them down completely to give them a good thorough cleaning and such.

Lemme give you an example...Ol' Blue, my '96 MIM and long time #1 favorite "go to" instrument. The first time I had the neck off was back in late '96 shortly after my wife bought her for me in order to photograph/document everything. Some time after that, the neck was on and off again twice, regarding an alignment issue (a bit of an odd story there). Then the neck was on and off again to put a shim under the heel for a bit of neck tilt (I was going thru a phase, LOL) and later to remove the shim (finally got over said phase). The neck (or neck screws at least) were out again when I changed the neck plate (I decided the stock chrome plate was just boring, LOL). The neck was on and off again sometime around '01/'02 in order to install the LSR roller nut...and none of this includes the times that I've had the neck off for cleaning and such. That neck has probably been on and off the body close to a dozen times over the years...and ya know what? I'm -still- using the original neck screws and I have NEVER had to use any kind of insert or glue any additional wood back into those holes (not that it would bother me that much if it were ever needed).

Yes, wood does wear with the screws going in and out, but OMG - this just isn't something that really deserves such fear and drama. -If- we were talking about guitar necks (or bodies) made of a soft pine or balsa, yea...I'd be a bit more concerned, however the fact that most guitar necks are (in general) made of maple or mahogany...we're talking about some pretty resilient hardwoods here (which is why such woods are used for guitar necks in the first place). What's more is that if you look at a lot of genuine vintage instruments, some of those beasties have had the necks on and off countless times over their lifespan, again with little/no adverse affects...particularly in the case of collectables where each new buyer wants/needs to inspect the instrument (and it's parts) in excruciating detail before forking out some truly unfortunate sum of cash. Seriously...would you fork out $10,000+ for a mid 50's Strat without wanting a look at the neck heel and neck pocket? How many times have people come to these forums asking "is it legit" where the first thing members ask for is pics of the heel and neck pocket??

Again, not saying you should be taking the neck off every other weekend and I can even go with the attitude of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but for the occasional inspection, cleaning, mod/upgrade, etc., it's just not something to get THAT worried, let alone paranoid about either.

Just my own opinions.


I think you're right, I believe this whole thing about screws and wood it's a bit blown out of proportion...It,s original design, cheap to make, four bolts that's it, you will not damage the neck or make guitar sound worse just by removing the neck and putting it back... I understand all the talk about wood fibers but come on it's an electric guitar, it's a Fender that's built to endure all kinds of abuse, so removing a neck wouldn do anything to it (if you know what you're doing)...


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