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Post subject: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:24 am
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I recently bought an Amer Prof Strat. after the initial joy of a new guitar wore off, I started to really look it over. I Love the guitar and it is very well constructed except, it is missing a screw in the pick guard. the right side of the bridge has a hole in the pickguard but no screw. no hole in the guitar for the screw either.
went to another shop and looked at theirs and they have the screws in that location.
was this a 2nd guitar or was it just overlooked in QC?
the guitar tech at the 2nd shop said it was easy enough to drill the guitar and put in a screw if I wanted. I am not a huge fan of drilling on a new guitar, and honestly it doesn't seem as though that screw would make a huge difference. He also said I may have one of the few mistakes to make it out of the Fender shop so I should leave it. LOL


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:38 am
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You have two options.
1) Take the guitar back for an exchange.
2) Drill the hole and put in the screw.

It's not like the factory screw-holes appeared by magic.
They were drilled.
You need not be concerned about drilling the hole.
That's how the holes get there.

If you like the guitar and don't want to risk not liking the possible replacement then you should drill the hole and install a screw.
The tech you spoke to is absolutely correct; it's not brain surgery.
Anybody can do it.
Screws can be found here:
StewMac Pickguard Screws
or in pretty much any musical instrument store.

You can even do it yourself:
Wrap some electrical tape around a 5/64" twist-drill about a half dozen wraps or so leaving about 1/2" from the tip of the drill exposed.
This will provide a depth gauge so you don't go in too far.
With the guard still in place, carefully drill your hole in the center of the screw-hole in the guard.
Use a variable speed drill with a new, sharp, twist-drill bit and go slowly while you peel the finish off the surface.
Put a little pressure on the drill while peeling to prevent the bit from wandering.
You may be tempted to not put any pressure on at all but that might let the bit wander and mark up your guard or worse yet, wander out of the hole and mark up the guitar.
You can speed up the drill once you get through to the wood.
That will help prevent chipping the finish more than what is required.
When the tape contacts the bevel inside the screw-hole you've gone far enough.
Blow the chips away and install the screw.

If any of the above sounds like it is too much for your current woodworking skill-set then take it to a tech and have him/her do the work.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:51 am
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Hey BMW - thanks for the reply. the actual action of drilling a hole into wood (guitar) does not make me nervous at all. more a question of should I, do I need to etc.
I do very much appreciate you including the bit size. I asked the tech that question and his response was "try to find a bit equal to the screw shaft" technically I suppose he is correct but having the actual size is better.

exchange is really not an option, he only had one in the color and honestly I like the thing with or without the screw.


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:03 am
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If it were mine, I would install the screw for the sake of aesthetics.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:10 am
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According to the chart I have the actual recommended drill size for the pilot hole for a #4 wood-screw is 1/16".
That's the same as 4/64". (4 x 16 = 64)
In the past I have found that size hole makes it just a little too tight compared to factory holes so I go one size bigger and then the screwdriver torque required to put in the screw more closely matches factory.

FYI, the very first time you install the screw the torque required will be higher than what you may expect but that will ease up once the wood conforms to the screw.

If you ever want to know recommended pilot hole sizes there are tons of charts online.
The first step is always to determine what the actual size of the screw is before referring to the chart.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:40 am
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It is obviously a mistake. As the bodies are CNC cut and drilled these days it would seem that the drill bit broke (it happens) and nobody noticed it on your body.

I agree that you could just drill a hole but it doesn't alter the fact that there should have been a hole there and considering it got right through production and into your hands doesn't say much for Fenders quality control. It should have been intercepted, quarantined and rectified before it left the factory.

Before just drilling the hole I would at least remove the pick guard to examine what happened underneath. The cavities may hay been damaged if the bit broke or there may be other misalignment of other holes.

If everything else is OK then all well and good, drill the hole. If you aren't 100% happy then take the guitar back for a replacement. Whether it needs a screw or not (to my mind it does) it should have had one and the guitar is sub standard.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:48 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
If it were mine, I would install the screw for the sake of aesthetics.


exactly what I was looking for.

should have added it to original post. would you, or would you not type of question.


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:49 am
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John Sims wrote:
It is obviously a mistake. As the bodies are CNC cut and drilled these days it would seem that the drill bit broke (it happens) and nobody noticed it on your body.

I agree that you could just drill a hole but it doesn't alter the fact that there should have been a hole there and considering it got right through production and into your hands doesn't say much for Fenders quality control. It should have been intercepted, quarantined and rectified before it left the factory.

Before just drilling the hole I would at least remove the pick guard to examine what happened underneath. The cavities may hay been damaged if the bit broke or there may be other misalignment of other holes.

If everything else is OK then all well and good, drill the hole. If you aren't 100% happy then take the guitar back for a replacement. Whether it needs a screw or not (to my mind it does) it should have had one and the guitar is sub standard.


very interesting thoughts. might be a good idea to take a look under the guard just in case.

thanks for the input


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 2:01 pm
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John makes a good point.
Looking under the guard and discovering any other irregularities may change your mind about returning it.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 7:11 am
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Having the screw missing on a guitar, is not like an airplane accidentally being printed upside down on a postage stamp, or a defect on currency straight from the 'Mint'---it does not add value to the guitar. All it is good for is conversation and controversy....and maybe sentimentality to you.

I'd drill it and put a screw in. My brain wouldn't except the missing screw.
I agree with John Sims; I'd have to have a peek under the pickgaurd as well.


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 9:09 am
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The missing screw hole doesn't add value. Probably make it harder to sell, since people will suspect it's a partsocaster.

But if it was mine, I'd leave it. It's bizarre. Truly unique. Out of millions of Strats over 60 years, that might be the only one like that from the factory. (Though with legal weed in CA, maybe things like that will become more common.)

A visible empty screw hole in the body would bug me, of course.

Once you drill, you can never undrill. And after you drill, it's just another Strat like every other Strat.


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 5:37 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
The missing screw hole doesn't add value. Probably make it harder to sell, since people will suspect it's a partsocaster.

But if it was mine, I'd leave it. It's bizarre. Truly unique. Out of millions of Strats over 60 years, that might be the only one like that from the factory. (Though with legal weed in CA, maybe things like that will become more common.)

A visible empty screw hole in the body would bug me, of course.

Once you drill, you can never undrill. And after you drill, it's just another Strat like every other Strat.


also a valid point.

I'm gonna let it ride for a little bit to see which way I go.


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 7:27 pm
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I don't think you really need the screw, but I would just install one to make it look nicer. It's easy to do.

Just make sure you drill the hole slightly undersized (about the width of the shaft of the screw not the size of the threads themselves). Then put some wax on the screw when you screw it in.

Also, a good tip to match the right drill depth is to put tape on drill bit to mark how far in you need to drill.

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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 9:10 am
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many thanks to you guys for the info especially BMW - KTM and also the encouragement.

finally fug out the drill this weekend and fit the last screw in. I feel much better about it. it was one of those things that just keeps nagging at you. :)


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Post subject: Re: missing screw in new strat
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 11:06 am
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avenger79 wrote:
many thanks to you guys for the info especially BMW - KTM and also the encouragement.

finally fug out the drill this weekend and fit the last screw in. I feel much better about it. it was one of those things that just keeps nagging at you. :)


I would have done the same. My OCD wouldn't have stood the unused hole in the pick guard.

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