Just a quick question:

Has anyone else had trouble with the jack plate and jack plug always being loose on their MIM strats? It seems like every time I tighten it, it's loose again the following week. Also, the outer screw on the chrome plate itself has fallen out and gone missing. It was loose for a long time. I think the hole is thread bare. What should I do with that?

Cheers,

gerardwayne

That jack should be replaced with a new Switchcraft brand one. Place a tooth washer on the new jack before you mount and tighten it to the cup. This will solve the loose jack problem.

With the thread bare hole, break a toothpick in two or three pieces and insert the pieces in the hole, making sure that these pieces do not protrude from the top of the hole. Prior to inserting the last broken off toothpick piece, dip it in some white glue like Elmer's, enough to coat most of the piece but not to where it is ridiculously dripping. Insert this last piece into the hole, ensuring that the glue is and will be, confined within the hole and not oozing out. Reinstall the screw and let the guitar sit for a few hours, allowing the glue to start firming up and do its job. You can do this whole procedure with the jack cup mounted by way of the other screw. Either way, this solves the stripped screw hole problem. Use this procedure for stripped pickguard screw holes too.

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You dig?

Martian you are from another planet.lol I have to say I really enjoy your knowledge of what goes on behind the pickguard you know your $@!&. I can play em but I cant fix em like that. Gerard a quick tip watch and see if you are playing sitting down amd plugged in. Because if the jack is pushing on something this will cause this as my 11 year old does it a lot sitting on the bed plugged in.

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

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You dig?

The small toothpick pieces are the way to go but before you put them in put a little elmers glue to them. Heck I have even used saw dust that I have added Elmers to then pack into strip holes and let it dry as a wood plug.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Glue and toothpicks it is. Thanks a bunch! I had thought about using the "plastic wood" compounds but thought that buying a large tube of that stuff for one tiny hole would be a bit wasteful, tosay the least.