My strat 1979-81 model has the inferior 3-bolt design. Any advice on how to better secure the neck?

Regards,
Clay

Put in a fourth bolt, countersunk underneath the neck plate at around what would be the number 8 if you imagine the impression of the back plate to be a numerical clock. Believe me, that neck won't move! Of course, you have to completely remove the neck plate and existing three screws first and above all, don't come through to the fingerboard with the 4th screw or its drilled hole. Unless you're reasonably good with carpentry, I'd think twice about doing it myself.

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You dig?

I second this notion.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."

Depends how pretty the guitar is: you could just replace the 3 - bolt neck plate with a 4 - bolt!

I'll contact a buddy of mine who builds cabinets for a living. Maybe he'll give it a go.

Pfff... three bolts is enough for any man.

Three points define a plane, a triangle is the strongest unit of construction and..er.. other bits of received wisdom...

Seriously, though, there's nothing particularly bad about a three-bolt neck unless the single bolt is losing its grip. If that's the case then I guess you're right to look for a way to secure it — otherwise I'd be inclined to leave it as it is, particularly as your guitar is entering "vintage" territory...

Oh yes...

Late '70s Strats are just beginning to see a small rise in their resale value. You ain't gonna retire on it, but it might just exceed the price of a new one at long last!

http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/we ... ic-Guitars

£1495/$2468 - better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick, at any rate.

Any tiny "collector" value this thing has vanishes as soon as a mod such as drilling a hole in it is carried out.

Not that this would be any concern of mine. Just sayin'...

Cheers - C

One other thing to consider: if you are using the micro-tilt, that can cause instability in those '70s 3 bolts. A fix is to replace with a more typical shim that spans the whole width of the neck pocket (if you really need a shim, of course). Then tighten it down.

As for vintage value, a nice example can go for $4000 to $5000!

That's a nice site, ceri. Thanks for the link. Here's my shot like theirs:

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I wound not think of drilling a 4th hole in thats for sure!!!! It's not worth having if it don't play though. I would go the route of filling the existing holes with some home made saw dust and glue mixture. Reattach neck and hopefully since there is more material for the screws to bit into it will be tighter.

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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

For sure! If the neck is loose because the holes in the neck are damaged, then do as cvilleria says and repair them.

If the machine screw and/or its mounting plate are damaged, those could be replaced ...

I believe the guitar can be made right.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

On a 3 bolt, the top two bolts are closer together than that of a 4 bolt and the third bolt hole on the bottom will be lower than a 4 bolt's plate. It is infinitely easier and cosmetically invisible to do my, "8 o'clock" mod.

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You dig?

Useful info, I was aware that the bottom (single) hole would be visible under a 4hole plate, but had no idea the two (side by side) screws were closer together than in a 4 bolt.

Ref you '8 Oclock mod', how is the guitar orientated before going for the 8 O clock position??

I guess the closest I could reference it would be 11, 1 and 6.

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You dig?

Well you dont say if the neck is already loose or you are just worried about it becoming loose. For one thing any hole you drill is going to sink the value of the guitar. If it is a bit loose you can tighten it without drilling. If you dont care about ever selling it and it is your #1 guitar do whatever you have to do then.