So loooking at the back of the guitar, with the neck pointing straight-up then?

Just in case it is helpful to the OP, Mr Guitarist1983: Forum user Martian is too modest to mention it, but we have previously seen him talk someone else through this "8 o'clock mod" with very successful results. With three-bolt necks that are having significant problems it is definitely a way to go.

As we've discussed, it will badly affect the resale value of the guitar. But then many of us don't care about that: a playable instrument is the important bit.

We should only do it if genuinely necessary, however. The world's full of three-bolt Strats that are working just fine. We don't want to start drilling holes in guitars just because we've heard folklore that three bolts are supposed to be less good than four...

A judgement call.

Cheers - C

The neck is loose, but I can use the guitar. As far as its worth: original pickups--gone; original finish--sanded off. Some time in the 90s, the finish (wine red) became milky and quite ugly. I had a professional cabinet maker sand it all off and then seal up the natural wood. Looks much much better , but its worth about $100 now.

Advice to the young...never throw away or sell the original pups of any guitar (who would have thought Teisco or DanElectro guitars would be collectible?)

Yes.

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Inferior 3 bolt neck? I still own and play a 1974 Strat with the 3 bolt neck and it has NEVER given me any problems. "Back in the day" it got gigged all up and down the Sunset Strip and in bars in less famous locations around the Los Angeles area.

Are you actually having problems with it or are you just assuming it's bad because you've heard that the 3 bolt necks are less secure?

If you really want to do something to it, adding a 4th bolt countersunk under the neckplate is the way to go, but in my experience it is completely unnecessary.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I have to agree with Mthorn00, I hace a 79 with the 3 bolt neck and I have never had a problem with it. As I mentioned in another post the neck pocket is tight and might add to the stability, but I've played it for 30 years without a problem. That being said Martian knows what he's talking about so the 4th bolt might be your best option. I had to fix a friends Les Paul's strap pin, some fine slivers of hard wood dowel glued into the hole then reattached the strap button. Still holding after 10 years.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
filerj

I have owned a couple three-bolters (for a total of over 60 years).

I did have a neck shift on me once (on a walnut colored 1974), which surprised me. I remember having a "what the heck" feeling. So, I pulled out my phillips screwdriver and tightened a loose bolt (I don't remember which or how many were loose). I've had no problem since.

Of course, I don't take the necks off very often, so the holes are in good shape.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

A triangle is a very stable form

It think it's just guitarists hating change

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I was going to make the same point... just because you read on the internet that the 3-bolt neck is inferior doesn't make it true. If the neck doesn't shift or make the guitar unplayable why change it?

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Many 3 bolt systems function perfectly, many don't. This statement is factual and not, "weblore". Notwithstanding, the bottom line here is like I've said so many times before: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

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