Broken Tuner Screw Problem. Can my Neck be Salvaged??? Any tips?

[record83]

Hey all, I'm a newbie here...

Finally broke down and started putting together my first Warmoth after 10+ years of contemplating it! Unfortunately, I am not very handy and tend to rush things and I broke off two tuner screws in my 2 peice Indian Rosewood Tele Neck (eek!)

I know there are several threads already on this issue and I had a friend remove them successfully, however, I DID IT AGAIN! But this time the screw hole was too big and the screw broke off all the way down at the tip inside the hole.

It happened on the last screw (for the high E tuner) and contemplated just stringing it up because it seems to hold in place, however, I would prefer to fix it and have it the right way (plus there would probably be tuning issues with the tuner wiggling slightly). And yes, it was those Kluson split shaft vintage style tuners with the cheap screws...but it's 100% my fault, i am not blaming anybody but myself...

Any suggestions to save this neck? Or is it a $300 piece of firewood? Keep in mind the screw is all the way down in the hole, about the full 1/2" depth.

Thanks for your help!

 

[mayfly]

If the screw is holding, I'd leave it.

If you are worked up about it, there are ways of removing even an embedded tip.  The neck is certainly not firewood.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

My advice: play guitar. The tuner will hold.

 

[AutoBat]

Each individual tuner has 2 holding in place.  1 is sufficient. Unless you're overly worried about aesthetics of it, it should be fine.

 

[record83]

Thanks guys. Well, it looks like i'll take your advice. I did some fret dressing this morning and put the tuner back on balancing the screw so it was tight enough to hold it down, but wasn't sticking the tuner up in the air.

I purchased a "backup" neck just in case. It's a Padouk Fatback profile with Wenge fretboard and 6100 frets. But it doesn't look as nice with the amber Tele body. Will probably start another post upon completion about the guitar. My first build!

 

[warcripp]

is is protruding out or is it where it is under the wood show a pic, that could help.

 

[riverbluff]

Thanks guys. Well, it looks like i'll take your advice. I did some fret dressing this morning and put the tuner back on balancing the screw so it was tight enough to hold it down, but wasn't sticking the tuner up in the air.

I purchased a "backup" neck just in case. It's a Padouk Fatback profile with Wenge fretboard and 6100 frets. But it doesn't look as nice with the amber Tele body. Will probably start another post upon completion about the guitar. My first build!

"backup" neck sounds like the beginnings of a second build to me! :cool01:

 

[Cagey]

"backup" neck sounds like the beginnings of a second build to me! :cool01:

Indeed. A good neck is about 1/3 of the way there, which is substantial. Hide it in the closet until a desirable body shows up in the Showcase or on eBay, and there's the next 1/3. Then, it's just pickups and hardware for the final 1/3, which you can nickel-dime together over time.

 

[Strat Avenger]

How the hell are you breaking off tuner screws???  :icon_scratch:

 

[line6man]

How the hell are you breaking off tuner screws???   :icon_scratch:

He didn't use the Steve Vai signature meditation candle wax I was promoting the last time someone broke a screw. :blob7:

You have to fight static friction driving a tiny screw into a hard wood, which is why screw heads snap very easily if you don't wax them!

 

[Cagey]

Wax is definitely needed. Hole might be too shallow, too. Wood screws won't cut or finish their own holes in hardwoods like they will in pine. The wood just doesn't displace very well as it's a lot less compressible.

 

[record83]

Yeah, like I said before I am not too handy! I grew up with a father who's solution to every problem was to either duct tape it or half-ass it (no offense to my Dad!) I never learned how to do any "shop work" and figured all I needed to do was "screw some screws into wood! No problem!!!!"

I have since found out: 1) make sure the pilot hole is big and deep enough 2) Allow enough space for the un-threaded head of the screw 3) Use a quality screwdriver and don't force it! 4) Candle wax!!!

And yes, I have already found several bodies that match that Padouk neck  :icon_biggrin: I am trying my hardest not to pull the trigger on one! Guitars are a sickness...

Just as a nerdy note: I was talking with my Uncle, who is an experienced woodworker about my problem and he actually did research on the development of the phillips head screw. You may or may not know this, but it was  designed by the auto industry to INTENTIONALLY strip to prevent screw from driving through the car bodies! Maybe we should revisit the early '50s Fender flat-heads again!