Neck screws loosening under bender usage

[mayfly]

Hey folks,

I've got a problem and I need some advice.  My B-Bender warmoth Tele has an issue:  after several weeks of pushing down on the neck (to activate the bender, don-cha-know), the neck screws loosen up and the neck shifts.  Last time it did this was at a gig - very annoying to have your guitar go completely out of tune during a solo.  The neck fits tightly in the pocket, and when I tighten the screws I don't spare the horses.

Some thoughts that I've had to fix it are:

1 - use double sided tape on the inside of the neck pocket to keep the neck from moving.
2 - convert the neck to SS inserts and bolts and tighten the heck out of them.
3 - just tighten the screws on a regular basis.

what do you all think?

 

[stubhead]

2 - convert the neck to SS inserts and bolts and tighten the heck out of them.

That's the main reason the custom guys who build B-Benders went to those things, I think. It doesn't seem like your "1" and "3" are going to work, on a long-term basis... every time you push on the neck, your inner cringe can be heard by the audience, might as well bite the bullet. SkuttleFunk here had a mini-tutorial up, and he is/was selling some inserts pretty cheap. You NEED a drill press, I bought a few sets but I'm trying to set up a list of stuff to do over at a friend's shop when I get it all together. (by year 2012 or so... :toothy11.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=163.0

 

[whitebison66]

Supposedly, Edward Van Halen had two extra screws beneath the neck plate of his Kramer 5150. I suppose you could do something similar, Just put them halfway between the front and rear screws, and move them a bit closer together to avoid the edges of the plate. Just a suggestion.