So now that I'm just about to get this ball rolling...

[Endnote]

Just received my new Warmoth neck via mail the other day. Already got it lined up to make sure the mounting holes would line up with the body. And they do. So since I'm such a newb at this, I'm left with a simple question for you guys. Do I need a drill press to get the bolt screws into the neck from the body and neck plate, or can just screw them in with a screwdriver? Appreciate it!

 

[Updown]

Screwdriver !!

DON'T FORGET TO WAX THE SCREWS  :icon_thumright:

If you have a contour heel on the body ... Check screw lengths.
Don't wanna go though to fretboard.  :doh:

Check screw lengths anyway !!

Don't forget the wax !!

 

[Cagey]

What he^^ said.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

In addition to that, I'd like to say don't forget to wax the screws.

 

[AutoBat]

Lubrication is very useful.  As I didn't have candles or anything overly wax-like when I put my last neck on I tried it dry first and got them about 3/4 in before they told me they weren't going further without assistance.
tl;dr = wax the screws.

 

[Endnote]

Appreciate the replies. What kind of wax would you guys recommend? Anything I could pickup on the cheap?

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Scraping the screw across a cheap candle is fine.

 

[bagman67]

If you wanna really improve your tone*, you could get a block of beeswax at your local hobby or hardware store.




















*no verifiable difference in tone will be detectable, but hey, it's the Internet, so it must be true.  At least beeswax smells really nice.

 

[JCizzle]

Good stuff, I just recently bolted my first neck, too. Seems simple but I'm new at this, too. I just used a screwdriver, myself. +1 of the waxing of the screws, I just used candle wax, works like a charm.

Another tip, if you have a truss rod cover, make sure you pre-drill at a slight angle, as the headstock is not perfectly flat (mine isn't, anyway).

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Last night I went to put a neck into a body and came SO close to forgetting to wax the screws. I didn't forget in the end, though - and THAT, guys, is what you call a really good anecdote.

 

[Cagey]

The whole waxing thing seems new to most people because they're used to working with used instruments. Once the thing has been assembled, the threads are cut, so running screws in/out isn't as big an issue. But, on new stuff like you get from Warmoth or any other supplier, you're trying to displace wood that's never been moved before. It fights back.

 

[JCizzle]

Last night I went to put a neck into a body and came SO close to forgetting to wax the screws. I didn't forget in the end, though - and THAT, guys, is what you call a really good anecdote.

When I was screwing in the strap buttons, even with wax, them sh1ts barely went in!!  :laughing8:

 

[Cagey]

That's not necessarily a Bad Thing when it comes to strap lugs, but it does say that you didn't drill the right size hole to start with.

 

[JCizzle]

That's not necessarily a Bad Thing when it comes to strap lugs, but it does say that you didn't drill the right size hole to start with.

Well, they're never coming out now...

 

[Cagey]

Sure they will. Just not without a fight, which as I said, is not necessarily a Bad Thing when it comes to strap lugs. Few things are as distressing as dropping a lovable guitar.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I did the strap last night. Measured the screw in an unthreaded area with calipers and then used that as the drillbit size. They went in fine. One of the holes was a tiny bit off-center though, grrr. Not that anyone will ever know, just that I will.

 

[Cagey]

Resist the urge to tell anybody. It's the only thing they'll remember.

 

[JCizzle]

Sure they will. Just not without a fight, which as I said, is not necessarily a Bad Thing when it comes to strap lugs. Few things are as distressing as dropping a lovable guitar.

Especially whilst spinning it around my back.