Bolt On Neck Question?

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:23 pm

Just wondering what type and size bolts you all use for an acoustic guitar, bolt on neck? I bought some lag screws 1/4" thick and 2" long for my concert guitar build. I feel 2" bolts maybe a little too long.

I would like to know what you all reccomend and where they can be sourced.

Thanks

Alan

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:53 pm

Alan M8 I use 1/4 - 20 bolts in mine so 1/4" is fine. I think that mine are 1.5" long but this will depend on the thickness of your neck block.

Dennis Leahy · Post by **Dennis Leahy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:55 am

ozziebluesman wrote:Just wondering what type and size bolts you all use for an acoustic guitar, bolt on neck? I bought some lag screws 1/4" thick and 2" long for my concert guitar build. I feel 2" bolts maybe a little too long.

I would like to know what you all reccomend and where they can be sourced.

Thanks

Alan

Hi Alan,

You mentioned "lag screws", and just want to mention that most bolt-on necks are done with bolts (machine thread) rather than screws (wood thread.) The typical setup uses 1/4-20 furniture bolts like these:

(Furniture bolt into cross dowel.)

And they fasten into the end of the neck (tenon, or the butt end if no tenon is used) into either threaded inserts or "cross dowels" (also call "barrel nuts".) Further, some folks that use the threaded inserts drill up through the neck tenon or up through the guitar heel and glue-in a wood dowel - and that will prevent the threaded insert from going into end grain.

I suspect I'm preaching to the choir, and all you wanted to ask what what length bolt folks are typically are using, but thought I'd throw this out there in case it was helpful.

Dennis

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:14 am

Hesh: Thanks mate. I have done a little research and it seems this is the most popular hardware to use for a bolt on neck. There is a nice tute by Cumpaino on the net that uses the bolts you speak of.

Dennis: Thanks also. This is my first go at an acoustic neck so I appreciate your extra information.

I think the hardware I bought is a little too long.

The thread was just to seek out what everyone else used.

Cheers

Alan

Rick Turner · Post by **Rick Turner** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:49 am

If the bolts/screws are too long, just cut them down to length and roll the tip a bit to make the threads engage more easily. I cut with an abrasive cutoff wheel either on a grinder or on my table saw. Hold with ViceGrips...or whatever your Aussie equivalent is.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:40 pm

Rick Turner wrote: Hold with ViceGrips...or whatever your Aussie equivalent is.

Real men down here Rick, we all use our butt cheeks.

Rick Turner · Post by **Rick Turner** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:28 pm

I do like the Aussie humor!

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:46 pm

I've never been able to get the correct length for the bolts I use Alan, and have to cut them all the time.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:20 pm

Don't think Kim was joking Rick.

I've never liked the idea of putting barrel bolts into the tenon with only end grain holding it in. I've seen a story in the GAL journal where Doolin uses a maple insert with cross grain in the tenon to help support the barrel bolt. This makes more sense to me but I could be over cautious.

I've been using 1/4-20 lag/hanger bolts (screw one end, thread the other) that I screw into a 13mm dowel that runs the full length of the heal and I only use a very short tenon. I have found some nice looking cap bolts/nuts that thread onto the bolts from inside the guitar and look just like nice knock down bolts. Here's a few pics.

Cheers
Dom

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:01 pm

Mario Proulx also uses hanger bolts.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:39 pm

Lillian wrote:Mario Proulx also uses hanger bolts.

Yes and with no tenon.

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:27 am

Kim wrote:
Rick Turner wrote: Hold with ViceGrips...or whatever your Aussie equivalent is.
Real men down here Rick, we all use our butt cheeks.

No offense M8 but I doubt if I will be borrowing any bolts from you...

Rick Turner · Post by **Rick Turner** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:46 am

Bolts heated with carborundum and cooled with a fart...

pat foster · Post by **pat foster** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:46 am

I was about to go to lunch. Think I'll wait awhile.

Mike Thomas · Post by **Mike Thomas** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:12 am

I never really knew what "anal" meant. But I do now. It's a kind of clamp

Cleaver · Post by **Cleaver** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:21 am

You can also cut those screw/ bolts with a interesting little tool. I am trying to remember the name. Ah, I think it is called a hack saw. Of course if the screw or bolts are hardened you might have to use the butt check method but personally I don't like anything that is described as hard or has the word screw in it to come too close to my butt checks.
Cleaver

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:59 am

Cleaver wrote:personally I don't like anything that is described as hard or has the word screw in it to come too close to my butt cheeks.
Cleaver

Might not want to visit Australia then

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:51 pm

Nick O wrote:
Cleaver wrote:personally I don't like anything that is described as hard or has the word screw in it to come too close to my butt cheeks.
Cleaver
Might not want to visit Australia then

Oi! don't ewe start 'Gumboots'.

It is well known that Australian blokes have buns of steel that are tighter than a Scotsman's fist and absolutely impenetrable.

Cheers

Kim

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:22 pm

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:06 pm

Link bro in case you need a translation this all means that these guys like you.

It might be a good idea though to never post a picture of yourself wearing chaps or wool.......

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:54 am

Hesh, you could have stopped at never post a picture.

Rick Turner · Post by **Rick Turner** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:37 am

I think Lillian got the picture all to clearly...

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:12 am

Hesh1956 wrote:It might be a good idea though to never post a picture of yourself wearing chaps or wool.......

How about combining the two?

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:45 am

LOL! There is a sepia print of my grandfather when he was in his early twenties wearing chaps like those, but he had a ten gallon hat. The picture has be from the mid 1920's.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:48 am

OH ! MAMA ! Don't look Ethal,, er,, I mean Martin

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