Threaded inserts in neck

[iH8usrnames]

I think the overall take away is, while they are nice they are likely superfluous in most cases. Areas where they are beneficial are necks where damage is already done - stripped holes. In such cases, I would feel better about using an insert over dowelling; with doweling you are now screwing into end grain.

In all cases, it seems steel is viewed as superior but I'd need to see what people are using - there are threaded inserts with outside threads similar to typical wood screws and some that have an almost razor like thread; my preferred inserts. However, I have only used inserts for fine woodworking projects where stresses are not a concern.

I could not imaging installing without a drill press. I am fortunate, I have a complete woodworking shop.

I appreciate the information.

 

[Wound_Up]

I have absolutely nothing against those that like them but I tried them once and didn't like them. I have assembled more than a handful of partscasters. I am handy with tools and had a drill press to use. One issue is that there isn't lot of space between the neck holes and the sides of the neck. So you really have to be careful drilling and installing. The other issue is that the guitar (Strat partscaster) felt heavier in the middle and unfamiliar. It also felt less integrated which seems counter intuitive. There is something to be said about the way Fenders were initially designed and assembled. I am just more comfortable with that than I was with a hybrid as far as the neck attachment goes.

Just wondering something. Why did you feel the need to identify that all of the guitars you put together had been modified? That's unimportant to the topic. Whether they were modified(what you call a so-called partscaster) or stock, the necks & bodies still screw together the same way. Why didn't you just say guitars?

 

[lammie200]

Just wondering something. Why did you feel the need to identify that all of the guitars you put together had been modified? That's unimportant to the topic. Whether they were modified(what you call a so-called partscaster) or stock, the necks & bodies still screw together the same way. Why didn't you just say guitars?

I don’t understand what you are asking? Are you asking for my interpretation of the difference between a partscaster and a guitar?

I thought that by saying that my Fender designs are partscasters I assembled is because I wanted to emphasize that I have worked neck joints more than a handful of times including trying bolt inserts. If I had an actual Fender Strat I wouldn’t even think about taking it apart and putting in inserts. Partscasters arrive from a different point than branded Fenders that were assembled in a factory.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

I don’t understand what you are asking? Are you asking for my interpretation of the difference between a partscaster and a guitar?

I thought that by saying that my Fender designs are partscasters I assembled is because I wanted to emphasize that I have worked neck joints more than a handful of times including trying bolt inserts. If I had an actual Fender Strat I wouldn’t even think about taking it apart and putting in inserts. Partscasters arrive from a different point than branded Fenders that were assembled in a factory.

Right, but then we have this viewpoint.
My guess is that @nadzab is thinking of people buying a nice new Fender then boring out the neck screw holes and installing inserts.
Makes no sense, why do that?

Solution in search of a problem, IMHO.

To me and some others I presume we have a mix of reasons related to assembling partscasters from new and used parts, rather than buying all original untouched solder joints never modded value holding factory made commodity guitars.

While I would never bore out good neck screw holes just to aimlessly install inserts, I have encountered plenty of necks with stripped holes.
Also have some 50-60 yo Fender necks with original holes still holding. Stripping is IMO due to hobbyists accidents.

Notably, we are in an era when hobbyists keep emerging and learning to mod guitars, so a fair number of necks do get screw holes stripped.
SOME feel that doweled holes is just fine, but again because I have worked as a tech I have seen dowels pulling out, dowels with new holes drilled that drifted off out of place, and dowels installed next to dowels because necks that get butcheres once tend to get butchered again! I would never buy a doweled neck without handling it and at best consider the value to be greatly diminished.

Then the last reason could be flying with a good guitar and having enough bad experiences being forced to carry off because the bins are full. Gig bag in stowed baggage vs inserts for repeated assembly?
Inserts sounds like a good idea there.
Maple will wear out if you drive screws 20x a year for years, and will fail at an inconvenient time.
Similarly if we keep assembling and modding partscasters for personal enjoyment, we may find ourselves driving those screws many times a year, especially if we have a heel adjust and drive screws with strings on in an awkward position, which makes it easier to cross thread screws while holding the neck in the pocket with guitar up sideways and strings all loose.

 

[nadzab]

My guess is that nadzab is thinking of people buying a nice new Fender then boring out the neck screw holes and installing inserts

Makes no sense, why do that?

To me and some others I presume we have a mix of reasons related to assembling partscasters from new and used parts, rather than buying all original untouched solder joints never modded value holding factory made commodity guitars.

Sorry, you guessed wrong.

I like to buy new guitars and I like to put partscasters together. And never once in 40+ years have I ever bought a guitar with a second thought about whether it would hold its value...I buy or build every one of them to play, period.

Here are some of the partscasters I've done over the years...some are ground-up projects, a couple are just neck swaps, many are in between. These are just the ones I have pictures of. And as an aside, I've owned many heel-adjust guitars as well (still have at least one that I can think of), and have never had an issue with stripping neck screws, but I'm not a ham-fisted hack. So I maintain my opinion that inserts are a solution in search of a problem.