Cup Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 I hope so. Basically, the little knob where my strap connects on the horn of my Ric comes loose. This has happened since I got it. The thing screws in (and out) and I fear for my guitar. I'm using quite good strap locks (the little metal ones where you pull the top part out and slide the strap lock down to free the strap) but these are more or less useless if the knob on the horn is freeing itself. The threads run quite deep into the body of the bass (say one inch) but after a practice or a gig where I've been moving about a lot, the threads show to maybe 5-6 mm. Should this be happening? Can I fix it with wood glue? I know the wood glue would hold it in, but would it fix it so fast that it couldn't be removed? Any other Ric users experienced this? Is this common on all basses, I know it wasn't the case with my last bass which was a cheapy Yamaha. Thanks in advance and apologies for my ignorance in the correct technical terms. I'm near sure the part I'm calling a Knob has another name. CupMcMali...this monkey's gone to heaven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Gollihur Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 Force a toothpick coated with Elmers or another wood glue into the hole and break it off. Insert screw. 1000 Upright Bass Links, Luthier Directory, Teacher Directory - http://www.gollihurmusic.com/links.cfm [highlight] - Life is too short for bad tone - [/highlight] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 Yeah, what Bob said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup Posted July 30, 2003 Author Share Posted July 30, 2003 Break it off, as in snap the tooth pick and leave the shaft in the hole? Wouldn't the tooth pick shaft block up the hole? I thought maybe woodglue maybe too permanent (saying that, I've no reason to remove the knob on a strap holder on a regular basis). Thanks for the answer Bob, but could you please clarify. Thanks. CupMcMali... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hags2k Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 I think he meant what he said. Since elmers and wood glues do not bind to metal, typically, and since the toothpick is made of very soft wood, the screw could go through it easily and there would be more for the threads to catch on in the hole, helping secure it, without making it impossible for the screw to be removed later. unkownroadband.com - step into the unkown :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 Yep... As a guy who has had this happen roughly a zillion times, I agree with Bob's remedy. Another move would be to take out the strap button (or knob-thingy, if you prefer) and drill the hole a little larger. Then, take a bit of dowel around the same size as the hole, cover it with wood glue and jam it into that hole. Snap this dowel off flush with the body, sand it smooth and drill a new hole in the dowel for your strap button. This method ain't so pretty, but it works... The toothpick method is quicker and easier, though. It won't hurt your bass at all. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/0166_1sm.jpg CupMcMali, I take it you mean the one pictured above? Those are made by Schaller. Anyway, I use one of these on a guitar I have, but what I did was a combo of CMDN's method, and I also got 1 1/4 inch wood screws from a hardware store. The groove on those screws is a bit wider than the ones that come with the Schallers. Still fit through the strap buttons just fine. These screws hold on to the wood tighter than the Schaller screws, and since I've done it, the screws have hardly moved. I don't know if this would work for you. It's only good if there's enough wood to work with, but it's worked for me so far. I don't know why the Schallers keep using the wimpy screws. The Dunlops are so much better, and that's what I use on my basses. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orphan wells Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 If you do Drill and replace with dowel, it's a good idea to pre drill to avoid splitting the body. Toothpics won't give you that problem. Use a pair of wire cutters to cut them off flush. I didn't come here to play. I came here to make babies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 This happened on one of my basses. I used a wooden Golf Tee shaved down so it would fit in the hole and then glued it in and just screwed the strap button back on in the tee. EASY AS PIE!!! (except you dont have to cook it) email me if you have any questions phil6006@optonline.net http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I concur, the toothpick and glue method is time-tested, cheap and simple. A golf tee would also work, I am sure. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickT Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Cup...if you doubt the toothpick method...don't. Your problem is caused by the fact that the grain in the wood of the body is running parallel to the screw. The screw is having a tough time gripping anything inside the body. What you do by adding the toothpick, wooden dowel etc. is add something that will give some grains running perpendicular to the screw, which will allow the thread on the screw to grip. Free your mind and your ass will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cup Posted August 2, 2003 Author Share Posted August 2, 2003 Tazzolla those strap locks are indeed the type I'm using. For some reason though, mine only came with the locking parts and not the screws. I never kept the packaging so I'm unaware of the brand. Basically I'm using the strap pins I got with the Ric, and as I've said before the problem has been there from the start. Anyway, thanks a lot to everyone. My Dad's a joiner (carpenter) so I'll leave this repair in his hands. He'll do a good job, and if not at least I'll have someone to blame. Thanks. Cup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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