The Steel Guitar Forum

On one of the fingers on my E9th neck, the thread for the adjustment screw is slightly stripped -- not completely, but enough to allow slippage in the screw. I will eventually get a replacement finger, but in the meantime I've got a stop-gap solution that seems to be working ok. I'd like to know what others do in this situation.

Here's what I did. I cut a small piece of 50 lb test monofilament fishing line and threaded it into the hole with the stripped thread. That provided just enough friction for the screw to hold fast. Sounds wacky, but it's working. Any other ideas?

What you did works good. Another idea is to put some Locktite on the threads. Caution; don't use the type that locks so good that you can't adjust the screw after the locktite sets.

This will last long enough until the finger can be replaced.

carl

Stephen,
A little bit of teflon tape pulled tight in the clockwise direction..If you wind it counter clockwise it will be in the opposite direction of tightning the rod...Any plumbing supply or Home Depot has it...Drop me a line.
Sincerely, Jim

Thanks for the responses. I had considered locktite, but I was afraid I'd never get it loose. I also tried lining the threaded hole with a small amount of epoxy, which held for a little while and then wore through. The heavy monofilament looks like it will have the holding strength I was looking for.

James, I did try the teflon tape and I probably didn't use it correctly because it all bunched up and didn't prevent the slippage. I think I must have put it on wrong. I'll shoot you an email.

Stephen,
If you're talking about the 6-32 screw size, and it's just in the one finger, you could tap the finger for a 8-32 screw and get by probably for years to come. It's a little inconvient to have two tuning wrenches, but a lot less expensive than tearing the guitar down to replace one lousey finger.
BB

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If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!

Stephen, you might place a nut behind the finger, put a compression spring on the tuning screw. The spring would keep the nut pulled back against the tuning finger and the edge of the finger would trap the nut and keep it from turning when you tune the screw. It should work as good a ever.
Jerry

BB, thanks for your comment. I've heard you know something about push pulls. I was going to try to avoid widening the hole, but it's an option, for sure. I don't think I'll worry about one lousy finger when I've got ten already!

Jerry, thanks to you as well. I tried to find a nut small enough to fit between in that small space between the raise and lower finger, but couldn't. Maybe somebody makes one that small, don't know.

Get the "expansion" spring out of a cheap ball point pen. Take the screw out of the changer finger, slip the spring over the threads (you may need to cut it to the correct size) and put the un-cut end up against the head of the screw, thread it back into the finger and the tension of the spring will hold the threads tight even in a worn out hole!
JE:-)>

Stephen, I tried to avoid a long drawn out explanation which I am sorta prone to do. You get a nut that fits the tuning screw and grind one side down so it will fit into the space.
Jerry

ok, now I understand how the spring works and how to fit a nut in there. All really good ideas. Thanks a lot, I really appreciate the responses.

Perhaps you may have already tried this suggestion. I had a similar problem on my P/P so I traded screws with a finger that didn't require a pedal change. I think the screw is "softer" than the finger and wears quicker. Check it out if you haven't already. It might save you some grief.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 25 March 2003 at 02:07 PM.]</p></FONT>

It would be a lot of work but you could take the fingers from the 9th string or any string that you do not raise.



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Bob Carden 66 Emmons P/P 8/9
BMI 13 string 7/7

How would you change just one finger? I had the changers off my guitar to give them a good cleaning and I couldn't get them apart. It's like they were put together with a press or something. I would appreciate it if someone could explain how this thing comes apart.

IMHO, I personally would not have the guts to take the changer apart and it would be alast option after all others have failed.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Bad idea! With the proper tools, it problem could be done. I've had no reason to try.

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Bob Carden 66 Emmons P/P 8/9
BMI 13 string 7/7

Stephen, if you are just raising this note, and not lowering it, you could take the spring off the lowering section of the finger, and use the screw in the endplate for tuning.