Telecaster Neck Problem

[kenrolli]

Hi greeting from Wales! Can any good soul out there advise me on what to use to fill in the old holes in my Tele neck heel before I redrill the new ones? Problem is the new holes will be very close to the old holes and I will probably be cutting into the old holes area as well. I have heard about putting cocktail sticks and wood glue in but I am worried that this won't be strong enough to take the sustained pressure of the strings. I have also thought of getting a replacement neck but this one is so yellow with age I just don't want to be parted from it. As it is I have shelled out for a new body!

I would appreciate any help or advice going, thanks people. Iechydd Dda as we say in Wales. Kenrolli.

[Devon Headen]

Get a drill bit the next size up from the hole in the neck. Get a dowel that matches the new hole. Drill the hole to the new size then glue the dowel in. Let the glue dry, drill the new holes and you're good as new.

[unclej]

exactly

[thedoctor]

Amen

[doug]

Dowels are ENDGRAIN. Not good really. They'll strips out even faster. You should make plugs with the correct grain orientation, then glue in place. No worries after that.

-Doug

[Devon Headen]

They might strip out faster, but I've never had one strip on me, and I've done this to two guitars.

[doug]

It's just the nature of wood, and good repair practice too that's all. Endgrain works, just need to be a little more careful with the screw tension.

-Doug

[Devon Headen]

No disagreement there. If you can cut plugs that will run parallel grain to the neck wood go for it, it will be better. I've never had a reason to, though.

[kenrolli]

Thanks to all you guys who replied you have all been very helpfull, however I tried this stuff from Loctite called express repair it goes off like steel and it's been ok so far, but I imagine if the worse comes to it I will definately drill and plug, although I have found it impossible to obtain a piece of maple in a country full of forests!! Great eh!! Thanks againand keep up the great advice. Kenrollidude.