Did I possibly damage my SG with Dunlop strap locks?

[Clifdawg]

So, today I finally got around to installing a set of Dunlop strap locks on my Gibson SG special. I took it slow, drilling out the pilot hole for the neck button a little bit at a time, but then I reached a point where I met quite a lot of resistance. I applied *slightly* more pressure, when it wouldn't continue drilling down, I aborted and instead found a workaround (I drilled a 2mm pick and put that under the button so the screw would tighten down properly - looks pretty rock and roll, too )

My question is that, by meeting resistance, did I hit the joint or even the truss rod with the drill bit? Don't worry - there wasn't a snap or a pop or any sort of indication I damaged the guitar, but I just want to make sure I didn't drill into something I shouldn't have, and that it won't cause me problems down the road.

 

[donepearce]

That was probably the truss rod. If you didn't try to drill right through you should be OK.

Word of advice. Never use the screws they supply with things - they are made really cheaply. Use a better screw.

 

[AngelDeVille]

First off, why are you drilling?

For the neck:
Take the stock button with the screw and cut the Dunlop supplied screw shorter so it matches, and will screw into the same depth.

You don’t need a different screw.

When you get really brave do this...

 

[donepearce]

Different screw every time. The only time I used the supplied screw it fell in half trying to get into some reasonably hard wood. For the price of a decent screw it isn't worth the pain.

 

[Clifdawg]

That was probably the truss rod. If you didn't try to drill right through you should be OK.

Good to know. My gut told me to immediately back the drill out and go a different route, I just hope I didn't already start a pilot hole in the truss rod that will lead to breakage later.

First off, why are you drilling?

Neck button was a tiny screw, the Dunlops we're much bigger, so I simply was trying to widen it. The button on the back was fine.

 

[DaveSG]

Haha, that takes me back. I did the exact same thing when I got my very first SG when I was about 15 years old, a 1979 Gibson 'The SG'. I even remember the metal shavings on the tip of the drill bit like it was yesterday. No problem. Never had a problem with the guitar. I think you are okay:)

 

[Col Mustard]

For others reading this thread: I recommend the Grolsch Beer grommet strap lock.

Don't drill into your SG... The OP here almost did some real damage, but he lucked out
by instinct and dumb luck.

All you need is a four pack of Grolsch Beer. Drink one of the beers (or share it, they are big). Remove the rubber grommet from the bottle neck. Install that on which ever of
your strap buttons is the most prone to losing its strap. Done. It's good beer too.

Drink (or share) one of the other beers. Repeat the procedure on the other strap
button. Done.

Reserve the other two grommets for your bass, or for your alternate SG.

These stretchy rubber grommets come on and off with a tug, they do no harm,
they hold your strap on tight... I've been using them for years and they never seem
to get stretched out, but if they do, you know what you need.

The Punk approved method is to use a steel washer, supposedly stolen or "found"
at a construction site. To use this, you unscrew the strap screw, install the washer on
the strap button, then install the strap, and screw it back on. Your strap will never
come off, until you unscrew it.

 

[Clifdawg]

For the record, the 2mm pick was the solution that made the screw fit snugly in the pilot hole I had drilled. I kinda like the way it looks.

I looked at them, and while the Dunlop provided screws were longer, it wasn't by much at all. By my assessment, the existing strap button screw from the Gibson factory must have been literally within a millimeter or two from the truss rod. Talk about cutting it close.

 

[gball]

For others reading this thread: I recommend the Grolsch Beer grommet strap lock.

Don't drill into your SG... The OP here almost did some real damage, but he lucked out
by instinct and dumb luck.

All you need is a four pack of Grolsch Beer. Drink one of the beers (or share it, they are big). Remove the rubber grommet from the bottle neck. Install that on which ever of
your strap buttons is the most prone to losing its strap. Done. It's good beer too.

Drink (or share) one of the other beers. Repeat the procedure on the other strap
button. Done.
View attachment 36058
Reserve the other two grommets for your bass, or for your alternate SG.

These stretchy rubber grommets come on and off with a tug, they do no harm,
they hold your strap on tight... I've been using them for years and they never seem
to get stretched out, but if they do, you know what you need.

The Punk approved method is to use a steel washer, supposedly stolen or "found"
at a construction site. To use this, you unscrew the strap screw, install the washer on
the strap button, then install the strap, and screw it back on. Your strap will never
come off, until you unscrew it.

This is the ultimate solution. No need to mod the guitar, no risk of strap lock failure (they do fail) and you get to buy beer! Win all over the place.

 

[NMA]

Yeah, the Grolsch way seems to be pretty common these days.

However, the orange turned me off so I just went to Home Depot and got some rubber washers the same thickness as the Grolsch but in black.

 

[GrumpyOldDBA]

Ummm Cliffdawg its your axe and if you like the pick back there go for it but it does look a bit different.

Heres the grolsch option if not convenient locally you can get 100 for like 5 bucks or so from amazon.

 

[brazilnut]

With SGs, I just shorten the Dunlop screw. Like the OP, sometimes you have to drill the hole out a little bigger. But you should tape the bit at the same depth as the original screw. You won't hurt anything if you do hit the rod, as long as you stop when you do, but that neck joint ain't the strongest in the first place, so the more wood left, the merrier.

 

[papagayo]

Good friends and bottle of beer

 

[Biddlin]

Heres the grolsch option if not convenient locally you can get 100 for like 5 bucks or so from amazon.

Thanks! I just ordered some. That's the best advice I got from Cleveland, since the motorcycle cop: " ...or you can pay me the fine and I'll take care of the ticket for you."
Seriously, thanks.

 

[GrumpyOldDBA]

Thanks! I just ordered some. That's the best advice I got from Cleveland ...
Seriously, thanks.

Ummm de nada ... theres no reason to bash Cleveland yikes we are trying hard here ...

 

[Dale]

I used to live in Stow, OH and have 3 adopted kids from Cleveland. I can think of reasons to bash Cleveland!

 

[Biddlin]

@GrumpyOldDBA-The washers arrived this morning and have been employed on my Epiphone Dot Deluxe, Epi T-bird and a Les Paul Melody Maker. Again, muchas gracias. I packed others in my cases, certainly useful and economical for a guy 16 electric guitars and a bass. They were packaged by LD Carlson Co. Kent, Ohio a bit south of you so no Cleveland bashing, but I did wonder: Are there still just the two seasons there, you know Winter and Construction? Next time I'm in town, we'll do Red, the Steakhouse, on me!

 

[AngelDeVille]

For the record, the 2mm pick was the solution that made the screw fit snugly in the pilot hole I had drilled. I kinda like the way it looks.



I looked at them, and while the Dunlop provided screws were longer, it wasn't by much at all. By my assessment, the existing strap button screw from the Gibson factory must have been literally within a millimeter or two from the truss rod. Talk about cutting it close.

The screws are close to the same length but they don’t sit at the same depth.

Cut the Dunlop screw to match the depth of the stock one.

There is already a pilot hole from the original screw.