Where can I get screws for a locking nut?

Somnus

One of the screws that holds the locking nut at the top of the neck of my guitar has worn down,meaning i cant turn it with an allen key.

I was wondeering does anyone know where i can get screws for it? Will any ones of the right size do?
Can i only get them with the nuts as well?

Any suggestions would be welcome

Voodu Child

I'll presume you're talking about the allen screws that hold the nut pads to the nut?

Or the allen screws that hold the nut itself to the guitar neck?

feylya

The nut is held on with normal cross head screws normally. My advice would be to take one of the other allen nuts from the nut, bring it into an engineering shop (MacMillians for example) and ask them for a few of these bolts. Shouldn't cost more than a few cent.

Voodu Child

feylya wrote:

The nut is held on with normal cross head screws normally.

Half the guitars i have use an allen screw from the back of the neck.

From the wording of the OPs post is hard to tell if that's what he's looking for.

feylya

That's true. Sorry, I'm just too used to the nuts that screw in from the top Either way, an engineering shop should be able to help.

Voodu Child

Yeah, the only reason i asked was they're different sizes....and the wording was a little ambiguous. The nut pads screws are usually 3mm, but the allen screws that hold the nut to the neck can vary a little in size, sometimes it's 2.5mm.

You could try Feys suggestion alright. 3mm hex screws aren't a very common size, so I couldnt tell you the chances that they'll stock them. Have a shot if you're passing by somewhere like suggested above.

Otherwise, you might end up buying a full set of 3 nut pads and 3 screws. You'll find the screws on their own if you hunt them down, but they'll be hard to find, and a set as described above can be had for $9 or so, so you may as well get them as spares.

feylya

When I was in school, I used to use 3mm hex screws on most of my projects. I know there's definately a place that sells them in Drogheda

Voodu Child

feylya wrote:

When I was in school, I used to use 3mm hex screws on most of my projects. I know there's definately a place that sells them in Drogheda

Even better. Last time i looked, i had a hard job finding any. But in my experience, you'd have a hard job finding just about anything in this country on a bad day :rolleyes:

Shop A: 'Sorry, we don't stock them, try Shop B' ...
Shop B: 'Sorry, we don't stock them, try Shop A'

Dord

Voodu Child

joe robot wrote:

Try finding a truss-rod tool in a city with half a dozen guitar shops within a couple of miles of each other..:rolleyes: 'A truss what tool?..'

But back on topic, i'll have a look later and see if i have any spare ones lying around.

Dord

voodoo_child wrote:

Try finding a truss-rod tool in a city with half a dozen guitar shops within a couple of miles of each other..:rolleyes: 'A truss what tool?..'

But back on topic, i'll have a look later and see if i have any spare ones lying around.

Ya know what, I think I should open a guitar store with people that actually know what they're talking about and have those small parts that you always seem to need but can never find! :mad:

Heck, I'll just open a bass store!

*continues day-dreaming.....*

Somnus

voodoo_child wrote:

I'll presume you're talking about the allen screws that hold the nut pads to the nut?

Yeah thats what i meant,sorry.Would you say i could get them in most hardware places?

Voodu Child

Dr.Poca wrote:

Yeah thats what i meant,sorry.Would you say i could get them in most hardware places?

I wouldn't... but Fey says he got them before, so... have a look and blame him if you spend a Saturday driving around the country

They're just 3mm hex screws with a socket head, google that and you'll turn up plenty of results....but to get some with the thread starting right after the socket, and cut to the right length so the head can actually clamp down on the pad.....and you certainly wont get any with a gnurled head..

...meh....personally, for the hassle, i'd just order a few spare's like i suggested above. But maybe im just lazy. I can throw on a set to an order i have coming up if you like, split the postage.

feylya

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Floyd_Rose_nuts_and_parts/String_Clamp_Screws_for_Floyd_Rose_Locking_Nut.html

Voodu Child

feylya wrote:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/Floyd_Rose_nuts_and_parts/String_Clamp_Screws_for_Floyd_Rose_Locking_Nut.html

Veeerry well spotted.:D

That's the job OP, while your at it, get a few spares.

feylya

And take it easy when tightening the clamps! Make sure you're using the right size key

Voodu Child

It'll be $12 for 2-4 week shipping from Stewmac, and $22 for quicker shipping...for one little screw.

So, like I said already OP, let me know if you want to throw it onto an order im putting through shortly. Might be able to sort it out.

Johnny Storm

voodoo_child wrote:

It'll be $12 for 2-4 week shipping from Stewmac, and $22 for quicker shipping...for one little screw..

StewMac shipping prices are a joke.
You could try www.axesrus.com
They're in the UK so shipping is a lot cheaper.

Somnus

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,appreciate it.

I was using the right allem key.I must've just been making it too tight and it wore down.I'll take it easier this time

Johnny Storm

The Allen key itself can also get worn over time. It becomes rounded. This makes it more likely to round the hex hole in the bolt. You might want to buy a fresh allen key too. Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the problem (quite likely )

Voodu Child

The main problem is just that allen keys can generate loads of force, much more than the typical allen head can take.

On the locking nut, the allen screws really don't need to be tight at all tbh. It's enough to tighten them as much as you can by hand, and then give an extra 1/4 or 1/8 of a turn with the key.

The Doktor

I went and bought myself a good quality 4mm hex type screwdriver to keep in the case. Means you cant over tighten the screws/bolts, and because its good quality it doesnt get rounded over time.
Every screw on my guitar is like the day I bought it.
A lot of the allen keys you can buy are pure crap quality, and can destroy the screw head.
Well worth getting.