I’ve got everything ready now for assembly of my sss Strat. The neck and fretboard are finished and the pick guard is all wired up and just fits in the cavity. Next job, which is the most worrying for me is drilling holes in the neck (the holes are pre-drilled in the body) and drilling the two holes to insert the bushings for the two point tremolo (it’s a Gotoh 501 trem) and drill the holes for the spring claw.
For the neck and the tremolo bushings I need to do this in a friend’s workshop because he has a drill press. I think it’s better than trying to drill them by hand.
I’m not clear about the procedure for making sure they are aligned properly and I’ve seen several different methods on YouTube. I really have to have the procedure very clear in my mind before trying to do this with my friend. He’s a very good friend but he only speaks French and he is one of those people who doesn’t listen to what people say to him and always has his own idea how things should be done. Even though my French is good, it’s quite difficult to explain the process in another language. It would be best to show him a video as he will understand better if he sees it.
So should I drill the holes for the neck and install that and then drill the holes for the trem and then try and align the trem by fitting the two E strings and getting it all straight before drilling the trem holes? Or should I install the tremolo first then try and align the neck to the tremolo using the string method? Another way I heard you can do it ( but didn’t find a video) is to install the tremolo and then find the centre point of the tremolo and use a laser to align the neck by running the laser through the centre point of the tremolo and through the centre of the dot inlays on the neck. This last way seems the most precise to me.
Also for positioning the tremolo distance from the neck, I’m assuming the best way is to put all the saddles halfway between their maximum and minimum position and make sure the length from nut to saddles is exactly 25.5 inches. That would then give the maximum range of adjustment of the saddles in either direction.
Finally, does anyone have any tips for drilling the 2 holes in the back compartment to attach the tremolo’s spring claw? They cannot be drilled completely straight because you have to have the drill bit at an angle. I was just thinking of using a long drill bit to reduce the angle as much as possible.
P.s. I just added a photo of the body as it has 6 pre drilled holes which I guess are for a different type of tremolo. I don’t know if they can be used as a guide for where to drill the 2 holes for the bushings.
I have never built an electric guitar, only acoustic, but I attach the neck first, at least temporarily. The variance on the tilt of the neck has a much greater effect on how it lines up with the guitar because of the length. I would use the holes for the tremolo to help line up the neck correctly. Run a straight edge along each side of the neck to see how it lines up with the existing holes to make it as centered as possible.
That’s about the extent of advise I can give. Good Luck!
I agree that starting with the saddles halfway between max & min makes sense.
Reading your post I think you are going in the right direction, I always take my time at this point you can not rush and always remember pleasing to the eye of course it still has to be right but don’t overthink it these few points have to be clear in your mind before we even start, the neck has to go on and this should not be to difficult mark the drill bit with tape so you know your depth they are pilot holes so get them right not to big but not to small that it makes it hard for the screws to tight they can snap if you think they are tight stop, take them out make the pilot hole a little bigger, use a bit gasoline on the screws or candle wax all these hints help cheers Hec
Here are some photos firstly of all the pieces, then just the bushings and then the tremolo block from all angles.
Also I can’t work out why there are 2 holes at the bottom of the bushings. The only thing I can think of is that you could hook something in there to pull them out again if necessary.
So here is a picture of one of my guitars you can see easily what those six pilot holes are for so you already have a reference by using them to find the centre position, ie the middle of the two inner holes will not be far from the middle of the neck and indeed the strings but always check do not just assume, and it would be wise to make sure the new Trem covers those holes they may need filling in and made invisible, i hope this helps just shout out if you need anything cheers Hec
That’s right but the bridge he has is a 2-point vibrato bridge so I’d think he needs to figure out the correct location to drill from scratch as the diameters are a bit different.
I’d get the trem set before worrying about the neck. Lightly clamp the neck in position, then face the trem unit up into the cavity and see where the scale length sits. That row of pilot holes are for a classic, six point trem … but (assuming they’re drilled correctly) will give you a straight reference for the correct orientation of the unit. As mentioned, though … the two outer holes may just encroach into the area you need to drill for the trem posts. You may get away with it, you may have to fill before drilling.
Don’t drill them freehand … either use a press, or at the very least a quality drill guide. You won’t get many chances to get it right. Measure everything ten times over so you’re sure.
Once your trem unit is mounted, slipping on a couple of old high and low E strings with the neck clamped lightly in its pocket is perfect for nudging the neck into position and checking the alignment aganst both sides of the neck. Once the neck is exactly where you want it, tighten your clamp up so it doesn’t move, check one last time everything is aligned, then mark out for drilling.
A tip for that … Wood drill bits have a flat cutting profile, with a little guide spike at the tip. Find one that matches the diameter of the holes in the body (or close enough) and slip that down into them. They centre more easily than an awl, or the neck screws. Once you’re happy, set the end of the bit and give it a little tap, then a little turn … just by hand. That will leave you a nice, clear little mark for drilling. Rinse and repeat for the other three.
Again … When you come to drill the neck … At the very least, use a drill guide; preferably a drill press.
That’s right but as Simon is saying as well it is giving him something to work from, this is some good advice from both but you still have to be careful these are pre-built it is a lot harder making them from scratch, at least you have something to help you, anyway good luck Hec
