String Tree

[Crusoe]

Today, I took the strings off my bass to check the pickups. After restringing, I left the bass and when I came back a few hours later, the tree had popped off. It won't screw back on as the hole is too big in the headstock now. Would wood filler work to fix this or would slightly bigger screw be better?

[PaulThePlug]

Pic would help...

Cocktail stick cut flush as packing... then use the same screw?

Edited April 8, 2021 by PaulThePlug

[Roger2611]

As @PaulThePlug suggested, cocktail stick cut flush and use the same screw, I have lost count of how many cocktail sticks have been used in my basses!

[Crusoe]

I tried a cocktail stick, but it was too narrow. A kebab skewer was just the right size though. I've just fitted it and am waiting for the glue to dry before trying to refit the tree. Thanks for your suggestions. 

[Hellzero]

Matches do the trick too and are (were ?) made out of alder.

[Nail Soup]

14 minutes ago, Crusoe said:

I tried a cocktail stick, but it was too narrow. A kebab skewer was just the right size though. I've just fitted it and am waiting for the glue to dry before trying to refit the tree. Thanks for your suggestions. 

I don’t think that the stick of wood has to fill the hole, just narrow it down sufficiently. And it doesn’t need glue normally, just the additional pressure/friction from the stick.

[Dad3353]

A drop of wood glue won't hurt, though. 

[Crusoe]

It seems to have worked treat. Got it screwed on, tuned up and it was grand. Even the intonation was nigh on perfect. The skewer was bamboo BTW.

[pfretrock]

4 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Matches do the trick too and are (were ?) made out of alder.

So is (was) gunpowder.  No real connexion!

String trees were invented so Leo could get more necks out of a plank.

[Nail Soup]

4 hours ago, pfretrock said:

String trees were invented so Leo could get more necks out of a plank.

So the tree saved trees?