Kowad Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 A couple of years ago and in the very early days of my bassing I bought a Spector euro4 rst. Lovely bass in many ways, but it took me a while to gel with it. Within the gelling timeframe, a strap button just… fell out. Like the hole had been drilled / bored too wide (?!) I thought about all the sensible options for a fix and then, knowing nothing about basses and (I think) compulsively impatient to try it strapped with some new strings I…. glued it. I’m fairly mortified, with the benefit of hindsight. It was only a couple of months old. Factory problem. Fix would have been easy. If I hadn’t glued it. The felt button on the original strap lock is glued. Looking at it, you might not know it’s glued. I’d like to work out what next tho - ideally to put on some schallers, but tbh also to scrub out the deep stain of shame that lurks at the back of my conscience. Not averse to just taking it to a local luthier. Any thoughts welcome tho! I haven’t fiddled with it since gluing. It’s wood glued. I just sort of look at it. And feel lurking shame. cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy_r Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 32 minutes ago, Kowad said: A couple of years ago and in the very early days of my bassing I bought a Spector euro4 rst. Lovely bass in many ways, but it took me a while to gel with it. Within the gelling timeframe, a strap button just… fell out. Like the hole had been drilled / bored too wide (?!) I thought about all the sensible options for a fix and then, knowing nothing about basses and (I think) compulsively impatient to try it strapped with some new strings I…. glued it. I’m fairly mortified, with the benefit of hindsight. It was only a couple of months old. Factory problem. Fix would have been easy. If I hadn’t glued it. The felt button on the original strap lock is glued. Looking at it, you might not know it’s glued. I’d like to work out what next tho - ideally to put on some schallers, but tbh also to scrub out the deep stain of shame that lurks at the back of my conscience. Not averse to just taking it to a local luthier. Any thoughts welcome tho! I haven’t fiddled with it since gluing. It’s wood glued. I just sort of look at it. And feel lurking shame. ...received wisdom on reddit r/woodworking seems to suggest Heat and/or White Vinegar - and if it wasn't exterior type PVA, then a water-dampened pad pressed around the stud for some minutes might do the trick in loosening the glue too :- >> "The different ways to remove glue are thermally, chemically, or mechanically. The correct approach you ned to take depends on what what type of glue was used. ... If it is PVA, use can use heat to soften the glue. You can also soften it chemically with vinegar, but that can react with removal knifes and leave a stain. Use a iron on its lowest setting to gently heat up the piece until the glue reaches around 140-150 F, then the should separate easily with a pallet knife. (This procedure is similar to removing the bridge on an acoustic guitar.)" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 6 hours ago, sandy_r said: ...received wisdom on reddit r/woodworking seems to suggest Heat and/or White Vinegar - and if it wasn't exterior type PVA, then a water-dampened pad pressed around the stud for some minutes might do the trick in loosening the glue too :- >> "The different ways to remove glue are thermally, chemically, or mechanically. The correct approach you ned to take depends on what what type of glue was used. ... If it is PVA, use can use heat to soften the glue. You can also soften it chemically with vinegar, but that can react with removal knifes and leave a stain. Use an iron on its lowest setting to gently heat up the piece until the glue reaches around 140-150 F, then the should separate easily with a pallet knife. (This procedure is similar to removing the bridge on an acoustic guitar.)" Amazing. I have a heat gun which may work better than an iron! 😁 I suddenly have hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 7 hours ago, sandy_r said: ...received wisdom on reddit r/woodworking seems to suggest Heat and/or White Vinegar - and if it wasn't exterior type PVA, then a water-dampened pad pressed around the stud for some minutes might do the trick in loosening the glue too :- >> "The different ways to remove glue are thermally, chemically, or mechanically. The correct approach you ned to take depends on what what type of glue was used. ... If it is PVA, use can use heat to soften the glue. You can also soften it chemically with vinegar, but that can react with removal knifes and leave a stain. Use a iron on its lowest setting to gently heat up the piece until the glue reaches around 140-150 F, then the should separate easily with a pallet knife. (This procedure is similar to removing the bridge on an acoustic guitar.)" Yep white vinegar is very good, I've just removed a load of PVA from a DB neck joint. You do need to be patient and take your time 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy_r Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 (edited) 3 hours ago, Kowad said: Amazing. I have a heat gun which may work better than an iron! 😁 I suddenly have hope! I'd be very wary of using a heat gun - something like an iron can direct the heat, through the stud, directly to the glue, whereas a heat gun is going to spray heat all around the area (cracked finish?) If you haven't got an iron (or soldering iron, away from tip?) you may be better off using the Vinegar approach, if @Beedster has got good results with that? Edited February 19 by sandy_r 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 42 minutes ago, sandy_r said: I'd be very wary of using a heat gun - something like an iron can direct the heat, through the stud, directly to the glue, whereas a heat gun is going to spray heat all around the area (cracked finish?) If you haven't got an iron (or soldering iron, away from tip?) you may be better off using the Vinegar approach, if @Beedster has got good results with that? OK, amazing. Thank you. So heat the button - I was thinking this was for general area-based glue removal. I can't honestly say that I understand the nature of the finish (it's a Sienna stain, so presumably... well. Staining), but not wrecking it in the service of dewrecking it sounds sensible. 'To save the village we had to destroy it' etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 (edited) I’m utterly bemused. I’ve just set everything up to finally take a deep breath and have a go at this and… there’s no glue? I’m wondering what on earth happened here! Perhaps I got everything prepped then backed off?! And dreamed it?! Anyway. This looks like a problem solved - except maybe for the original problem; the too big button hole. Gonna attempt putting schaller s locks in, are there any cures for a too big hole? Many thanks for the input! Incredibly glad I haven’t destroyed this bass 😂 Edited February 19 by Kowad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Plug the hole with some suitable sized wood (cocktail stick?) glued into the hole. Wait for glue to dry then drill new pilot hole for screw. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Yup, cocktail sticks. Don't use matchsticks - wood's too soft. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 More glue? 😂 I’ve heard of this fix before tbf (ex had screw holes too screwed on her door handle). I’ll see how the schallers go and give it a shot if needed. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy_r Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 (edited) 1 hour ago, Kowad said: More glue? ...yep, more glue - as mentioned above, let it harden for at least half to 1 day before redrilling/screwing BTW pretty sure that when i was fixing straplocks on a couple of basses, the exposed screwthread in the kit was a good bit longer than that shown in your OP photo - possibly even a bit longer than the example below Edited February 19 by sandy_r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 49 minutes ago, sandy_r said: ...yep, more glue - as mentioned above, let it harden for at least half to 1 day before redrilling/screwing BTW pretty sure that when i was fixing straplocks on a couple of basses, the exposed screwthread in the kit was a good bit longer than that shown in your OP photo - possibly even a bit longer than the example below Blimey, yes. Side by side with another pair recently removed 👀 the s locks are in now, tbf they feel pretty secure, wonder if this was part of the problem! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 https://musicplayers.com/2012/04/vigier-excalibur-shawn-lane-master-signature-electric-guitar/ I know the text is about a g-word, but take a look at the strap button attachment picture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kowad Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 50 minutes ago, itu said: https://musicplayers.com/2012/04/vigier-excalibur-shawn-lane-master-signature-electric-guitar/ I know the text is about a g-word, but take a look at the strap button attachment picture. Ooo. that’s interesting but I don’t think (?!) is what’s happened here. The schallers went in flawlessly - and I’d expect there to have been some grip from the brass if it was in there. The originals were wobbly, and one of them really did feel as if it just hadn’t been drilled enough. I think I would have seen if a brass casing fell out 👀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Vigier is (was) probably the only one using this insert. I just put that here as an idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.