How to fit the threaded insert neck kit

Fitting instructions

The images and text below show you how easy it is to install my neck kits. If you’d rather I did it for you I’m happy to do so and you can contact me here.

You can buy my neck kits here.

Drilling the holes

Measure the depth of hole required by fitting the neck plate and screws to the body. The length of screw protruding into the neck pocket tells you how deep you’ll need to drill.

Strictly, you should use a 6.9mm drill for an M8 hole but I find that a 7mm drill works fine. Apply masking tape to your drill to act as a depth stop. I’m using a pillar drill (drill press) here which is highly recommended. It’s possible to do the job with a hand drill if you take care to ensure that you drill vertically down.

It’s absolutely critical to drill in the correct places, and perpendicular to the neck heel. Use the existing screw holes as a guide. If there are no screw holes (i.e. it is a new neck) then mark through the body holes with a scribe or sharp nail first. If the holes are in the wrong place, then plug them and re-drill.

Drill four holes to the depth marked by your masking tape. Keep checking that they are in the correct place by comparing to the neck plate.

You should have four neat holes like this.

Installing the threaded inserts

Using a M8 x 1.25mm pitch taper tap, cut the threads in the holes. There is no need to use a second cut or a plug tap as these will open the holes too wide. You want the inserts to be nice and tight and they will cut the rest. Be sure to stop when the tap hits the bottom of the hole. If you carry on turning you will strip the threads that you’ve just cut.

This picture shows the threads cut in the wood.

You can install the inserts with a screwdriver like this. Alternatively you can (i) put a short M4 bolt in the insert or (ii) lock an M4 nut onto one of the machine screws, and use a spanner.

Here are the four inserts in place. Make sure that they are level with or just below the level of the neck. If they are proud of the neck base you will not get a good fit of neck and body.

Attach the neck to the guitar. I recommend inserting in the machine screws with fingers first to check that everything is aligned before tightening fully.