Fender Steels - Screws & Scale Lengths

John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 27 May 2000 7:50 am

Howdy Folks, I do mechanical & restore work on old steels.
First Item: I'm looking for a source of these fasteners. **All Nickel or Chrome Plated (Stainless as a last option)**
1). #3 -wood screw, oval head, Phillips, x 1/2" - qty. 100 - or min order.
2). #5 -wood screw, oval head, Phillips, x 3/4" - qty. 300 "
3). #5 -wood screw, oval head, Phillips x 1" - qty. 300 "
I've tried the yellow pages, the internet, Thomson Register, Stewart-MacDonald, Garrett-Wade and the closest I came was with Hillman Fasteners, who supplies Ace Hardware. Ace has the #5's x 3/4", except they are slot heads, which I have used for other steels, but Fenders used mostly the Phillips head. Also, I realize I may have to get brass ones, if available, and have 'em plated. But, Fender used steel ones. Any help here is appreciated.

Second item: The earlier steels- Deluxes, Duals & Customs, that I've come across have been pretty consistently at the 22 1/2 " length. A couple of times one of the trapezoidal pickups would be off at an angle for up to a 1/16 to 1/8" length difference. They do have some fit allowance in the plate so the pickup can be adjusted. On Stringmasters, I've seen more variance, nearly all over length, up to 1/4". To get the 24 1/2" length on these the bridge bar needs to be right on the rear edge of the raised ribs (or nibs, whatever) coined in the pickup plate.
Questions: Should the scale lengths be set at the 22 1/2" & 24 1/2" straight across the strings, or some other lengths and/or angles?? Mucho thanks, John Hanusch

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Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 27 May 2000 11:21 am

I'd try calling Fender for the screws.I know they don't make those guitars anymore,but something tells me that they probably used the same few screws on virtually EVERYTHING they manufactured.On my Stringmaster,I've got C6 and E13 on there right now and when I initially set it up,scale/length wise,I just got out the tuner and fooled with the overall length to get the root notes in tune at the 12th fret.Then I fooled with the angle until the 1st and 8th string were both right.After that,if there is a particular string that won't get with the program,I'll fool with string guages on that string till it averages out.I had the most trouble on E13.I just checked,and the bridge is damn near all the way back touching the blender pot shaft and angled so the low strings are slightly longer.BTW,on tunings that have a little string somewhere in the middle or at the bottom like Marty Rifkin's A6 or Joaquin's C6Maj7/A7 - those tunings will work best on a 26" scale Stringmaster because the longer scale minimizes the discrepencies that can't be tuned out of those tunings. -MJ-

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 27 May 2000 2:38 pm

John,
You could try www.allparts.com , they have everything imaginable for guitar parts. Unfortunately they probably only sell the screws by the dozen, but maybe they can get you the larger quantities. I've talked to them on the phone and they're real nice.

John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 28 May 2000 7:03 am

Thanks, Michael & Chris...
I'll give those suggested sources a try. I think I tried Fender about a year ago, but can't remember (If you're young, you might not understand). Michael, I should have figured out that 12th fret method to set the length, anyway, thanks again to both of you and any other(s) input is appreciated...jh

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Troy Cody · Post by **Troy Cody** » 28 May 2000 9:38 am

HI John For the screws you can try EAGLE SALES CO. INC. 1340 Farmville Rd. Memphis TN. 38122 PH.(901)458-6133 FAX (901)458-4144. They are listed on page 71 in there catalog. You will have to polish the head for they are not chrome plated. If I can help with anything else send me an E-mail.

Troy

Slim Lattimer · Post by **Slim Lattimer** » 28 May 2000 12:02 pm

John, The following are some excellent sources for screws etc.. Be sure to ask for the free catalogs from Louis and Company and from McMaster Carr. The former has everything for the woodworker and the later has everthing under the sun. Ask Louis and Company for the phone number to their Arizona locations so you can save on the freight costs.

LOUIS & CO. (800) 422-4389
MCMASTER CARR (310) 692-5911

Additional sources;
A PLUS FASTENERS (310) 538-6692

ATLAS BOLT (714) 965-5300

MUDGE FASTENERS (800) 634-0406

ZAL FASTENERS (213) 262-0259

John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 29 May 2000 9:09 am

Howdy, Troy and Slim... Thanks for the input. I'll give these sources a try and report back. Hope to see you guys again in St. Louis at the big one. Later...jh

Troy Cody · Post by **Troy Cody** » 29 May 2000 9:23 am

John at this time it look as if I willbe there SAT. SUN. If plan A stays in effect.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Troy Cody on 29 May 2000 at 09:22 PM.]</p></FONT>

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 30 May 2000 8:30 am

xxssaa

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 2 Jun 2000 11:01 am

I had this same problem about a year ago. Searched all over the internet, then called Fender. They did not have any of the original screws but referred me to the company that manufactured all of their hardware in the fifties. I think they were Acme, or Ajax. Whatever the name was, I called them and they no longer carried the exact screw either. The head was either too small or too large, not phillips or not stainless. They referred me to other companies they thought could help.

I checked them all along with guitar and amp repair places. THEY ARE NOT AVAILIABLE!!!!

Check all you want, I'm sure you'll come to the same conclusion I did. The only chance is to find some small shop that just happens to have some NOS parts lying around. Or do as I did, buy another guitar and use it for the parts in better shape than yours. Trade the parts and sell the lesser of the two. Worked for me.

Email me please if you find a definite source.

bill johnson · Post by **bill johnson** » 2 Jun 2000 11:43 am

Hi John,
Your problem sparked an interest for me. So I just did a fast and dirty web search on "Dogpile" for "screws custum" and got about 5k leads! Ilooked in about 5 of them (Trying to pick smaller operations) and all seemed to say "tell us what you want & what you want it made from and we'll make it for you. No job /order too small."
Give it a try. You might be suprised.

What made me think of this was back when I was a kid our next door neighbor made his living as a chemist but paid for his house by running a screw machine in his basement. Making custom screws for peaple all over the world. Small lot orders that the big machine shops didn't want to bother with.
Anyway happy hunting.
bill

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John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 3 Jun 2000 9:28 am

Thanks for all the input, guys. As for as the screws, it's kinda like memphislim suggests, most of the leads are turning up zilch. However, a few are still pending. Slim, your lead to Mudge Fstners has allowed me to corner the world's market/supply on the #5 x 1" Ni plated ones. The Stringmasters used these for the pickup plate. I haven't received them yet, but a place in MI (via Mudge) had 3100 & would only sell the whole lot, so I went for it. At least we'll have a good supply of these now. I'll keep you'll posted on future results. jh

John Hanusch · Post by **John Hanusch** » 9 Jun 2000 8:16 am

Well, back to square one or rather zero as for as these screws. The one source for the #5 x 1" screws, the place that had 4100, couldn't find them. The custom shops do have minimum order criteria and reasonably so, but these quantities are just too small. Now, if any of you happen to have contacts with one of these shops, please, let me know.
I still haven't heard back from Fender, but suspect it'll be as Mike & memphislim have noted. So, mucho gracias to all respondents, keep this in mind if you might run across any in the future. Thanks, again...jh