FAQ — Threaded Inserts for Guitars
Threaded inserts and machine screws are the professional way to attach a bolt-on guitar neck. Whether you’re fixing stripped screw holes, upgrading your Strat for better tone, or building a custom guitar from scratch — this FAQ has you covered.
We’ve put together these answers based on thousands of conversations with guitarists, luthiers, and builders from all around the world. Nearly 8,000 players on every continent trust Nectite inserts in their instruments. If your question isn’t answered here, get in touch — we’re always happy to help a fellow guitar nerd.
About Threaded Inserts & Nectite Products
A threaded insert is a small metal sleeve with external threads that cut into wood and internal threads that accept a machine screw. Once installed in the neck heel, the insert creates a permanent, reusable metal-to-metal connection between your guitar’s neck and body.
Traditional wood screws grip the wood fibers directly. Every time you remove and reattach the neck, those fibers get a little more torn up — eventually the screw holes strip out and the joint becomes loose. Threaded inserts eliminate this problem entirely.
Learn more about why threaded inserts are better for bolt-on guitars.
Wood screws have coarse, tapered threads designed to cut directly into wood. After repeated removal and reinstallation, the wood fibers they grip get torn and compressed — the joint becomes loose.
Machine screws with threaded inserts create a metal-on-metal connection that can be tightened, loosened, and retightened indefinitely without any wear on the wood.
Your Guitar Neck Is Held On by Hope (and Four Mediocre Screws)
Nectite threaded inserts are manufactured from zinc-plated carbon steel. Machine screws are available in multiple finishes: stainless steel, black, gold, nickel, relic, and hex-drive options.
Every Nectite set includes:
- 4 threaded inserts — sized for your guitar type
- 4 machine screws — in your chosen finish and length
- 1 free Nectite Mounting Tool — our proprietary installation tool
- Installation instructions — step-by-step with photos
We offer two thread sizes — M4 and M5 — in screw lengths of 40 mm and 45 mm. Finishes: Stainless Steel, Black, Hex-drive, Gold, Nickel, and Relic. Browse all options in our shop.
Compatibility & Sizing
Yes! Nectite inserts are designed to work with all bolt-on neck guitars — Fender, Squier, Ibanez, ESP, Schecter, Jackson, Yamaha, Cort, Harley Benton, and many more.
Absolutely. Fender-style guitars with a body thickness of about 28 mm at the neck pocket need the M4 × 45 mm kit. This applies to Fender USA, Fender Mexico, Fender Japan, Squier, and most Fender-licensed instruments.
Yes. Most Ibanez bolt-on guitars (RG, S, Jem, and others) use the M5 × 40 mm kit — specifically sized for Ibanez with the All Access Neck Joint (AANJ).
Yes — Nectite inserts are popular among bass players. Most Fender-style basses (Jazz Bass, Precision Bass) use the M4 × 40 mm kit.
- M4 (7.3 mm head) — Fender-style: Strats, Teles, Jazz Bass, P-Bass
- M5 (9 mm head) — Ibanez and many Asian-built instruments
Check the heads of your original screws. Chunky heads = M5. Smaller, more delicate heads = M4.
Measure the body thickness at the neck pocket:
- ~28 mm body → 45 mm screws (most Stratocasters)
- ~24 mm body → 40 mm screws (many basses, thinner bodies)
Yes, with extra care. Roasted maple is more brittle, so clean pilot holes are critical. Use a drill press if possible, go slowly, and thread the inserts gently. Threaded inserts are actually ideal for roasted maple — once installed, you’ll never have to re-drill that brittle wood again.
Installation
Not at all. Most customers find installation surprisingly straightforward. Every Nectite order includes a free mounting tool and clear instructions. Full walkthrough: How to Install Threaded Inserts in a Guitar Neck — Step by Step.
- A drill — drill press ideal, handheld power drill works fine
- Correct drill bit — 6.5 mm for M4, 8.5–9 mm for M5
- Nectite Mounting Tool — included free with every order
- Optional: countersink bit — for a clean bevelled edge
- M4 inserts → 6.5 mm drill bit
- M5 inserts → 8.5 mm drill bit (9 mm for roasted maple)
Yes. A handheld drill works fine — go slowly, keep the drill perpendicular, and double-check alignment before drilling. The Nectite Mounting Tool helps maintain alignment as you thread the insert in.
Absolutely — that’s the most common use case. Remove the neck, drill out the existing screw holes to the correct pilot size, thread in the inserts, and bolt everything back together. Guide: How to Fix Stripped Guitar Neck Screws.
Don’t force it. We’ll replace damaged screws and inserts free of charge — just cover shipping. Get in touch and we’ll sort you out.
Tone, Sustain & Performance
They won’t alter the fundamental character of your sound. What they will do is help you get the best possible tone by providing a rigid, stable neck-to-body connection — better energy transfer, improved clarity, and potentially fewer dead spots.
They can. A loose neck joint acts like a shock absorber — wasting vibrational energy and shortening sustain. Machine screws with threaded inserts provide a tighter, more consistent clamping force. The improvement is most noticeable on guitars with worn or stripped screw holes.
The joint’s tightness and coupling quality matter more than the specific method. A well-executed bolt-on with threaded inserts can rival a set-neck for sustain. To Glue or To Screw — That’s the Question!
Use Cases & Applications
Yes — this is the #1 reason people buy Nectite. Drill the stripped hole to the correct pilot size, thread in the insert, and you have a fresh metal connection that will never strip again. Full guide here.
Very much so. If you fly with your guitar and need to detach the neck, threaded inserts mean zero wear on the wood — no matter how many times you remove and reattach.
Yes. Loosen the machine screws, shift the neck, tighten — no wood wear, no degraded joint, repeat as many times as needed.
Indirectly, yes. Shim the pocket, adjust the heel angle, service the joint whenever needed — confident that the connection will be just as tight every time.
Definitely! Popular uses beyond neck joints:
- Pickguards and back plate covers
- Strap buttons
- Direct-mount pickups
- Tremolo spring covers
- Battery compartments
See our Mini Threaded Inserts for pickguards and covers.
Ordering & Shipping
Everywhere! Nectite ships worldwide — we’ve sent kits to customers on every continent.
Germany and EU: typically 2–5 business days. International (US, Canada, Australia): 5–14 business days depending on location and customs.
Nectite is a one-man operation based in Germany, run by a guitarist and builder with over 30 years of experience. Since 2020, nearly 8,000 guitarists worldwide have trusted Nectite inserts in their instruments.
We want you to be completely happy with your purchase. See our full return policy. If anything is wrong with your order, contact us — we’ll make it right.
Still Have Questions?
Whether it’s a tricky compatibility question, a custom sizing request, or just guitar talk — we’d love to hear from you.
You Might Also Find These Helpful
- How to Fix Stripped Guitar Neck Screws — The Permanent Solution
- How to Install Threaded Inserts in a Guitar Neck — Step by Step
- Your Guitar Neck Is Held On by Hope (and Four Mediocre Screws)
- Finally Revealed: Electric Guitars Don't Have Sustain!
- To Glue or To Screw — That's the Question!
- 3 Reasons Why Guitar Neck Screw Inserts Are Better for Bolt-On Guitars