Much interest in good replacements for coverplate screws ?
Jan 31, 2023 17:54:22 GMT
radiodog and bonzo like this
Post by snakehips on Jan 31, 2023 17:54:22 GMT
Hi there !
Who would buy good replacement coverplate screws ??
I've been in discussions with a manufacturer of screws to see how feasible (ie. cost !) it would be to have coverplate screws made to as near as I can get them to vintage National guitar spec.
So far, I have found out that National used 2 main type of screws for their coverplates :
Up to circa 1933 or so (perhaps on all/most 12-fret neck guitars) they used #3-48 sheet-metal screws - with parallel sides and a flat end. Lots of threads per inch.
Some time after 1933, on 14-fret Nationals, they switched to self-tapping screws - with a pointed end and far fewer threads per inch.
The screws seem to mostly be made from nickel-plated brass.
Brass is soft, so the more times a National guitar was opened up, especially done with too much force, and a screw-driver with too thin a tip, the slot in the brass screw would get chewed up, look awful and even have sharp ends that could lacerate your wrist while playing.
Screws could fall out & be lost too.
A well known US company that supplies tools & parts for guitars sell "coverplate screws" but if the picture they use is a true representation of what they sell, then they are no use for vintage National guitars. To buy one of their sets of 12 screws & post to the UK, it will cost circa £20 (the screws plus P&P). And will they fit or even look right ??
I have sourced some new 3-48 screws, with a slotted head, in stainless steel - they fit BUT they don't look right - the colour and size of the head means they don't have the right look as replacement screws.
NRP and other brands use Philips-head screws - and the head is far too tall. IMHO - they just don't look nice.
I have found that the 3-48 screw thread is correct for 12-fret Nationals but also some NRP metal guitars too (eg. they are a perfect fit for my 2009 Style 1.5 Tricone).
I don't know what other NRP models use the same screw.
The screws also fit nicely on the MM Fiddle-Edge guitar.
Perhaps MM could chime in - if his other guitar models use the same screws (& screw-thread) or not ??
Anyway, I found I can order screws to as close a copy as vintage National coverplate screws as I can get to - much flatter dome head, slotted, and with the same 3-48 thread, IN nickel-plated brass.
The problem is, to make it financially viable, I'd have to order at least 2000 of 'em !
So,.......
1. They will need to look a close enough match to make this worthwhile. So far, it looks like the ones I could custom order will be really good.
2. People could buy as many as they want (replace one or two lost screws ?) but maybe better with a new full set on a guitar - so they all match ?
3. Is there a market for this, at the end of the day ?? I'm not trying to make profit out of this BUT to do it, I'd need to cover the possibility I don't sell enough to break even.
To make it a risk worth taking, I reckon I'd need to sell packets of 10 coverplate screws for £20 plus £2 P&P.
I could do any multiples of 5 screw packs at £10 for 5, and P&P would still be £2, no matter how many packs of 5 were ordered.
WHO would be interested in the screws ENOUGH to pay that ? ?
(if we go on the basis that they look good enough to blend in fantastically on vintage Nationals, and make NRP and MM guitars look more authentic)
Was just wondering !!
Who would buy good replacement coverplate screws ??
I've been in discussions with a manufacturer of screws to see how feasible (ie. cost !) it would be to have coverplate screws made to as near as I can get them to vintage National guitar spec.
So far, I have found out that National used 2 main type of screws for their coverplates :
Up to circa 1933 or so (perhaps on all/most 12-fret neck guitars) they used #3-48 sheet-metal screws - with parallel sides and a flat end. Lots of threads per inch.
Some time after 1933, on 14-fret Nationals, they switched to self-tapping screws - with a pointed end and far fewer threads per inch.
The screws seem to mostly be made from nickel-plated brass.
Brass is soft, so the more times a National guitar was opened up, especially done with too much force, and a screw-driver with too thin a tip, the slot in the brass screw would get chewed up, look awful and even have sharp ends that could lacerate your wrist while playing.
Screws could fall out & be lost too.
A well known US company that supplies tools & parts for guitars sell "coverplate screws" but if the picture they use is a true representation of what they sell, then they are no use for vintage National guitars. To buy one of their sets of 12 screws & post to the UK, it will cost circa £20 (the screws plus P&P). And will they fit or even look right ??
I have sourced some new 3-48 screws, with a slotted head, in stainless steel - they fit BUT they don't look right - the colour and size of the head means they don't have the right look as replacement screws.
NRP and other brands use Philips-head screws - and the head is far too tall. IMHO - they just don't look nice.
I have found that the 3-48 screw thread is correct for 12-fret Nationals but also some NRP metal guitars too (eg. they are a perfect fit for my 2009 Style 1.5 Tricone).
I don't know what other NRP models use the same screw.
The screws also fit nicely on the MM Fiddle-Edge guitar.
Perhaps MM could chime in - if his other guitar models use the same screws (& screw-thread) or not ??
Anyway, I found I can order screws to as close a copy as vintage National coverplate screws as I can get to - much flatter dome head, slotted, and with the same 3-48 thread, IN nickel-plated brass.
The problem is, to make it financially viable, I'd have to order at least 2000 of 'em !
So,.......
1. They will need to look a close enough match to make this worthwhile. So far, it looks like the ones I could custom order will be really good.
2. People could buy as many as they want (replace one or two lost screws ?) but maybe better with a new full set on a guitar - so they all match ?
3. Is there a market for this, at the end of the day ?? I'm not trying to make profit out of this BUT to do it, I'd need to cover the possibility I don't sell enough to break even.
To make it a risk worth taking, I reckon I'd need to sell packets of 10 coverplate screws for £20 plus £2 P&P.
I could do any multiples of 5 screw packs at £10 for 5, and P&P would still be £2, no matter how many packs of 5 were ordered.
WHO would be interested in the screws ENOUGH to pay that ? ?
(if we go on the basis that they look good enough to blend in fantastically on vintage Nationals, and make NRP and MM guitars look more authentic)
Was just wondering !!
