Strap button fix

[Bigman61]

Just noticed my strap button on the upper bass side of the guitar is loose. As in i can wiggle it. The screw hole is somehoe enlarged. My wife said to use a molly. Didnt sound right.
What is the best way to fix. Dont really just want to move it and put another screw hole in the guitat

 

[Brad Little]

I'd insert a small hardwood dowel with some Titebond in the existing hole. After the glue sets, drill a pilot hole using a bit that is smaller than the screw diameter. A round wooden toothpick could do it, too, they're generally made from hard wood.

 

[chazmo]

On the upper bass side, so there's a wood receiver block on the inside of the soundbox, right? That's what you're screwing the pin into, so that absolutely must be snug or you're going to end up splintering something.

Brad's is probably a better fix, but just try removing the pin then put a wood toothpick in there and screw it back in.

No, no molly bolt! The pin shouldn't be going all the way through the wood block is it?!?!

 

[SFIV1967]

The OP didn't say what type of guitar he is talking about...Could be a solidbody or a acoustic. And it also depends on a solidbody what type of wood, a swamp ash body is quite diffrent from a mahogany body in terms of how easy you destroy the wood with a screw. But in both cases it is the same procedure as Brad already mentioned.
Ralf

 

[Brad Little]

....

Brad's is probably a better fix, but just try removing the pin then put a wood toothpick in there and screw it back in.

Yeah, I've often just used a toothpick or dowel without the glue for similar problems, glue just makes it a little more permanent.

 

[GAD]

I'd insert a small hardwood dowel with some Titebond in the existing hole. After the glue sets, drill a pilot hole using a bit that is smaller than the screw diameter. A round wooden toothpick could do it, too, they're generally made from hard wood.

If it's an electric, this is the way and I've done it multiple times. For an acoustic I'm not so sure.

 

[adorshki]

On the upper bass side, so there's a wood receiver block on the inside of the soundbox, right? That's what you're screwing the pin into, so that absolutely must be snug or you're going to end up splintering something.

Absolutely, if it's a flattop, needs to have the reinforcing block on the inside. Actually would expect same on a hollow or semi-hollow electric, but don't recall ever hearing about that problem on one of those.