Machine head holes question

lapua65

If you order a neck with 10mm machine head holes are they 10mm full depth or are they stepped? I have some Dimarzios that are 10mm for their entire length but most have a 10mm shaft that reduces to about 8mm with the threaded inserts. Just don't want to have them cant when under tension from the strings.

Andyjr1515

Generally, unless they are described as stepped, they will be straight 10mm holes.

Personally I think that, as long as the headboard thickness allows a reasonable number of turns before it gets tight, then the screwfit of the insert will hold things perfectly straight under normal string tensions.

ICBM

Almost all factory-made necks have the holes straight through. The machineheads don’t tilt if they’re clamped to the headstock with the threaded collar, that’s the whole point. You don’t even need to do them up that tight - the 10mm section of the tuner body is enough to hold it straight on its own.

I do always step the hole if I fit aftermarket 10mm tuners, but that’s as much to avoid any risk of chipping the front of the headstock as that it’s marginally better.