Engraved Truss Rod Cover

**Joey Anchors** · Aug-24-2019, 10:58am

Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton

It's not a stupid question. I tend to want to make my mandolins (and guitars) that are supposed to look like vintage instruments look like vintage instruments. Henry Phillips developed the Phillips head screw in the 30's. It took years before it was used in the stringed musical instrument industry on a large scale. I like that vintage look so I try to keep all of the screws I use on these instruments as slot heads. In the last two weeks I've been rebuilding a 1969 Japanese guitar model that I owned when I was 18. Not a single slot head screw on that one and I don't intend to change them.

Somewhere here there's a thread about my search for slot head screws to replace the screws on a set of Gotoh tuners. I like the way they look better with the slot head screws. Roger Siminoff sold a set with slot heads and hand burnishing for a premium years back. Waverly tuners come with slot head screws. They understand that market.

When I find new old stock nickel plated and brass screws that are round head with the slot drive I buy them. I keep a supply of the screws available from Stewmac on hand. I'm surprised I never changed the screws on the mandolin but next string change I will.

It's just about the look and nothing more.

Couldn’t agree more! There is just something about the looks of having all slot head screws.

**Mandoplumb** · Aug-25-2019, 5:19am

I would never have noticed slot or phillip screws but would have noticed that the cover is not originals. So a custom cover still looks vintage?

**Buck** · Aug-25-2019, 8:41am

Originally Posted by Mandoplumb

I would never have noticed slot or phillip screws but would have noticed that the cover is not originals. So a custom cover still looks vintage?

No, but it looks more "right" with slotted screws. Same with tuner screws. Having a long time focus on vintage instruments, certain things catch my eye. On guitars it's the proper bridge pin color and size for example. It's not about a new instrument looking old, as much as it having certain details fit the overall aesthetic. That's my perspective anyway.

**MikeEdgerton** · Aug-25-2019, 11:16am

And, many of the old instruments shown in the coffee table books have pearl truss rod covers and many are engraved. It's not something that just happened, it's been around for many decades. Page 129 of the of the Gruhn & Carter book Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments has a classic pearl truss rod cover shown.