Brian May Red Special Guitar Fixings and Fasteners

Below is a fixings and fasteners schedule which should be a useful guide for anyone planning, or actively engaged in a Brian May Red Special replica guitar build. Some of the sizes are estimated from the x-ray images and are provided on an advisory basis. I believe that all the original fixings are MILD STEEL not stainless steel since stainless fasteners would not have been readily available in the early 1960s, although I used stainless steel fasteners in my Brian May Red Special replica build for longevity. Solid brass fasteners are as indicated. It should go without saying but drill the correct diameter pilot holes for all screws, especially into hardwood.

Body Section Fixing Screws: #6 x 1 1/4″ countersunk slotted wood screws (9 off). Nearest metric equivalent M3.5 X 30 mm
Small Oak Insert Mounting Screws: #6 x 1 1/4″ countersunk slotted wood screws (2 off). Nearest metric equivalent M3.5 X 30 mm
Neck Tenon Mounting Screws: #12 x 1 3/8″ to achieve 1 1/4″ (2 off). Nearest metric equivalent M5.5 x 35 mm
Neck to Body Securing Bolt: 5/16″ x 1 1/2″ (1 off). Nearest metric equivalent M8 x 40 mm
Knife Edge Plate Mounting Fasteners:
- 10 x 1 1/4″, countersunk slotted wood screws (3 off)
- 2BA or 3/16″ BSF x 1 1/2″ countersunk slotted bolts. (2 off)
- 31/32″ (24.6 mm) penny washers (2 off)
Tremolo Set Screws: Slotted hex head self-colour mild steel fully threaded set screws (1/4″ UNF thread, 2 3/4″ long)
Tremolo Arm Hardware
- 3/16″ diameter threaded bar
- Three wide, thin (1/32″) washers, two steel, one brass. M5 (5.3 x 12.5 x 1.0 mm) is the nearest metric equivalent
- 3/16″ thread hexagon half/lock/thin nut
- 3/16″ thread dome head brass nut
Pickguard Mounting Screws: Gibson #3 raised head countersunk Phillips nickel finish (6 off)
Strap Button Mounting Screws: #4 x 1 1/4″ raised head countersunk Phillips nickel finish (2 off)
Tremolo Cavity Semicircular Cover Plate Mounting Screw: 6BA x 1/2″ brass slotted raised countersunk machine screw BS57. [Note that a hex nut is visible underneath the screw mount in one or two of the 1998 Fryer restoration photographs]
Truss Rod Cover Mounting Screw: #2 x 3/8″ brass dome head wood screw (1 off)
Switch Frame Mounting Screws:
- Top: #4 x 3/8″ or 1/2″ countersunk slotted wood screws (2 off)
- Inner shelf: #4 x 3/8″ or 1/2″ round head slotted wood screws (2 off)
Jeanrenaud DPDT Switch Mounting Screws: 7/64″ x 5/16″ countersunk slotted machine screws (12 off). Nearest metric equivalent M2.5 x 8 mm machine screw. Recommend Nyloc nuts]
Potentiometer/Capacitor Plate Mounting Screw: #4 x 3/8″ or 1/2″ round head slotted wood screw (1 off)
Polarity Posts: 6BA x 7/16″ brass threaded rod sections (6 off). [Likely just a brass machine screw with the head hacksawed off]
Roller Bridge Mounting Screws: 6BA x 1/2″ cheese head machine screws (6 off)
Roller Bridge Securing Nuts: 6BA x 1/4″ brass Hank rivet nuts