Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Standard about a month and a half ago, and the top screw for the strap is stripped. Screw came out while I was playing it, almost dropped the damn guitar, then I'd have been really fucked. Of course, I didn't get the warranty, fucking idiot that I am, and the 30 day return is already up? >:(. I went back to the store and they told me to put a matchstick or a toothpick into the hole and screw it back in. Now that might work and be all well and good, but I just paid $600 for this guitar, and fixing it with toothpicks and matchsticks just seems.....incredibly pathetic. Is there anything else I can do? Is there maybe a shop I can take it to, something they can do, anything? Also, my friend mentioned something about strap locks (I think that's what he called them), are they worth buying?

strap locks are totally worth it. ON my epiphone the same exact thing happened and i went and got straplocks and the thing never came out again. PLus u have the benefit of beng able to jump around and stuff while playin and not worry about a thing  : ok:

I bought strap locks for my strat and the screws that came with them were smaller than the original, hence forth the hole in guitar was too big and the screws came out like a week later.  make sure that the teeth on the screw are pretty fresh, and make sure the hole isnt bigger than the screw, if it is get yourself some wood filler(the stuff carpenters use to cover up nail holes) and use the toothpick that the so-called expert gave you and shove some of that filler in the hole in the guitar.  let it sit for a few seconds so its about halfway hardened and then put the screw in, that should keep everything together pretty good.  you could problly use wood glue if you dont filler.  but i'd stick with the filler for the best results

You don't need filler or glue.

Use matchsticks but slice them to fit the hole, they work fine.

If the hole is stripped you might have to use the toothpick method regardless. The strap button hole on the butt-end of my 59 Reissue was too big for the straplocks. So I had to use the toothpick method on a $4000 guitar, big deal. Better that than it falling onto the floor while I'm playing. I also prefer the Schaller straplocks to others, just make sure the nuts are tight every once in a while. Mine have never come loose but I've heard stories about that happening.

Straplocks don't stop screws from coming out of wood, they stop the strap from coming off the strap pin.  Toothpicks is the best way.  Adding some wood glue would probably be a good idea, just to be on the safe side.

If you really want to be sure, you could completely fill the hole with toothpicks and glue, and then re-drill...but that's not really necessary.

Well, I finally got around to fixing it. Used the toothpicks and it seems to have worked great, hasn't fallen out yet lol :nervous:. All I gotta do now is get some strap locks...Thanks everyone.? :peace:

I need to buy straplocks too one day. Sometimes my guitar almost falls to the ground because of the bad strap I have  >:(