One of the pickup screws has a stripped out head, the screw can't be loosened at all. Does anyone have any tips for getting that screw out so I can replace it? Thanks in advance!
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Pickup screw head stripped. Tips for removal?
- Thread starter crucislancer
- Start date
Can't get pliers on the head? I just backed out a stripped pickup screw that way over the weekend, took a looooooooong time. They make stripped screw removers, but one, they mostly don't work very well in my experiences, and two, I don't think I've seen any small enough.
Got any pics? I'd like to see before I say the wrong stupid thing.
Yes, I do.
Notch the head with a Dremel cut-off wheel then remove with properly-sized FH screwdriver. Do protect the surrounding surfaces just in case it wants to "skip off" during the procedure. Use two hands for added stability.
You do own a Dremel, correct?
Riis
Without seeing a picture, this is probably the fastest and surest route fit getting it out without damage to the bass. As he said, tape up areas where it might skip and be careful making the notch. It will take longer to tape it up than to notch the screw head
Good luck
I'll try pliers next.
Not of the screw, but I'll snap one after I get settled in tonight.
Awesome idea! And no I don't have a Dremel LOL. But I might know someone that has one I can borrow.
Careful trying the pliers, easy to mess up and scratch things with them too. I wonder if there might be like some mini vice-grip like pliers out there for such things. But the dremel idea sounds good too. Not sure which is safer, only takes a small slip either way to really screw up.
This will sound ******** and I don't advise but it's stupid funny. Had a flush mount strap button on upper horn that was counter sunk. Screw stripped, tried everything cept going to buy a bit to extract. I got so mad I took a socket the same size and hammered it into the body, plugged the hole and put on a regular strap pin. It's there forever now ha!
If you have a drill and some bits you can drill the head off and slide the pickup off. Then use pliers to get the screw out. Done it a bunch of times.
...or run the drill in reverse and back the screw out. This is a variation on the ol' "remove the sheared screw from the headstock" theme. It's not for the faint-of-heart and you'd better have a steady hand. The cut-off wheel mounted on a flex drive cable is still my first choice...you have better control as it acts like a dental handset.
Rinse.
Riis
Little visegrips might do it, I even have little needle nose vicegrips too. Good old Harbor Freight has a small left hand drill bit set that takes out stuck fasteners pretty good.
I got a set of these Speed Out screw extractors a while back and despite my skepticism due to the low price (i think I paid about $5 on ebay) they actually work as advertised.
The teeth on pliers may be too big. Get a pair of side cutters and grip it good and tight, turning a little at a time. I've actually notched out a little divot in a pair of cutters, just for this type of thing.
I read somewhere (maybe on TalkBass?) about using a thick rubber band. Put it on the screw head, and push it down with the screwdriver. The rubber grips the stripped head, I guess. Haven't tried it, but worth a shot.
I also saw this. Never tried it. Just lay a rubber band over the stripped head, and press the phillip's screwdriver into the rubber band and turn. Might work.
I'll have to try the rubber band trick tonight, my co-worker (also a bass player) mentioned something similar.
Here's a pic of the screw:
My phone doesn't have a macro feature so that was the best I could do.
Here's a pic of the screw:
My phone doesn't have a macro feature so that was the best I could do.
