On, man! That's easy! Just press down on the pickup so more of the screw is exposed and use a pair of needle nose pliers, or small vice grips to get it out. I'd have that out in 5 minutes without using any other more complicated method.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Welcome to TalkBass! Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Pickup screw head stripped. Tips for removal?
- Thread starter crucislancer
- Start date
On, man! That's easy! Just press down on the pickup so more of the screw is exposed and use a pair of needle nose pliers, or small vice grips to get it out. I'd have that out in 5 minutes without using any other more complicated method.
That's such an obvious answer..... wish I'd thought of it.
Wouldn't work if the pickup is bottomed out though.
I'll give that a try when I have a chance. Thanks! And thanks for everyone's suggestions as well
Reviving this as I unfortunately got a stuck screw cause the screw head is stripped
Anyway to get it out? The pickup is all the way at the bottom so I got no space to grip it with a piler
Anyway to get it out? The pickup is all the way at the bottom so I got no space to grip it with a piler
Attachments
Last edited:
Own a Dremel? I’ve used the cut-off wheel to slot the screw head but that’s not always practical working in tight spaces. In these instances, I’ve been able to “etch” the head with a micro-burr attaining enough depth to accommodate a precision FH screwdriver. Tedious but it works. Another trick is to heat that stubborn little SOB with a soldering iron to free it up.
Riis
Yeah, no it wouldn't. If you have a fuzzy image of a fuzzy picture, using glasses can only give you a clear image of a fuzzy picture.
Yeah, photos would have been helpful.
If it's P or J pickup, you might be able to push the pickup downward (because they rest on foam rubber) which will expose the top section of the screw and then use some mini vise grips or pliers to twist it out.
Another option if it's a P or J pickup, push the pickup downward, use some long sharp wire snips/pliers and cut off the head of the screw. This will allow you to remove the whole pickup and then you can easily use mini vise grips or pliers to remove the screw.
Kind of difficult to explain this with words.
I don’t have one at 67 years old…
Don't remind me...turn 65 in three weeks. Got the Dremel but the other fell off months ago.
Riis
Maybe a neighbor has a soldering implement? When you heat the screw, it expands, compresses the surrounding wood thread, and loosens any extraneous crap which has infiltrated the connection. You may be able to remove the screw via conventional means. This is the simplest / safest / least obtrusive way to address the issue. If ineffective, we move on to plan B.
Riis
I'm surprised that in 32 responses nobody has mentioned the most obvious solution: Buy a new bass!
The Dremel is in the top shelf of the garage, behind several cans of wood putty, one of which gave up the ghost--and its solvent--quite some time ago.
I'd try removing it with a new Phillps bit, chucked in my impact driver. This is a one-shot, Hail Mary deal; if the screw didn't back out, the head will be buggered, and we must attempt some of the other solutions brought out here.
Here's your huckleberry. If you twist off the head you can get your pickup out of the way then grab the screw near where it enters the wood and worry it out. Put some wax on the threads of your replacement screw(s).
Irwin Vise-Grip 4 in. Alloy Steel Long Nose Locking Pliers - Ace Hardware
Irwin Vise-Grip 4 in. Alloy Steel Long Nose Locking Pliers - Ace Hardware
looks like i made a fuzz out of nothing
successfully removed the screw with a big screwdriver as the screw head wasnt totally stripped and a bigger screwdriver worked
successfully removed the screw with a big screwdriver as the screw head wasnt totally stripped and a bigger screwdriver worked