Pickup ring screw is stuck!

[fingerace]

I was trying to take out the pickups so I can wax pot them. I got the bridge pup out without a problem, but I can't take the neck pup out.



That little screw is stuck in there. I can't turn it. I used those little silver colored screwdrivers.

I didn't want to destroy the screw so I didn't force it with that screwdriver. Of course while I was trying to unscrew it, the skrewdriver slipped and turned in the screw's teeth a couple of times before I though it was enough...

So what should I do to get that sucker out?
I would really appreciate your help on this one fellas!

Thanks

[C-Martin]

the screw doesnt turn? if its just screwed in tight just place the screw driver corectly on the screw and perfectly straight verticaly, with one hand place your palm (or thumb if its a real small screw driver) and aply force downwards while you turn the driver with your other hand. This might sound dumb but it often works better than using just 1 hand to unscrew a tight screw. if its realy tight try to go slow by turning the screw just 1/4 at a time to prevent from striping it, until its lose enough to completly unscrew it.

[D-EJ915]

yeah, use your one hand to smash down on the rotating-end thingy and then take a wrench and grip the shaft and turn it that way.

[fingerace]

The screw doesn't turn! I did that...
I even used both hands to unscrew, but even without the screwdriver slipping and twisting the screw won't move one bit! I applied force downwards and turned the screw driver really hard, but nothing...

Edit: the wrench might help!

btw My father came in the room at the time and said: "Let's just get some WD40!" I wouldn't even think of putting that liquid close to the guitar wood!

[C-Martin]

lol i wouldt try wd40 either...

the wrench is good to if your driver is hexed or has a place to grip it


where you the one who installed that pickup in the first place? was it hard to screw in? since its a les paul and thats a maple top its possible the screw was forced in and maple is hard.. you'll get that screw out but you might have to destroy it and get a new one....

try a powerdrill, place the back of the guitar flat on a table (just the back.. since the neck is angled leave it off the edge) and press down hard while you do small burst with the drill set slow but with high torque, just be careful not to slip :P

[fingerace]

I bought the guitar from ebay. It's a '78 greco. I have no idea if the pups were (re)changed but they are the stock Greco ones. Maybe the neck pup was left on there for 28 years!

So I should try to eat away the screw (and possibly enlarging the hole in the wood) ?

[C-Martin]

So I should try to eat away the screw (and possibly enlarging the hole in the wood) ?

no.. eating the screw wont help, but you might have to force that screw out.. since its not you that installed that pup then it could be possible that the hole was striped and he tried to fill it in with some putty or glew or epoxy or whatever so the screw might be glued in tight... many things could have hapened to the screw... but when a screw gets stuborn and all else fails i call my friend the vise-grip and he will pry anything out of anything :P

tho i dont suggest the vise-grip since you could probably break the screw in and that wont make things easier.. im not sure what other advise to give you to pull that thing out other than force now with what you mentioned.. unless you have a dremel and alot of patience and try a small vise grip...

and i doubt a screw stuck in the wood for 28 years would do anything btw...

[fingerace]

thanks 54'strat... I ll try those and see what happens...

[Skarekrough]

I'd be more inclined to use something like a drill with a screw bit on it. The drill's likely to be able to give you a better option for weight onto the screw and more downward force with the drill is likely to break it free.

If you find that the head of the screw gets all chewed up then you're looking at some new mounting rings. I'd take a Dremel and cut away the existing ring and cut through the head of the screw. From there it's all about getting a nice solid connection with some Vise Grips and backing the screw out.

Go slow....

[fingerace]

The problem is that I can't find a small enough screw bit for the drill.

Thanks anyway Skarekrough... I ll try and find one in a DIY shop...

[metlking]

I've had luck with stuck screws like that by heating them a little with the tip of a soldering iron. Let it heat and cool a few times and try to turn it. Not too much heat though as you'll melt the pickup ring.........

[C-Martin]

I've had luck with stuck screws like that by heating them a little with the tip of a soldering iron. Let it heat and cool a few times and try to turn it. Not too much heat though as you'll melt the pickup ring.........

this might also work, i can see how this might make the screw expand/contract a little and it might be enough to set it loose enough..

and yea.. thats why i said to try a drill, you get a better grip and weight of the tool itself gives a good solid way to make sure you dont slip of and strip the screw, tho like i said go slow and do small bursts til the screw is loose enough to unscrew completly, just be careful not to slip :P

if all fails like i siad... dremel and the vise will fix it with some patience...

[C-Martin]

just tought about it but they also sell screw removing kits... its basicly a screw driver with a reverse cuting edge that will "bite" on the screw and you get a better grip on it so you can torque it out..

[fingerace]

I got it out today! I found a screwdriver with a longer shaft and better and thicker grip. I pushed really hard and managed to get that screw out! I potted the pups, put them back in, but I haven't tested for the outcome yet!

[Zerberus]

The problem is that I can't find a small enough screw bit for the drill....

I broke the hex ends off a set of jewelers screwdrivers so that I can just chuck them in my drill

LOL, and of course I´m too late as usual