Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

[lefty6string]

Hello all. NUB here to the forum.

I have a couple of tele pickups that I am trying to mount in a pickgaurd and one screw fits but the other fall through the hole. I have tried 2 different SD pickups and both do the same thing? Does SM not ship the correct screws?

Very frustrated.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

There are different sizes of screws for different brands of pups. Make sure you are using the correct screws.

If you are sure that you have the correct size screw for the pup but the screw is still loose, then the hole in the pup must be stripped. There are several ways to correct that problem:
1) Scrap the pup and buy a new one (this would be Goober's recommendation),
2) Use a larger screw for the loose hole (the simplest and cheapest fix),
3) Solder the proper size nut to the base plate below the loose hole (nearly as simple and cheap as #2),
4) Solder a piece of tin or thin steel to the bottom of the base plate under the loose hole, drill it, and tap it to the correct thread size.

 

[lefty6string]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Let me give a few more details: These are brand new Seymour Duncan pickups and I am trying to use the screws included in the package. One screw works and the other is too small for the mounting hole. Looks like there 2 different sized holes which make NO SENSE.

I have tried 2 different SD NEW pickups with the same result.

Soldering to the back of the pickup cannot be done as these are Tele P/Us.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Sorry, I somehow missed that about being Tele pups. But if they are brand new bought from an authorized SD dealer, contact SD customer service and arrange for a replacement.

But something doesn't sound right if you've had this same problem with 2 different SD pups. Over the past decade, I've purchased dozens of SD pups and have NEVER had that problem with any of them. And I've been on this forum for 10 years and don't recall anyone ever having that problem with new SD pups.

You are the common link here. Either you are doing something very wrong, or you are an extremely unlucky person and just coincidentally received the only 2 defective pups SD has made. (Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but not very much). Definitely give customer service a call.

 

[beaubrummels]

Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Just a sanity check: you've used two new pickups and you opened up the new screws in the new pickups so you are not reusing the first set of screws? Is the one that doesn't fit always on the same side of the pickup? (Meaning the pickup cover/plate was consistently made incorrectly). Or was it truly one of the two screws always the wrong thread size?

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Is it possible to post a photo of the pickup and the screws? Something is wrong but it is hard to tell what without seeing them.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Definitely, something is wrong. It just doesn't make reasonable sense.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Post a photo here, and I can see if I can get you some help on this issue. This shouldn't be happening.

 

[lefty6string]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

I contacted customer service. Perhaps I also should have mentioned that I am trying to mount the PU to the pickgaurd. The screws included with the pickups are meant to be mounted to the BODY, like the original Teles. The pickups are not intended to have holes that are threaded for pickgaurd mounting. I will attempt to get it mounted tonight. Will keep you posted and include pics as well.

 

[lefty6string]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

It is possible to mount the pickup through the pickgaurd to the body but the screws included are too short. Need about another 1/4 inch. The only other solution is the epoxy a nut to the back of the pickup and use a machine screw.
Thoughts?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

Oh I get it now...I was confused as to what was going on. Let us know what solution you come up with.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

It is possible to mount the pickup through the pickgaurd to the body but the screws included are too short. Need about another 1/4 inch. The only other solution is the epoxy a nut to the back of the pickup and use a machine screw.
Thoughts?

Pics? With pics come thoughts.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

I think epoxy, nuts, and machine screws would work just fine for what you are looking to do

 

[SJ318]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

GuitarDoc,
Your post #2 are the fixes I had to make up on the road when I was 19 or so.
So nice to see them in print. Especially #3 & #4.
I mounted an extra nut next to a good threaded HBucker leg so I had 2 mounting screws on 1 side so they would keep the proper slope and follow the string angle. Then I found bent screws. I know, I'm so proud. ha!
Steve Buffington

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Pickup Screws Not Fitting??

There are different sizes of screws for different brands of pups. Make sure you are using the correct screws.

If you are sure that you have the correct size screw for the pup but the screw is still loose, then the hole in the pup must be stripped. There are several ways to correct that problem:
1) Scrap the pup and buy a new one (this would be Goober's recommendation),
2) Use a larger screw for the loose hole (the simplest and cheapest fix),
3) Solder the proper size nut to the base plate below the loose hole (nearly as simple and cheap as #2),
4) Solder a piece of tin or thin steel to the bottom of the base plate under the loose hole, drill it, and tap it to the correct thread size.

Great advice here!