Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

S

steve9199

New member
Hey troops... I picked up the aforementioned Tele Stack neck pickup on C.L., and after installation I noticed that the threads on the bottom plate for pickup height adjustment on one side were stripped out. Is there an easy way to repair them, or will it require replacing the entire bottom plate?

Thanks in advance...

Steve
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

The holes in the baseplate might never have had screw threads cut into them. Vintage-style mounting requires the wood screws to pass through the baseplate holes unimpeded then bite into the body at the bottom of the cavity.
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

Funkfingers said:
The holes in the baseplate might never have had screw threads cut into them. Vintage-style mounting requires the wood screws to pass through the baseplate holes unimpeded then bite into the body at the bottom of the cavity.
Click to expand...

The bottom plate on the bass side adjusts just fine, and it does appear to be threaded (don't feel like taking the pickguard off again just to check....LOL!) but it feels like the treble side has stripped threads. I tweaked it up to a fairly good spot, but if I try and adjust that side, the screw just spins in place. I'm wondering if I should replace the screws with a machine screw of some sort, and epoxy a nut on the underside.

The stock screws are not quite long enough to reach the wood, so the vintage style mounting won't work at the moment.

...did I forget to mention that this is the NECK pickup, and not the bridge?
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

sometimes a twist tie wire through the hole allows enough material for the screw to "bite." Ghetto? Yes. Works? Yes.
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

steve9199 said:
I'm wondering if I should replace the screws with a machine screw of some sort, and epoxy a nut on the underside.
Click to expand...

Is this a plastic or fiberboard bobbin? I think you can form sufficient threads with epoxy and the screw you want to use. Just use plenty of oil or pam cooking spray on the screw. You can also use a piece of wire to form a pilot hole, fill up the hole the rest of the way and redrill to the appropriate size.

I tried the epoxy a nut routine before with a hum bucker - popped off. Soldering worked there (used a brass nut).

The twist tie seems like a good possible quick fix too.
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

OK...that gives me a couple of ways to go. Epoxy to fill in the stripped screw hole, wire tie, glue on a nut, or just screw the dang thing into the wood.

....I'm just so glad this isn't some "Vintage" Tele I'm working on....LOL! Thanks for the tips!!

Steve
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

There are a few good suggestions above.
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

I am having this same problem today. My original MIM Tele neck pickup screws are too small in diameter for the Vintage Stack neck pickup screw holes. What the heck size does Duncan use? Are the holes even threaded? I need new screws and bolts and a trip to the hardware store?

SOLUTION:

I used the twist tie approach and it worked pretty well, it was quick and simple. I used a single gold twist tie from a gift bag because it was the thinnest gauge I had. I inserted it in the whole and cut the excess and used it for the other side too. I used the springs that came with the 2018 MIM Telecaster Standard that were used to attach the stock pickup to the pick-guard. I think I used humbucker screws I had in my parts box. I put a bit of foam under the neck side of the pickup to make it protrude at a straight 90 degree angle up, because it was slightly off angle at first.


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Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

Awesome! I am happy it worked for you!
 
Re: Repair of a Vintage Stack Tele neck Humbucker.

I forgot to mention how great the Vintage Stack sounds in the Tele neck position. It's humbucker like in tone but not as bass heavy. And it has perhaps has more clarity, less muddy somehow than a humbucker ; definitely more clarity than the stock Fender MIM Standard Tele neck pu. It works very well combined with the Fender '62 (re-issue) Custom Hot bridge pu I also installed. So it maintains the look of a classic Tele neck pu but brings the tone of a humbucker with added clarity.
 
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