SSL 5 tapped

[Herby]

I have a 5 year old SSL5 with tap. I want to change the pickup cover from white to black. The cover does 'not' want to come off. I'm afraid if I pry any harder I'll break the cover and possibly ruin the pickup.
I've never had this problem before with a SC pickup. It appears as though the cover is glued on. Does anyone know how to remove it without breaking something?

[edit]
If it can't be removed, has anyone tried coloring the covers? If so, what procedure would you use?

 

[jeremy]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

the cover should come off, not sure why it would be stuck on that tight. did you buy it new?

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

Maybe at some point, wax melted and stuck to the cover somehow...I am not sure. Perhaps some *slight* heat from a hair dryer might loosen it. This happened to me before, and that is how I did it.

 

[Herby]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

Yes, I got it new.
It's stuck really good. Feels like it's glued on.
I slightly deformed the cover at the base trying to pry it off. I stopped prying when I noticed it was happening. I'll try the heat on it and see what happens. Thanks.

 

[Herby]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

I heated the pickup cover with a hair dryer on low. Eventually it started to give. I gently pried on it until I got the cover off... Some 'idiot' siliconed the the cover onto the pickup at the factory. The silicone had leaked down onto the wires and I broke some wires while pulling the cover off. Ruined the pickup. Thanks a lot Seymour Duncan.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

Silicone? I wonder if it was wax. I'd contact SD directly and ask if they can help. The number and email is at the bottom of the homepage. Usually these covers come right off unless they changed how they do it (which I am not aware of).

 

[Herby]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

The glue was a clear rubber cement or silicone type. Definitely not wax. It leaked down between the pickup wires and the cover and leached into the wires. Heating it up caused the glue to become softer but not soft enough to release from the wires. I inspected the wires and there were 6 broken around the outside. The pickup was about 5 years old. Other than giving me a new pickup I don't see how SD can help with this. I seriously doubt they will give me a new pickup after 5 years.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

They may be able to unwind several turns and add a new output wire. You can do this too, if you trust your ability to work on tiny wires.

 

[AlexR]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

The silicone is quite unusual......not had than on the ssl 5 I got.

When you say new.....I'm wondering if maybe the pickup hadn't been part of the 21 day exchange policy.......and some previous owner had done that.

 

[Herby]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

SD offered me an RMA but it's been several days and I threw the pickup away thinking it was trashed so I no longer have it. Live and learn, but kudos to SD for offering an RMA after 5 years.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SSL 5 tapped

Oh man. I'm sorry..that sucks.