chewed up pup screws how to remove?

[pal1972]

just got my hands on a new bass but the pup screws are all schewed up and i want hem out to replacethem! tried pressing really hard with a screwdriver but just keeps turning and chewing them up even more!!! any ideas how to get them out?

[budget bassist]

If you can, try and push the pickup down as far as you can, and then grip the head with a pair of mole grips or pliers and get plenty of leverage on it, but try not to scratch the pickup casing like i did. Might easier if you get someone else to hold the pickup down.

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='pal1972' post='800382' date='Apr 8 2010, 11:28 PM']just got my hands on a new bass but the pup screws are all schewed up and i want hem out to replacethem! tried pressing really hard with a screwdriver but just keeps turning and chewing them up even more!!! any ideas how to get them out?[/quote]

If the heads are raised, see if you can get a pair of pliers to grip & tweak them round, it'll take an age, but they should go.

Alternatively... They're more than likely quite soft as screws go, so try this...

Find a narrow electronics/jewellers' screwdriver with a FLAT blade that's just a tad smaller than what remains of the crosspoint slot in the screw. Put it in position, give it a tap with something to get it to bite, & apply pressure whilst turning to keep it engaged.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to get the Dremel out & drill/grind the heads off, then take the pickups out & ferret the screw stubs out with pliers.

If you end up drilling 'em out, stick some tape over the poles of the p/ups to stop all the shrapnel sticking to them.

Pete.

[Musicman69]

or just burn it out, Hendrix style..

sorry just gettin my coat*

ps.. if its easily accessible you can cut a groove for a flat blade screwdriver with a junior hacksaw.
Good luck with it.

[MoonBassAlpha]

or cut a groove in the head with a Dremel disc cutter. Wear eye protection as they can break quite easily and unexpectedly.

[Al Heeley]

One more method while you're at it - soldering iron on the head of the screw. the screw gets hot and expands just a little, when it cools a bit it can be easier to unscrew. I'd just grab the head with pliers and start twisting.

[MoonBassAlpha]

I wouldn't do that^ if there's any plastic about. That could get messy!

[Al Heeley]

Good point, works well for old Cortina sump plugs though.....

[geoffbyrne]

The last time this happened to me I nipped the heads off the screws, removed the pups & clamped a small mole grip on the shafts of the screws - as said above, took a long time, but came out.

G.

[pal1972]

sorted! thanks guys, fortunately there was just enough space to push the pups right down and get hold of the screws with a pair of long nosed pliers, and 5 minutes later new screws fitted!! plus some additional foam under pups so icould adjust hight better!