Screws?

[SGT. Pepper]

Where can I get new battery cover and trussrod cover screws for my bass. I've called the company who makes the bass and they can't help me. Who could I go to?

[stillborn86]

LOWES.

[Jimbob Jones]

try this:

http://www.allparts.com/categories.p...GUARD%20SCREWS

Even though these are for pickguards, all the small screws on instruments are prettymuch identical.

[SGT. Pepper]

Thanks Guys.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by stillborn86

LOWES.

Unfortunately, most well equipped hardware stores do not have the specialty screws that are used in musical instrument manufacturing. Part of the problem is that they don't stock small oval head screws. If you can find the screws locally, then the finish isn't right. Guitar makers use chrome plated and nickel plated screws. Both are rarely found even at machine shop or tool supply specialty suppliers.

The best resources are Stewart-MacDonald and All Parts. Both can be accessed on line.

[ldervish]

Caution here SGT. Pepper, not that it's life or death, but IIRC the screws used on truss rod covers and battery compartment covers are MUCH smaller than those used on pickguards. You will not be happy if you use pickguard screws on those covers.

Have you tried asking at music stores in Philly? Surely there is one that carries small packets of hardware, or perhaps even has some screws stripped from a beyond-hope repair.

[202dy]

Thank you. These are the rewards of being a guitar nerd for almost forty years.

There are a couple of local fastener distributors in my neck of the woods. One is a rather large company called Fastenal. The other is named The Nut House. (Yeah, I know, but they're pretty good people and bend over backwards to try to get oddball stuff, like when I was looking for 8-12" carriage bolts in 1/4"-20 to make a bunch of spool clamps.) I've talked with the managers of both and asked them to do some research on pickguard screws in nickel, chrome, and black. I told them that I would take 10,000 of each. They couldn't find them, anywhere. Both companies said that these are specialty screws that are industry specific. They said that some industries use specialty screws that are not normally available to the average supplier. The same is true of humbucking pickup height adjustment screws (diameter and thread size, head, and slot), P/J pup height screws (chrome, round head), truss rod cover screws (color, plating). Even bridge mounting screws are tough to come by outside musical channels due to the plating.

[SGT. Pepper]

Originally Posted by ldervish

Caution here SGT. Pepper, not that it's life or death, but IIRC the screws used on truss rod covers and battery compartment covers are MUCH smaller than those used on pickguards. You will not be happy if you use pickguard screws on those covers.

Have you tried asking at music stores in Philly? Surely there is one that carries small packets of hardware, or perhaps even has some screws stripped from a beyond-hope repair.

I got a hold of the guy at Ibanez in charge of quality control. They are shipping me the screws out right away.