Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

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Chuck Tweedy
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Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:25 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

I'm not hip to the do's and don'ts of electric guitar repair so, quick question.
I have a repair customer with a nice 1998 Fender Strat, and the screws on the MOTS pickguard and pups are really rusty.
My first instinct is to replace them, but then I though ... maybe that is forbidden.
Is it??

Thanks
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
Paul Breen
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Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Paul Breen »

My take is that if it is a working instrument, it needs to be kept reasonably serviceable and rusty screws don't help with that.

I do work for a guy and tease him about being Acid Man because his sweat can strip the lacquer off of a neck in one gig. Six months of gigging and anything that is not Stainless steel, is corroded beyond use. I have replaced as much of the fasteners as possible with Stainless steel. At the other end, I have a guy I do work for on occasion that complained of poor playability up the neck of his 90's Strat which I discovered to be caused from the end of the finger board going slightly uphill, it needed the frets leveled. He is a player but also a collector and declined the work because he felt the instrument would no longer be completely original.

Ultimately, it's up to your customer. One cannot predict the future of collect-ability, so you have to choose. Is she a case queen, or do I play and maintain it. I personally would have no compunction about going with a Stainless Steel screw swap out and never looking back.
David King
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Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by David King »

Just ask the owner and then put the old screws in a baggy in the case. I've gradually gotten used to rusty screws so that it doesn't bother me much now. I always replace the screws with stainless ones.
Chuck Tweedy
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Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

thanks guys - let's see if the customer has a preference...

glad i asked!
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
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Barry Daniels
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Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Barry Daniels »

Hard to imagine that anyone would have an emotional attachment to rusty screws.
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Chuck Tweedy
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Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

yea, that was certainly my thought - but i thought i'd ask.
ss screws are on their way here now.
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
Daryl Kosinski
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Location: Fultonville, NY

Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Daryl Kosinski »

They are SCREWS. Replace them, put the old ones in a envelope stick it in the case or in the trash. Now if they are 150 year old handmade screws that would be a different story.
Chuck Tweedy
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Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:25 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

ok ok i get it!!
jeez.
heck, i don't know what people are going to think has some mystical mojo. paul's customer wouldn't even let him dress the frets!
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
David King
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Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by David King »

Put the old screws up on Ebay and some nut will come along and pay $75 for them...
Jason Rodgers
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Re: Replace rusty screws on 1998 Strat ??

Post by Jason Rodgers »

David King wrote:Put the old screws up on Ebay and some nut will come along and pay $75 for them...
Psh, well, of course, that all depends on the alloy.

EDIT: :mrgreen: :lol:
-Ruining perfectly good wood, one day at a time.
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