The "SG"

Don O said:
Thoughts on how to remove a 3mm broken off screw? One of the pick guards screws was really deteriorated.
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First off...congratulations on owning a fine piece of 1970’s SG history! Like I said earlier, it is a real milestone.

As for the broken screw, let me offer an alternate idea. My concern with easy-outs and other extraction techniques - especially for something so small - is that it will be very easy for tools to slip and gouge out some surrounding wood in the process, possibly making things worse.

Since the screw is a non-structural piece here, there is the option of just leaving it and calling it Mojo.

Of course, this approach all depends on how OCD you are about these things. I can be, so I realize I’m throwing out an idea I possibly wouldn’t do, myself.

But, it would be a shame for the wood to be gouged out even further in the process.

Just a thought.
 
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Im in the Smitty Camp---and would do just that----
I have a Dean Sarasota with a neck screw the head "popped off" been months now----effects nothing---guitar plays and sounds excellent.....it was not purchased as new or pristine-- so---my thinking is why risk MAJOR damage to the neck pocket when its working fine ...........
 
I can appreciate where you guys are coming from in relation to the broken screw. It certainly won't hurt anything, but I am OCD and it would bug me...I've successfully extracted such things on several guitars, IMHO anyways, and I believe Don will be successful if he is patient.

Previous experience playing the game "Operation" may also be helpful...
 
I saw Angus playing a side-jack, Norlin-era SG in natural wood finish, back around 1980, IIRC. I didn't know all the variations back then but it struck me because it was so different....
 
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MY --- only concern--- would be the accidental maring,scratching,damaging of the lovely nut---walnut that is---IMHO the pickguard will be fine with the other screws.....sometimes NOT fixing something is better than an accident drill "skidder" across the face of a lovely SG........just saying----

Now Don appears to be a very precision fellow---- and it maybe fine in his skilled hands......me.....Id SCREW it up (see what I did there??) lol I kill me .......

no really --- its not hurting anything --- id leave it.
 
Thanks for the concern guys. I’m going to take a piece of some thin stock wood and drill a hole just a little bigger than the broken screw and use that as the guitar wood protector on top of the broken screw and do surgery through the hole. Being 1 of 7 kids, we had lots of games, and Operation was one of them :LOL:

Of course, if I can’t extract it, I’ll cut the head off a new screw and glue it into the pick guard. OCD.
 
Don O said:
Thanks for the concern guys. I’m going to take a piece of some thin stock wood and drill a hole just a little bigger than the broken screw and use that as the guitar wood protector on top of the broken screw and do surgery through the hole. Being 1 of 7 kids, we had lots of games, and Operation was one of them :LOL:

Of course, if I can’t extract it, I’ll cut the head off a new screw and glue it into the pick guard. OCD.
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A little patience, and sensibility, will see you through...I’m sure.
 
Don O said:
Thanks for the concern guys. I’m going to take a piece of some thin stock wood and drill a hole just a little bigger than the broken screw and use that as the guitar wood protector on top of the broken screw and do surgery through the hole. Being 1 of 7 kids, we had lots of games, and Operation was one of them :LOL:

Of course, if I can’t extract it, I’ll cut the head off a new screw and glue it into the pick guard. OCD.
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Sounds like a plan!

Take pics of the process.
 
Don O said:
Of course, if I can’t extract it, I’ll cut the head off a new screw
and glue it into the pick guard. OCD.
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That's what I would do... cures the OCD illusion without damaging the instrument.

Anyway, congratulations on finding and buying a fine old SG. Norlin SGs were bad mouthed by Gibson bashers for
a long time, most of that flak was bull-taco. Your '79 is a fine example of the phoniness of all that negativity, then
as now. I want one too...

This one is a very desirable instrument IMHO, and you paid a fair price, especially since you got an original case with
it. Guitar collectors and old-instrument aficionados drool over the concept of finding an affordable "under the bed special'
owned by an ignorant person who never played it or modded it.

Finding a real one and paying a fair price gives you something to be proud of. If I swindled an old widow by getting a
very low price on a guitar like this, it would bother my conscience. So you did good.

I too am a fan of this model. The walnut body and ebony neck is very attractive to my eye, and the T-top pickup coupled
with the Velvet Brick is also very attractive to my ear. I'd love to have one with its original harmonica bridge unmodded...
Mod fever was sweeping the country then, and too many guys just had to rip their Norlin guitars apart to install what ever
was fashionable at that time... like the bad-ass bridge etc. So it looks like you got a good one.

Set that puppy up properly, and then we'll want a complete review.
With lots more of your great photos.
 
Well Col, I got a lot to learn on doing a setup. I’m think this bridge should not be so low sided. My LP is nearly parallel to the body.

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Here’s some tuner clean up pics. Notice the screw slots. OCD on them too. Maybe TIM but every outlet and light switch plate in my house has the screw slot facing up. :celebrate:

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Judging from the windings on the string trees---and that bridge placement ---Im guessing the P.O. was trying to fix a problem he may not have fully understood?
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Have you got that on there backwards? Just noting the string notches...which can play a part in the need for a little tilt by the way.:cheers:
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Which way are they supposed to go? Slant towards the stop tail or the neck?

OK, just checked the LP. Slant towards the stop tail.
 
eSGEe said:
Judging from the windings on the string trees---and that bridge placement ---Im guessing the P.O. was trying to fix a problem he may not have fully understood?
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Yeah...I would venture that the adjustment screws would be facing the pickup for better access.
 
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