Sold 3 pan head slot HB1 height adjustment screws #4-40 x 1 1/8"

[DThomasC]

I can get stainless 4-40 pan head screws at Ace Hardware. The shape of the head isn't exactly the same as original, but it's close enough for me. What I don't like is that the stainless seems too shiny and isn't quite the right color.

 

[wdboland]

Ralf, I just found that site this morning. I think I am going to order a bag. -Wayne

 

[wdboland]

Now that the silver tone screw problem is solved. What about gold screws. I guess you could plate the steel ones, or find brass screws and polish them. Options?

-Wayne

 

[SFIV1967]

Now that the silver tone screw problem is solved. What about gold screws. I guess you could plate the steel ones, or find brass screws and polish them. Options?
-Wayne

Well, the silver tone screw problem is not yet solved (except from a pure technical point of view) as I (and a few others) are after something that looks as original as possible regarding the screw head. So we first have to wait and see how they all look like, with the screws GAD, you and me ordered from 3 different sources we have a good base to compare them.
I don't think the problem exists the same way with golden screws as they are much less used and you hardly see them for sale without those screws I would think. GAD might be better suited to answer this.
Ralf

 

[Bonneville88]

One of the awesome things about McMaster is you can download models
of hardware that plug right into 3D programs - I've found their drawings to be
remarkably accurate. Here's a screen shot of the screw viewed as a 3D pdf - pretty cool!

 

[SFIV1967]

Here's a screen shot of the screw viewed as a 3D pdf - pretty cool!

Agreed! But still, the difference with the head seems to be there. Actually the smaller screws I have look like the McMaster head. Their head is all domed and not flat for the most part. Only original photographs next to each other will tell. Let's see and wait!
Ralf

 

[GAD]

Got them today. Pics:

I think they look pretty good, but they're not quite right. I think like most of the replacements I've tried they're just not pan-headed enough and that the finish of them isn't quite the same. I will say that if you replaced all three that only the sharpest-eyed Guild fan would notice.

From more than about a foot away and/or if you're not looking for it, you'd likely never notice that they weren't right.

 

[Bonneville88]

So in the first photo - original screw is on the left, replacement is on the right?

 

[SFIV1967]

I think they look pretty good, but they're not quite right. I think like most of the replacements I've tried they're just not pan-headed enough and that the finish of them isn't quite the same.

Pretty obvious from the picture.
The replacement screws you got are made from Stainless Steel according to their page. But their finish looks pretty dull. Maybe they need a bit of polishing?
And the slot looks not cut clean as the picture on ebay (below) suggested already, and on ebay the top looked flatter than it seems to be in reality and in reality the slot looks even worse than on the ebay picture.

Clearly the original (left) looks different (much better to me).

Is the head diameter the same on both? Looks like.

I'm almost sure the original screws are Chrome plated.

The screws from UK are on it's way, I will report how they look!

Ralf

 

[Stuball48]

If you know a machinist or even hobby machinist, get them to put nine or ten 4-40 nuts on your imperfect screw--chuck it into the lathe and make it to your satisfaction. An easy fix. Take some fine Emory paper and polish.

 

[GAD]

The goal is to buy a bag of 100 for $8, not to do real work.

 

[Stuball48]

The goal is to buy a bag of 100 for $8, not to do real work.

LOL understood

 

[GAD]

Thinking about this I think there are three problems:

1: modern pan heads are different than vintage pan heads. Why? No idea.

2: modern quality doesn’t touch vintage quality when talking about mass production.

3: we don’t know what the originals were made of or coated with.

We need a machine screw expert. That’s gotta be a thing, right?

I would be willing to fund getting a pile of these made along with some vintage correct switch tips but I don’t know where to start.

 

[Nuuska]

Next thing - you guys are putting LEGO bricks under your guitar cable . . .

 

[SFIV1967]

Let's wait for the screws I will get from UK, it will take a few days to receive them.
Ralf

 

[poa77]

hi ralf, i have to say, looking at GAD's pics the head size of his looks slightly bigger and closer to original than mine but that may just be the angle but see what you think when mine get to you? as GAD mentions, with 3 on a pickup you'd never even notice as they look pretty close, it's only side by side (and if you're looking closely) that you can notice much difference.....but there is a difference! i was just thrilled to actually figure out the right thread, pitch and length that worked so i could reinstall some HB-1s on my S100 again.

the ones i have for sale are definitely slightly smaller but that's all the company could supply when i asked about head size. i guessed it was because they just start with a blank and thread it up as required and that the modern blank is slightly smaller - maybe even metric- compared to the original Guild ones? BTW, obvious question maybe but when did they actually stop using this size and style of screw and are modern Guild ones different (i assume they must be)?

i've attached a pic of one i put on my M-85 bass to show them side by side and another to show six on a surround. the original screws look chrome plated to me as you mention and these are just stainless steel so that's another difference (but at least they should stay shiny!!!).

one last thing, if you can actually source a "perfect replica" i'd be up for buying a few, though i'm happy with the ones i found so far.

 

[DThomasC]

Jeesh. I understand wanting to look original, but the original was fairly arbitrary to begin with. By that I mean they used screws that were available at the time. It's not as though the spec'ed out a very specific size and finish and would settle for nothing else. They used what was available. They might have selected what they like the best from several sources, but it was just what was available.

The new screws that you guys are finding are so close that I would happily replace all three with new and never look back. But that's just me. I do appreciate your looking for the closest match you can find... OTOH, if anyone contracts a machine shop to create reproductions, I'll shake my head. Reproductions of the pickup selector switch knobs I could see, but these screws would be going too far in my very unhumble opinion.

 

[Bonneville88]

I hear you - but I have to confess to being among the fastener-obsessed in my life and work... have
gone down some deep rabbit holes trying to get hardware to look EXACTLY right

 

[Default]

Apropos of nothing, but my Maverick has exactly three (3) metric machine screws holding the chassis in. Metric? In 1970?

 

[DThomasC]

I hear you - but I have to confess to being among the fastener-obsessed in my life and work... have
gone down some deep rabbit holes trying to get hardware to look EXACTLY right

Yeah, I get it. I was just offering the opinion that nobody asked for because it made me feel good to share it. Thanks for listening!

Apropos of nothing, but my Maverick has exactly three (3) metric machine screws holding the chassis in. Metric? In 1970?

Ford Maverick?