mystery screw from Zumsteel

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 8:45 am

In my haste to get an answer late last night I combined two questions in the Electronics section which I really should have split in to two posts (my bad). I'm going to repeat the question that's relevant to the Pedal Steel section.
Pulled out my Zum single double which Bruce made for me around 2011-2012. (excellent Steel!) Need to reacquaint myself with it as its been sitting under the bed for around four years. I cleaned it, lubricated, set it up, looked down on the floor, and there was the world's tiniest black screw. Examined the undercarriage with a flashlight but couldn't find where it might go. Doesn't seem to affect playability but I'm tearing my hair out on this one and Bruce is of course long retired. Anyway, if it jogs the memory of any Zum owner that would be a good thing. I've attached a photo of the tiny black Phillips head screw next to a dime. Thanks for any and all help.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Aug 2019 9:53 am

Guess you forgot to attach the pic Ronald? Nothing here.

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 10:04 am

Thought I did Jerry! I'll try again, picture is "Tiny Zum Screw", Let me know if it doesn't show.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Aug 2019 10:22 am

Yeah, I see the pic now, but I can't help with it's purpose. Anything that small would likely be a pedal stop adjustment screw or some such, but they're of the internal hex style normally.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 30 Aug 2019 12:40 pm

Ronald, before you tear all of your remaining hair out, consider the possibility that it may be nothing at all to do with your guitar and that it may have just fallen in there at some point. It looks as though it could have come from a piece of electronics - it's the kind of thing that might hold a stomp box together.

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 1:28 pm

Hi Ian, I'm a prolific vacuumer and I keep all my electronics in the living room. I worked on the Zum in the bedroom, so I Don't think so.

Tim Kowalski · Post by **Tim Kowalski** » 30 Aug 2019 1:29 pm

Maybe it is from somewhere on top of the guitar?
You say that you have looked at the underside.

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 1:32 pm

Only thing to look at are the top tuners Tim. But I will take a look at the side tuners.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Aug 2019 1:55 pm

Possibility ? (although I never seen one come loose by itself) is from the underside of the pickup mounting plate.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Aug 2019 2:03 pm

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 2:11 pm

I'll take a look Jon, although those on the pickup plate in your photo look like hex screws.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Aug 2019 2:23 pm

?? Why would I post a picture of hex screws??
I'm talking about the phillips screws.

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 30 Aug 2019 2:41 pm

My mistake Jon. As the pic I posted was a black screw and the hex screws in your photo are black. Nevertheless I just checked and posted a pic of my Zum pickup. All tight on top and inacessible on the bottom unless I tear it apart.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Aug 2019 2:49 pm

Yeah. Unfortunately the screws I'm referencing are on the underside of the pickup, attaching the mounting plate to the pickup body. It does happen to be that both pups pictured here are in fact BL's.

I'm not advocating for this, as I consider it unlikely that one of these just worked itself loose, but they popped into my head as being some of the smallest phillips head screws I'd ever seen when I was once messing with a mounting plate.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 30 Aug 2019 11:21 pm

Ron,
Let's have a look at the other end of the screw, to see if it's been broken or not.

If it's broken off, the other bit is still in the steel, somewhere

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 31 Aug 2019 12:11 am

Not broken Richard, absolutely clean. See attached photo.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 31 Aug 2019 2:43 am

I wouldn't get too worried about it... Its too small a screw to fasten anything structurally.
A possibility is that it may have been hitching a ride since day one on the underside of the pickup someplace, and doesn't even belong on the guitar... bob

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 31 Aug 2019 5:29 am

And, chances are that it wouldn't be only that one screw of that type. If I couldn't find another like it on the guitar, I would believe it didn't come from the guitar.

Ronald Ballister · Post by **Ronald Ballister** » 31 Aug 2019 5:35 am

You may be right Richard, can't seem to find another one and so far doesn't seem to affect playability (I hope).

Gary Watkins · Post by **Gary Watkins** » 31 Aug 2019 6:38 am

I've always heard that steel guitar players had a loose screw. Maybe you just found yours, LOL.

Joe Krumel · Post by **Joe Krumel** » 31 Aug 2019 7:14 am

Heres another possibility. I retired from Gibson guitar in final assembly. handled p/ups all day. Many times random screws on the bench magnetically hitch a ride during the process. They can magically appear later on.A slim chance I know,but possible.

Gary Watkins · Post by **Gary Watkins** » 31 Aug 2019 8:15 am

Ronald Ballister wrote:Hi Ian, I'm a prolific vacuumer and I keep all my electronics in the living room. I worked on the Zum in the bedroom, so I Don't think so.

Maybe it came from the vacuum.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 31 Aug 2019 12:33 pm

Look upon it as a small piece of debris that happens to be a screw.

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