Stuck spinning screw in trus rod cover!

[parabassowner]

Hello everyone, any advice on removing the screw from the trus rod cover? It's an early 73 4001 and a beautiful looking bass so I don't wanna just "go at it". Any recommendations or just take it to a local luthier?

Also slightly off topic but would adding a replacement pick up cover add any value to it for resale down the road? The original was lost at some point.

Thanks in advance!!

[jps]

Have you removed the other two screws from the TRC? If so, you should be able to pull the TRC off, just be careful due to the "spinning" screw still on it. My guess is the hole is stripped out so the TRC should lift up okay (are the strings out of the way?).

The pickup cover probably does not add or detract to the value of the bass in today's market. Keep in mind the shape of the cover for your bass is quite different that what is currently available and how/where it is attached relative to the pickup's height adjustment springs. Current covers have the springs above the tabs on either side and it has thicker/taller sides to the cover, itself. Vintage covers are much thinner, looking at it from the side, and mounts right up against the underside of the pickup surround with the springs under the tabs.

[parabassowner]

Thank you Howard that’s safe advice re; TRC, I think I was being super cautious as to not cause any further damage. Tbf I’ve never used a double truss rod in the past, with that in mind I’m thinking the luthier option would be the safest route. The action is just a tad high.

I found a pup cover from the early seventies, it’s a bit on the pricey side so I’m wondering whether it’s worth it. The bass itself is 50+ y ears old, it’s got play wear so definitely not in ‘mint’ condition but pretty darn near given its age.

[jps]

Thank you Howard that’s safe advice re; TRC, I think I was being super cautious as to not cause any further damage. Tbf I’ve never used a double truss rod in the past, with that in mind I’m thinking the luthier option would be the safest route. The action is just a tad high.

I found a pup cover from the early seventies, it’s a bit on the pricey side so I’m wondering whether it’s worth it. The bass itself is 50+ y ears old, it’s got play wear so definitely not in ‘mint’ condition but pretty darn near given its age.

Who's Howard?

[Happyface]

Howard Hughes!

[jps]

Howard Hughes!

When I lived in L.A. a lot of my friends worked in many of the different divisions of what, at the time, was called Hughes Aircraft. It was "affectionately" called Uncle Howard.

[collin]

As Jeff said, remove the other two screws and lift the TRC gently. Should come right out.

For repairing the issue, squirt some wood glue in the hole and stick a small piece of a toothpick in the hole (flush with the top). When it’s dry, turn the screw back into the hole.

[Colnago]

Thank you Howard that’s safe advice re; TRC, I think I was being super cautious as to not cause any further damage. Tbf I’ve never used a double truss rod in the past, with that in mind I’m thinking the luthier option would be the safest route. The action is just a tad high.

I found a pup cover from the early seventies, it’s a bit on the pricey side so I’m wondering whether it’s worth it. The bass itself is 50+ y ears old, it’s got play wear so definitely not in ‘mint’ condition but pretty darn near given its age.

Why would you adjust the truss rods to take care of high action? Truss rods adjust the relief in the neck, sometimes called the bow of the neck. The bridge is typically what you would adjust to change the action. I can see the truss rods maybe helping action if the relief was really out of whack. Otherwise, yes, good call on taking it in.

[lumgimfong]

Action drift can also be an indication of neck relief moving outta spec. When this happens to me I check neck relief first to see if the truss rod needs a tweak back to spec. For me that’s .20mm Usually that’s what happened.

Happens to me early summer and early fall usually. Necks on my basses seem to move sometimes especially as the humidity in my house can be around 30%-70% depending on time of year.