Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: phillybill on May 31, 2007, 09:02:44 PM
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Anyone tell me what is the tool to remove
the chassis screws? Mine takes a special
tool - what is it and what size?
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It's an allen wrench on mine...not sure the size, but it's one of the standard ones, and English (not metric) if I remember correctly. I've got a little multi-size set from the hardware store and one of them fits it. It's a handy tool to have in your gig bag, and doesn't get lost as easily as an individual wrench.
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Mine are very tiny screws, so no help here.
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It is an Allen (hexagonal) key. It is an imperial (inch) size key of 5/64. Metric people do not dispair. Five sixty fourth inches (5/64) equals 1.98 mm, and a 2.0 mm Allen key will fit perfectly.
I note that the screws in later production equipment (they are all the same in the F-1X, F-2B, SF-2 and DS-5R) are mede of softer steel than those in older gear, and if you are not careful, after a few loosening and tightening of the screw it is easy to strip the hexagonal socket. It can then be difficult to remove the screw. It can also be difficult to source a replacement, although I am sure Alembic would help you out.
Cheers,
Peter Jonas
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If you use a metric driver, since it is slightly larger, you need to be aware of erosion as you describe. It is best to use the proper tool to make the adjustments if at all possible.
Hardware manufacturers used to deliver the spec closer to the hard end in their quoted tolerances. These days, the same hardware is likely to be at the lower hardness range of their tolerances. The way of the world sometimes.