Loctite on pickup height screw?

[hgregs]

when i'm playing my new (to me) elan, i rest my thumb on the top of the j-bass pickup. this invariably (and inadvertently) causes the pickup screw to unwind. one tune, and it's almost completely unwound. is it ok to loctite it? something else? if loctite is ok, which color/#? my loctite stash doesn't get used very often.

[sonicus]

I would not use locktite in this  location unless Mica gives the proprietary OK ____  
 
However ,___I have used BLUE Loctite #242 (removable) on the threads of the Schalller strap locks on my Bass strap.  It can bee loosened and removed a little torque with the use of correctly fitting tools; opened end/ box end or socket wrench .
 
 Loctite RED #271 is high strength and should not be used on any threads that you would like to loosen any time soon . It may require a large amount of torque and perhaps even heat to  loosen and remove .

[keith_h]

Loctite blue is for removable applications. To start I would try using some Teflon thread tape. It is a lot less permanent and works reasonably well for low stress applications.
 
Keith

[gtrguy]

take the screw out and break off a wood toothpick in the hole and re-insert the screw into it.

[keith_h]

Alembic pickup screws use machine screws with inserts so the old toothpick trick won't work.  
 
Keith

[mario_farufyno]

Greg, are you sure all screws are correctly placed?
 
I mean, on Alembic system, a pair pushes the PU far from body and the other pushes to it, so they counteract one against the other. If PU isn't too high (with upper screws almost loosening), if the screws or nuts are not ruined, it should have sufficient pression to keep it firm on place...
 
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/16271/16380.html?1107730458
 
 
 
(Message edited by mario farufyno on February 21, 2014)

[mario_farufyno]

Just say that because I've already seen some PU's screwed wrong on Alembics (all showing their heads at PU's top and pressing it against springs, as it would be on an ordinary bass scheme).  
 
An Alembic never shows its 4 screws:
 

 
(Message edited by mario farufyno on February 21, 2014)
 
(Message edited by mario farufyno on February 21, 2014)

[tbrannon]

Mario,
 
If he truly has a P/J set, then it will not have the traditional Alembic push/pull mounting system.  The P/J set on my Elan used the traditional mounting system where there is a single screw on each side of the p pickup and the traditional J mounting system.
 
 
 
(Message edited by tbrannon on February 21, 2014)

[mario_farufyno]

Oh, sorry, I was misled by my poorly english reading skills (and poor attention, as well...)

[tbrannon]

No- I totally understand.  When my bass came, it was the one thing that threw me for a loop. I was used to the traditional Alembic mounting style, but my bass had the traditional P/J mounting style.  I wasn't expecting it.  
 

[keith_h]

Toby,  
Even though they use the Fender mounting pattern don't they they still use machine screws and threaded inserts?  
 
Keith

[tbrannon]

Keith,
 
You're correct.  I just saw Mario's post above and was noting that there isn't the opposing force from the under/over mounting system on traditional Alembic pickups.  As such, they do have that 'wiggle' that you get with a traditional P/J pickup, rather than being firmly set like other Alembic pickups.  
 
(Message edited by tbrannon on February 21, 2014)

[mica]

How old is the Elan? If it's newish, it will have the aircraft fasteners under the pickup screws. If it's not, then it will have the springs.  
 
However, a better choice than blue Loctite is Vibra Tite low-strength.

[hgregs]

thanks for all the responses...
 
mica - it's a 1990 elan.  
 
is there a better way to make it work correctly (new screw, or spring, or something), or is vibra tite the best answer?
 
greg