Come ON!!

[NightWinder]

Who's holding good screws! I'm almost out and need some.......This shit is stupid!!! Its a screw!! I'm so sick of this shit! I've got a few quotes from custom companys. Great materal too. Spent some $$$$ on other parts, so I will have to WAIT to order 20,000 for my GOD DAMN SELF. but in the mean time, whos holding?

[SkinnyWire]

Try these guys:

http://www.ruklic.com/main.cfm

It's been awhile since my last order, but they've done good by me on 5-40 fillisters. Last time I ordered, they had a 2500 piece minimum which is pretty low, and a three week wait to have them cut/shipped which is reasonable and they were on time. If you want other threads, I'm sure they can do that too. I've never tried to get "custom" heads on the screws or anything fancy but the fillister heads fill up the GJ bucker bobbin holes very nicely - might be a skosh too big for some bobbins. You should be able to get out the door at the minimum level at 7 or 8 cents per screw which is including the shipping.

Good luck.

[NightWinder]

Can you pm me a pic? Im fussy as hell, and would literally smash my computer or something if anything was like the screws from Guitar Jones. They are good for some things.....but mostly not. The stuff I use the GJ in are High ohmers....think 20+k. Thanks for the hit....

[Possum]

ask Wolfe

Before you deal with Ruclic you might ask Wolfe why he quit using them. They were very bizarre with me when I asked for a 10,000 piece quote. I asked them if they could look at a vintage screw and tell me what alloy it was, also asked them about electrical iron. They refused to even look at the spec sheet for electrical iron, just a click away, then they said they didn't want to bid on my order at all! Very weird behaviour....

[SkinnyWire]

I've had no problem with them whatsoever. YMMV.

[JGundry]

If you are fussy the you may not like Ruklic. The samples I got from them have a little flat part on the head. And the slot in the head is not cut to an even depth along the length of the cut.

[NightWinder]

There are literally probably 1,000 companys,and these guys cant get it right. This cat want 1200.00 for 20,000. Last time I opted for 5,000......There gone now......Almost. Wolfe, are your screws in? Lots of bullshit unnessisary time for screws. These things should be everywhere. Maybe an Aviation company?

[SkinnyWire]

From left to right - Guitar Jones (metric), Ruklic (5-40), Andrew C . (5-40). The shiny spots on top of the Ruklic represent the aforementioned "flat spot". Since it's consistent from screw to screw, I don't have a problem with it, but ... The slot is even and fine and I throw out far fewer of these than the Guitar Jones screws due to "defects". I've never noticed the tool mark ring before, and it's certainly not very noticeable to the naked eye. The closeup camera shot and lighting account for the accentuation here. Even so, it's no big deal since it's consistent. The slots on these consistently subdivide the head down the center whereas you can see the Guitar Jones screw is offset - sometimes way offset and sometimes the slot seems gouged out on them. When I used them, I probably threw out one in every 10 or 15 - maybe more for these reasons.

Both the Ruklic and Andrew's screws are just fine depending on the application. The head on the Ruklic is larger in diameter and fills the bobbins holes more completely on certain bobbins and generally fills the holes in covers more completely. The quality of Andrew's screws is consistent too, though the smaller heads are better suited to his bobbins (which are also nice).

Again, YMMV but to me it seems like far too much worry over minutiae going on here. Out of a couple thousand pickups, I've never had a customer complain about a flat spot on a screw or anything of the sort - not even the cork-sniffers that insist on a lot of the other voodoo tweaks.

[Possum]

What alloy?

What alloys are these screws? I'm pretty sure GJ's are 1022 and the Ruclics too, but what about Andy's? Do they all sound consistently the same? StewMac screws are made of lower carbon than any I've tried and the tonal difference is real apparent.

[kevinT]

StewMac screws are made of lower carbon than any I've tried and the tonal difference is real apparent.

In a good way or bad way?...just curious.

[Possum]

whats good?

Not good or bad, they cut the highs noticeably, good if you need that. Don't like metric screws though....

[WolfeMacleod]

Wolfe, are your screws in? Lots of bullshit unnessisary time for screws.

Not yet, but almopst. Ruklic sent me a new sample which I approved. It was a bit different than the scrws I had been getting from them, but in a good way. The heads are very nicely shaped, although they around about 2 thousandths smaller diameter than I would like, they're very well formed heads - almost Tom Holmes like.

[SkinnyWire]

Not yet, but almopst. Ruklic sent me a new sample which I approved. It was a bit different than the scrws I had been getting from them, but in a good way. The heads are very nicely shaped, although they around about 2 thousandths smaller diameter than I would like, they're very well formed heads - almost Tom Holmes like.

I'd be VERY interested in something "Tom Holmes" like, if you'd be willing to share ordering specs of do a group purchase.

[NightWinder]

ANdrews seems to be lower carbon. Look at the difference in color tone on the shaft. The GJ are good for what I do, which is 20k plus, and they seem to let the high end through more on the hight ohms. Different models get different screws. Different treads too. thicker can be good. And an unknown material manipulation to the naked eye. Thing is.....Way too much time is being wasted sourcing screws and Slugs. This is petty shit to me, and a real pain in the ass. This should be readily availiable. WE really need readily made screws and slugs all the time. This is not the way to do it! I always waste more money buying smaller lots at first to make sure things are right, then go back and get the load. If anyone is interested......I also have some sweet allen head 5-40's. Lower cabon ofcoarse. They are great for THAT design. By the way.....I was considering Andrews Items for a few new Designs. I have not personally delt with him. Can anyone elaborate on his material and such. And also comment on the shipping. I curious as to how long shipping takes to get through customs and how much extra it costs. Can't wait to hear from Doctor X and see some material from him as well. You know, the Humbucker was Born and bread here in the states.......Its time to take is back. I hear alot of what others out of country are doing, how great their products are, have we lost our grip boys? The time is hear the time is now! This is our ground!!!......and even have rewinds comming in more than ever from overseas. Let's get this stuff together and do this. No more headaches!!!!!

[JGundry]

I'm in Grand Rapids MI. There are quite a few office furniture manufactures headquartered in the area, Herman Miller, Steelcase.. I wouldn't be surprised if Gibson got the original screws from Grand Rapids to begin with due to the furniture industry here. I have been calling around to fabricators that supply furniture makers. I found a CNC shop that also fabricates screws with an old screw making machine. I have not gotten a quote yet but they said they could match any slug or screw sample I gave them and make it on sight and then send it to be nickel plated. If the price is reasonable I think dealing in person with the screw maker would be a real advantage in getting a good finished product. I'm waiting on some PAF fillister screws to give them as a sample for a quote but if anyone has detailed spec. drawings with head dimensions and crown radius let me know and I will bring them along when I meet with them.