How do you remove the neck pickup?

[Ranger]

The pickup cover on my MIM Standard is making noise when I strum. I'd like to see what I can do to stop it. Besides the 8 screws holding the pickguard on, there are 2 screws for the pickup. To take a look at what's going on do I remove the pickguard first, is the pickup actually screwed to it? Or are those 2 screws just for the pickup cover? Any harm in running it without the pickup cover?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Jack Wells]

Your pickup is mounted to the pickguard. Remove the pickguard first. When you remove the two screws holding the pickup be careful not to lose the springs or rubber tubing between the pickguard and the pickup.

 

[Old Cane]

It's screwed to the pickgaurd like a strat. You'll need to pull the control plate and unsolder if you are going to remove it from the guitar but not just to look at it. How do you know it's the pickup cover?

 

[Ranger]

How do you know it's the pickup cover?

When I press on the cover the rattling noise stops. I found that the output jack nut was also loose. After I tightened that up the noise continued.

 

[Old Cane]

I guess it could have come loose. I'd just loosen the strings, unscrew the pickgaurd and slide it as far as you can. You may need to take the strings off from the machine heads but maybe not. I guess the pickups could have fallen out of the cover or something. I'm just guessing.

 

[woodman]

be extremely careful if you decide to remove the cover. there are several extensive threads on the subject -- just do a TDPRI search for "remove neck pickup cover."

 

[Ranger]

Would it be a mistake to attempt to tighten the screws holding the pickup to the pickguard? Would this change the height of the pickup and create other problems?

 

[woodman]

yep, those are height adjustment screws. don't think that'll solve your problem.