Boing!----tink

[Jana]

So, I decide to tinker with a guitar--a strat with humbuckers. I can never quite bond with it and keep tinkering to see if I can find some mojo in it. Well, I took off the pickguard and was swapping humbuckers. As you know, they have that long spring on each mounting screw and they need to be compressed a bit before the screw will engage the pickup. You know where this is going, don't you?

I compressed the spring while trying to hold the pickup in position, hold the pickguard and turn the screw. I slipped and that spring launched off the screw like a rocket. In a flash it was gone and a second later I heard a tink sound as it hit a lamp shade on the other side of the room. Where it landed after that I didn't have a clue. I figured it was on the deep pile carpet since I didn't hear any more sounds.

On my hands and knees searching for that spring for about half an hour. I finally gave up and did the only remaining tactic that is sure to work--I walked around on the carpet barefoot until I found it. Murphy's law came into play, I only had to take about five steps barefoot and I found it! lol.

[labb]

I find that a magnet comes in handy for finding such things..If they are not stainless steel. I keep a couple that I salvaged from some old car stereo speakers around for that..tie one on a string and drag it across the area you are looking in.

[Phil_S]

I figured it for going into a black hole. I can't believe you found it!

[funkmeblue]

surgical tubing

[Bob-I]

I never thought about walking on the spring, a sure fire way of finding it, lodged deep in your flesh.

[iknowjohnny]

surgical tubing

Any idea where to find that? I looked a while back and i called a few medical supply places with no real luck. Is there a particular store that carries it?

[funkmeblue]

I thought I got it from angela, not for sure

[xtian]

Plenty of surgical and food grade tubing available at local hardware stores (shop local!).

[Tinkerer]

Almost anything you want for guitars can be found at Stewart Mac Donald.
Try this link for the tubing...http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... 3&xsr=1218

Tinkerer

[srubelva59]

I've lost one of those springs before but I thought it vanished into another dimension! You must be the first person to ever FIND one!!!

[martin manning]

Funny story!

A good method for finding small dropped (or launched) objects is to put the side of your head down on the floor so that one eye is only an inch or so above the surface and sweep-scan across it. A large area can be covered very quickly this way, and the thing usually reveals itself in a few seconds. Probably this technique would work on a carpeted surface too, as long as someone hasn't already stomped the lost thing into the pile ;^)

[M Fowler]

I just gather the grand kids they can find everything

[Structo]

Nah, those springs go to the same place as my missing socks.

[iknowjohnny]

Almost anything you want for guitars can be found at Stewart Mac Donald.
Try this link for the tubing...http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... 3&xsr=1218

Tinkerer

yes, i've found it at places like that. But unless i need to order something else i'd end up paying $7-10 for a foot with shipping costs. kind of a lot for 2 bits worth of rubber. If found locally a foot will be a buck or less no doubt.

[crbowman]

Nah, those springs go to the same place as my missing socks.

LOL! Ha! I was going to say the same thing.
You have to wonder if there is someone in that missing laundry dimension who keeps asking "where are all these socks and crap coming from.....and what's with this spring?!"

I can find a limited variety of plastic tubing at my 'ole Home Depot. Doesn't have to be surgical grade.