Pick-Up Mount Cracking - Is This Bad?

[NegativeVolume]

Well, this coincides with my last thread about the set-up.

I don't play guitar much anymore, just to play the occasional gig really. I got a stint doing some local stuff, so that's why I originally got my guitar set-up. I hadn't noticed it until tonight, but I think the guy who did my set-up may have cracked a few parts on my guitar.

I play a Schecter C-1 Classic. I got it about 5-6 years ago, and my guitar straight from the factory; nobody in store played it before I did. One thing I noticed about it was the plastic mounting around my pick-ups were cracked a little bit, all near the screws. After some serious playing, nothing more happened and I decided it was a result of the screws being a little bit too tight.

Fast forward to today, and I see the cracking has gotten worse. On the first picture I linked below, you'll actually see that part of the mounting is now gone, exposing a screw. Should I have this fixed? I'm worried it's more than a cosmetic problem, and if it is I'm going to get this fixed as soon as possible.

Let me link you some pictures:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013090023.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013090024.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013090025a.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013090026.jpg

Let me know what you guys think. I sent an e-mail out to Schecter earlier asking them the same thing. I'm pissed that this happened without my knowing - I really wonder if the tech who did my set-up tightened up the screws and cracked the plastic even more.

 

[CantoX]

Yeah, he screwed them down wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too hard. My rule is as soon as it starts getting tight, stop. He must've put his whole body into screwing it down. These things are fragile as well, its just a thin piece of plastic after all.
You need to switch them out. Heres a link to a new pair:

http://www.allparts.com/Humbucking-Pickup-Rings-Slanted-Black-Plastic-p/pc-0743-023.htm

Also, it could just be the pics but.. your action looks a bit high. Do you like it like that?
And.. your frets look bad, they're all squarish at the tops... they should be rounded!

Heres some reference pictures of my guitar for when I talk about high action and rounded frets:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/mewimakitten/IMG_0218.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/mewimakitten/IMG_0219-1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a362/mewimakitten/IMG_0220-1.jpg

 

[Meedleyx10]

As long as they are holding the pickup still they are ok...but they don't look like they'll be able to do that much longer, especially if all four corners are cracked up like that.

 

[NegativeVolume]

Wow, those frets look a lot more normal than mine. This guy messed up bigtime.

Thank you so much for the help CantoX. I'm ordering those pick-up rings now. Thank you for that link.

I'm gonna have somebody round out my frets. I'll get a picture or two of the actual frets themselves for you to take a look at. As for the action - I do like it a little high-ish, but with it being a little high-ish there's still a buzz. Could the nut down by the headstock need replacing? I've heard it can slowly file away after many re-stringings. Is this true?

I'll go take the pics of the frets now, should have them up in a few minutes.

 

[NegativeVolume]

As promised, I took some pictures to try and get better pictures of the action/frets themselves. My phone blows at taking pictures, but I did what I could. Let me know if you want some different ones, I'll do what I can.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013091412.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013091425.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/n00dlejester/1013091426.jpg

 

[CantoX]

Theres still buzzing even with that action? Yeah man, you're going to need the frets leveled.

I checked the pics. The frets look uneven, some round, some flat on the top. Action is high.. also, seems like your neck is very straight with almost no bow, at least thats what I can make out from the pictures. You can loosen the truss rod a bit and see how that works out for you. Every guitar neck needs bow unless you have the lightest touch on the planet lol.

The best advice I can give you is to find someone local who can do the job. Every guitar is different and responds to changes in a different way so without me being able to actually handle the instrument its hard for me to say. Talk to some people and find a reliable tech.. you live in NJ? I'm sure you can find someone cause theres a big metal scene there. Call Michael Romeo and ask him who his tech is in NJ lol.

 

[Kenneth R.]

dude Somebody REALLY f'd up your guitar. I have the same guitar and it's beautiful and solid. get that fixed!

 

[ABQShredHead]

Did you ask him to set you up for slide?

 

[NegativeVolume]

Haha, slide is for suckers

I'm gonna go back AGAIN to this place and ask for my money back. I'm tired of having a guitar that's worse now after I got it "fixed."

I'll take what you guys said, and just rattle off all my complaints.

@Kenneth: Yeah man, I love this axe so hard. It plays really smoothly and sounds awesome. I want to give it new pick-ups, but I dunno if its worth it with this one. I may just invest that cash into a new axe.