Screw size for tremolo back plate

I recently picked up a Godin SD24 at a steal. The back tremolo cover is missing 4 of the 6 screws and I've been trying to track down replacements. The screws are very small...unfortunately, smaller than any of my local home improvement/hardware stores carry.

The cover, itself, appears to be one of these:

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Black-Molded-EZ-Access-Trem-Cover-_p_2519.html

(sadly, GFS actually has no idea what screws will fit the cover)

Does anybody happen to know what size screws are used for such plates?

Maybe you can match it up to one of these. http://www.allparts.com/Guitar-Screws-s/136.htm You're not likely to find anything that small at a hardware store. Used to be you could occasionally find them at a hobby shop, but I haven't even seen a hobby shop in a while. But, you're going to have find some way of measuring the ones you have or physically comparing them if you can't measure and identify them. A decent repair shop will have a good selection of replacements - if you can take one with you to a shop you could make some comparisons and get the right one. Or, worst case - they're proprietary and you have to either get 'em from Godin or substitute a whole different style/size. My guess is they're going to be the same size as a Fender pickguard/backplate screw.

Most pickguard screws are the same.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VS7Q8S/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002KZE7C&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NEAXF6GQG40DD6QT7GN

If you need a specific color

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Electric_guitar:_Screws_springs/Pickguard_Screws.html

Gibson uses a smaller screw. I don't recall the size, but I thinks it's #3 for the Gibson and #4 for the Fender p/g.

When you get the back plate you can take it to any good geetar store and get a set, but they'll prolly ding you about 50 cents a piece. Another viable option, and what I'd do, is to open up the holes and enlarge the countersinks to the Fender size if that's not what it takes. I have a veritable plethora of these screws due to the Pack Rat Syndrome (PRS) disease inherent in all DIY'ers

As far as I remember The Gibsons might be a little smaller.

I'll have to check my Paul tonight to see. Maybe its inch vs metric

or the dombs arent as large or maybe vintage stuff is different.

In any case Gibsons dont have trem covers like the OP posted so the fender type posted will work.

A customer of mine has a Samick strat copy that uses the Gibson size for the trem cover, so it's anybody's guess what it is. It's really picking nits, but if it takes the smaller size I'd open them up just cuz it seems weird to me having two different size screws.

I compared the size of the screws in the guitar's pickguard to those in the trem backplate. Unfortunately, the backplate screws are both shorter in length and narrower in shank than those for the pickguard.

I do think it's an "import-style" trem system because the shaft of the trem arm has a 6 mm diameter and the arm secures with a 3 mm set screw. And, in fact, the only "hits" I get on a Google for that size screw are online hobby stores (sadly, the brick and mortar kind disappeared more than a decade ago).

Have you considered just writing Godin for replacements?

Just take a larger drill bit with your hand the size of the new screw heads and

ream the holes so the new screws seat in the cupped shape properly.

You do this when you make your on pickguards and covers so the screws fit flush with the cover

and isnt hard to do at all. Just go a little at a time so you dont ream too much out.

Did you take a look at both the Gibson and Fender style PG screws on that website? If it's not one of those then might be comparable to some of the tuner screws. I've also seen plenty of guitars with completely non-traditional screws used for PG's and cover plates. Another smaller screw that could be a match would be a mounting ring screw. I've seen several guitars that used those for control covers and such. Gibson and Fender have stayed real traditional with most of their screws over the years with very little change, but other companies have found different sources for their hardware and don't use traditional sizes or they use traditional sizes in unusual places. The name that companies are calling csrews like "pickguard screw" doesn't mean that it can't be used for some other purpose on a guitar or by another builder. For mounting things like plates and covers and PG's, it doesn't matter what size is used to the builder, it's usually more of a cost and availability thing, so Godin may use a totally arbitrary size based on one of those factors. But, it's all just guessing without actually seeing the screws you have. Maybe a picture of one of the existing screws along with the PG screws you have for comparison sake? Do you have a way of posting a pic?

That was the first thing I tried. They haven't got replacements anymore.

Godin changed the design of the SD somewhat after 2003. They shifted from a 24 fret to 22 fret neck design and also revised the trem system. For example, the trem arm on a 22 fret model now uses a 10-32 threaded arm. And the back plate - while the same basic design - secures with different sized screws.

I gotta believe that these screws are available through McMaster-Carr. I've printed out some screw guides and will try to ID them.