Seeking Advice: Removing Bridge Thimbles on MIM Road Worn Jazzmaster

[prospect]

I've removed a few thimbles in the past with the ol' soldering iron trick from various offsets (USA, vintage, Japan). However, I found that the MIM offsets have much tighter tolerances in every hole. I'm working on two MIM Road Worn Jazzmasters. I managed to get one set of thimbles removed - but with a ton of effort, and plenty of wood damage.

Is there a better way to get these thimbles out of the MIM guitars? Perhaps with one of those stripped screw removal sets? Any help or product to purchase to help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[YALCaster]

Is it the same kind that are on the classic player series? If so, just put a tiny piece of metal in there, and put the insert back into the thimble and twist it in, once it starts to tighten it’ll pull that thimble right out since it can’t go down any further.

Edit: google image says it doesn’t have the same bridge style.

For these thimbles, I’ve always taken a razor blade and slid the sharp in under the lip of the thimble and wiggles it out. I’ve always had success with no damage

[prospect]

For these thimbles, I’ve always taken a razor blade and slid the sharp in under the lip of the thimble and wiggles it out. I’ve always had success with no damage

I’ve had similar results with all but with these Road Worns. Fender Mexico machines these holes with very low tolerances. Great Engineering but not so much for mods.

[YALCaster]

I did have to remove a thimble once, and I’m not proud of how I did it, but it worked and there was minimal damage. A pair of sharp, pointy tweezer, gouge the wood under the lip and pull up, minimal damage

[timtam]

6mm expansion bolt. Insert bolt in thimble, expand so that it grips the thimble, extract the thimble. You can put some tape around the bolt if it improves the grip on the thimble.

(doesn't need to have eyelet on top .. normal nut will do)

[Embenny]

^that's brilliant, I've never tried that for stubborn thimbles but I think I'll have to give it a go next time.

[SBBang]

My recommendation for removing a thimble is by using a Number 5 Screw Extractor. Did a few Jazzmaster and Jaguar older bodies to install new thimbles for different bridges. Heat helped but certainly not necessary with the screw extractor.

[gblbass]

My recommendation for removing a thimble is by using a Number 5 Screw Extractor. Did a few Jazzmaster and Jaguar older bodies to install new thimbles for different bridges. Heat helped but certainly not necessary with the screw extractor.

+++1
#5 screw extractor worked like a dream for me.