keeping humbucker level with the strings

[roglf1]

Any ideas on how to make a humbucker stay level with the strings? Mine always tilts backwards towards the bridge.

[beaubrummels]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

Is it mounted in a pickup ring? or pickguard?

You could wedge a shim between the side of the pickup and whatever it's mounted in.

[J E C]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

In some situations the PU cable under the PU can cause that. If it is mounted with a ring, sometimes pulling a little bit of the cable out or pushing a little bit back in will do it.

[koshikas]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

well if u have a trembucker and u also have pickup rings/pick-guard for 3-screw mount, then this real easy. the top 2 screws, makes it possible to tilt the pickup in any way u like.
looks something like this


i ve also seen these after market adaptors, that makes an ordinary 2 screw pickups into 3 screw ones.

[roglf1]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

its on a strat. I tried to use the other screw holes to level it out but the size screws that are used in the middle screw holes are bigger. what size is the other screws because the trembucker did not come with any?

[koshikas]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

i m assuming u have a pickguard with 3 holes for the humbucker, but only have 2 screws to play with.

i quote the sizes for screws being:

humbuckers take #3-48
some Fender and Carvin Humbuckers take a #4-40
but thats rare

[SJ318]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

I slightly bend the mounting screws on each side, making sure the bends a between the screw heads and the bottom of the pup leg. The spring tension causes the slug side up or down, same for pole side.
I have doing this all my life and 1-2 turns will make it go poles up or a combo of turns of both screws can get solid angles any way you want. Slug side up or down. I have never brooken a screw yet.
This is easy and fast and if it slips a little 1 turn either side will fix it through spring pressure.
Please no Carl V. Jokes.
I bend mine quite a bit so they stay in place always.
Seriously
Steve B.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

Steve,

I'm not sure exactly what you are saying...that you bend the screws so that they are curved and no longer straight?!

If that's the case, then when you want to adjust the pup height by 1/2 turn your pup will tip the opposite direction.

A better solution is to just bend the screw tabs on the baseplate of the pup. If your pup points toward the bridge, bend the tab to point toward the bridge.

Putting a shim between the pup and the pickguard is not a good idea...the shim can come loose and drop into the pup routing in the body.

[vinta9e]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

A block of foam stuck under the pickup should do.

[Zombiwoof]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

Some guys just bend the pickup mounting "legs" a little to get the pickup to stay straight, but you have to be careful not to break off the leg (just use a pair of pliers to get the correct angle).

Al

[Steve R.]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

A block of foam stuck under the pickup should do.

This is what I do, as well. Cut some of the foam that comes in the pickup box to a size that fits in the pickup cavity. Reinstall the pickup with the foam underneath and position the pickup level. The foam holds it in place.

[roglf1]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

I like the foam idea! going to try that next time I change strings. I was actually thinking of trying that.

[SJ318]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

To GuitarDoc,
Good point from G.Doc so my answer is that if I want to raise or lower the entire pickup I can actually do that 1/2 turn up or down and with both screws bent I can still keep them level w/just a tiny amount of screw adjustment, less than 1/2 a turn, achieve my desired hieght and slant.
Just gotta make sure the springs are putting lots of pressure on the legs. It is much easier to control than trying to twist the leg end, that I think would be more dangerous and also leave me with less control overall-I would have to bend one leg eastward and the other westward to change the tilt. I think the screw is great, it has worked for me all my playing life.
Foam is good to, but it can shift more easily, lose it's position easier in my experience. I do think it is a good way to go, but I like the bent screws best.
I should note that I have soldered on an extention on one leg like Koshikas said, and that was great too, but took too much time after I found out I could do it w/springs
Steve B.

[LesStrat]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

A block of foam stuck under the pickup should do.

Perluss Whun

[Zombiwoof]

Re: keeping humbucker level with the strings

Why would you have to bend the pickup legs in two different directions?. You just bend the part that has the mounting holes in it to an angle that makes the pickup sit flat. Still have all the same adjustment as before. I think this is better than bending the screws myself. It only takes a slight bend with a pair of needlenose pliers to get it to the right angle. Just be aware that if the pickup is set pretty low the wires coming out the bottom of the pickup might be hitting the bottom of the cutout, keeping the pickup from sitting flat. You may have to move the wires around a bit.

Al

To GuitarDoc,
Good point from G.Doc so my answer is that if I want to raise or lower the entire pickup I can actually do that 1/2 turn up or down and with both screws bent I can still keep them level w/just a tiny amount of screw adjustment, less than 1/2 a turn, achieve my desired hieght and slant.
Just gotta make sure the springs are putting lots of pressure on the legs. It is much easier to control than trying to twist the leg end, that I think would be more dangerous and also leave me with less control overall-I would have to bend one leg eastward and the other westward to change the tilt. I think the screw is great, it has worked for me all my playing life.
Foam is good to, but it can shift more easily, lose it's position easier in my experience. I do think it is a good way to go, but I like the bent screws best.
I should note that I have soldered on an extention on one leg like Koshikas said, and that was great too, but took too much time after I found out I could do it w/springs
Steve B.