Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

[Andrew Lamprecht]

I have this Squier Classic Vibe strat I like a lot and I have an old 59 I like quite a bit as well. The 59 has the long mounting tabs... the problem is that the pickup is loose in the pickguard. It screws in fine and has a little tension (not like normal) but ok. The pickup rocks back and forth when you put pressure on it. So far I found you can bend the tabs which I don't want to do in case I ever want to switch the pickup to a gibson style guitar or sell it (it is a VERY early 59). I have heard about routing the body but I don't know exactly what this would accomplish. I have also heard you can put a nut on the tabs which I am pretty wary of too. What other options do I have? I can get pictures if it would help...

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

If I´m understanding you right, the pickup itself fits the rout properly (enough room all around), but the springs are very loose, meaning it wobbles around in the pickguard? Or is anything sticking out or bottoming out somewhere? Pics probably wouldn´t hurt, especially if it´s the latter.

If it´s the former try adding a second spring, or the aforementioned nut over the tabs to ass spring tension, neither will damage anything.

OR you can replace the springs with silicone tubing and if necessary put a small piece of foam rubber under the pickup. :22:

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

can you swap the coils onto a short legged baseplate?

 

[Artie]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

One other idea that I like to do is . . . tweak the height until you find the sweet spot. Then remove the pickguard and measure the distance between the pickguard and mounting tab. Cut a small piece of scrap wood to fit that space. (Balsa from a hobby store is easy to work.) You have to drill a small hole through the wood to accommodate the mounting screw and then substitute the wood for the spring. You can clamp it down nice and solid, and no more "rocking".

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

OR you can replace the springs with silicone tubing and if necessary put a small piece of foam rubber under the pickup. :22:

^^ This! And pickup packaging foam IS your friend.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

Thanks guys. I will buy some tubing and springs and try to make one of them work. It's not rocking back and forth horribly but enough to bother me.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Gibson Humbucker in a Strat... help

Just bought some long springs, and 2 different types of tubing... one was pre-cut for pickups but I think it might be too small, I'm not sure. I also got a foot of surgical tubing in 3/8 ... I think that is the size people use for pickups. Anyway, it only cost $12 or so for all 3 items. Hopefully one works for me....

Thanks again guys!