How do YOU direct mount pickups?

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Hello all.
Yes I've tried the search but couldn't really find what I was looking for
Yes I've looked at those damn expensive brackets.

So how do you direct mount pickups? I'm not looking to permanently modify the baseplate and mounting holes.

(And shipping to RSA is a expensive.... So it's not worth it to just buy a set of screws from stewmac. )

Thanks

 

[uOpt]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Still looking for screws slim enough to fit through the leg holes without ruining the old thread.

 

[ErikH]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Pickup mounting ring screws? Those seem to be thin enough.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

I've used pickup ring mounting screws for humbuckers and regular single coil pickguard screws for mounting single coil pickups directly to the body. Using those hasn't caused any damage to my pickups. For Trembuckers with the 3 holes on each tab, I'll use multiple screws. Tuner mounting screws work good too. All of the guitars that I've done have been homemade, so I routed the depth of the pickup cavities with direct-mounting in mind. If the pickups need a lot of height adjustment, I'll use thin mahogany or walnut shims and predrill the hole for the screw (otherwise they crack). I've since converted both of those guitars to rings. I will say that direct-mounted pickups in these guitars sounded a little thicker and resonant compared to using pickup rings. There's a difference, but it's small enough that I prefer the adjustability and convenience of pickup rings.

 

[devastone]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Take your pickup to the hardware store and find a wood screw small enough to drop through the hole, may be tough to find one small enough to go through without drilling it out though.

 

[uOpt]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

The hardware stores here don't really have size variety of screws, just competing brands (all trash quality) for the same sizes. Plus its all sealed in theft-proof containers.

 

[AlexR]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Pickup ring screws. They go through baseplates.

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys
I was away so didn't have a chance to check the body but are the ring mount screws not too short? They don't seem all that long. Especially in comparison with the pickup screws

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys
I was away so didn't have a chance to check the body but are the ring mount screws not too short? They don't seem all that long. Especially in comparison with the pickup screws

 

[ErikH]

How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Get ones for tall pickup rings if you need to and want some adjustability. The short ring ones aren't too short at all though.

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Well the pickup ring screws didn't work... The hole was too small. So I gave up and drilled the holes out to 3mm for the ring screws to fit through. Luckily it's just a pair of GFS pickups at the moment but it sucks I had to do irreversible damage....

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: How do YOU direct mount pickups?

Meh, you can always solder a small nut to the bottom of the legs if you decide to go back to a ring mount.

Also, I would've just drilled two more holes on each ear, one on each side of the existing hole. If you look at pics of Duncan pickups, you'll eventually run across pickups with 3 holes drilled in a each ear, I assume this is what the extra holes are for. Then just use shims to adjust the height.