new member - dumb question

[saucer4]

Hi - I am new to Seymour Duncan and new to the forum. I have just bought my first SD pickup a P-Rail - its a nice looking bit of gear. I am going to use it in a San-Dimas era Charvel build - single pickup, one knob and I don't want to use a pickup surround (for the hot-rod look).

This guitar will be my first ever non-fender guitar, and my first ever experience with anything but Fender single coils (and my first own-build guitar)

I have joined the forum because I expect there are many things I need to learn about custom wiring and coil taps and everything - I will probably ask a few questions before I contribute anything of value to anyone else (sorry!)

I'll get the first question - which is the dumbest - out of the way. The P-rails came delivered with a couple of long screws and a couple of long springs - looks like it is designed to be hung from its mounting. I don't have that option, and want to screw it into the bottom of the route.

How best to achieve that (I presume I shouldn't be going to the trouble of epoxying in a couple of threaded blocks under the pickup)?

any advice/suggestons gratefully received

Jeremy

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: new member - dumb question

Welcome! Nice looking guitar love the burst on it.

You can direct mount it and use whatever you want for shims guys will debate about the material but i find it doesnt make any sonic differnce. The Robin in my avatar came with the pickups direct mounted to pieces of closed cell foam that way they had a small amount of adjustability when screwing them down for the first time. You can also get some small pieces of wood veneer and build shims if you want. I wouldnt epoxy any of it in. I havent ever heard of anyone doing and with a solid body electric there wouldnt be any advantage to it. You do have to spend a bit of time doing trial and error to get your pickup height right but its not too bad.

Hope that helps a bit =)

 

[saucer4]

Re: new member - dumb question

thanks Edgecrusher - by 'direct mount', do you mean reaming out the threaded mounts on the pickup itself and using a screw to fix the pickup into the bottom of the route?

And that would mean adjusting the pickup height is by removing the strings and the pickup and inserting/removing shims?

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: new member - dumb question

What you want to do is use wood screws that are smaller than the holes in the duncan. This way if you ever want to sell it the holes will still accept the standard screws.
You can use foam,or whatever to shim and raise the pup up in height.
custom cut wood blocks work great but you need to take exact measurements and glue the blocks in place, i would just use hard foam under the pup itself
Oh and there is no dumb questions we all can learn something new!

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: new member - dumb question

thanks Edgecrusher - by 'direct mount', do you mean reaming out the threaded mounts on the pickup itself and using a screw to fix the pickup into the bottom of the route?

And that would mean adjusting the pickup height is by removing the strings and the pickup and inserting/removing shims?

Yeah what Ed said. Just get some slightly smaller wood screws and screw it to the body that way. Sadly the down side to direct mount is that you do have to add and remove shims to adjust the height.

 

[saucer4]

Re: new member - dumb question

OK - thanks guys, I'll report back with a picture when I am done

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: new member - dumb question

OK - thanks guys, I'll report back with a picture when I am done

Cool! would like to see :headbang:

 

[saucer4]

Re: new member - dumb question

I suppose the other option (just occurred to me) would be to drill through to the back of the body and use the bolts and springs provided (maybe trim the springs) to adjust the pickup from the underside

I think pickups on some danelectro guitars are adjusted this way

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: new member - dumb question

I suppose the other option (just occurred to me) would be to drill through to the back of the body and use the bolts and springs provided (maybe trim the springs) to adjust the pickup from the underside

I think pickups on some danelectro guitars are adjusted this way

thats a bit extreme dont ya think? BTW this is off topic but i was lookin at the pic of ur axe and wanted to ask if that neck is actually bolted on or just there for show? it loos like it sits way too high,the truss rod adjustment can be made at the end of the neck! LOL!

 

[saucer4]

Re: new member - dumb question

Ed - neck is just sitting there for the photo

I haven't put a drill bit to anything yet

I only have just over 1/4" between the bottom of the pick up route and the back of the body - if i'm not careful I'm gonna go straight through anyway!

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: new member - dumb question

Hmmm, I've never used wood shims. My strat that is direct mounted had the springs between the wood and underside of the pickups. They adjust like any other pickup, but screw into the wood rather than the baseplate. Obviously, screw length is important for the desired height, otherwise you'll have the screws coming out the back.