Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

[SabbathFan0220]

What screws are usually used to mount a Tele neck pickup in a pickguard? Strat style single coil screws are too big and humbucker screws are too small.

The humbucker screws are really close though...maybe this pickup just has worn threads? It's a Fender Tex-Mex.

I'm planning on mounting it in a StewMac pickup ring:

Side question...
What's the story with screwing the pickup straight into the body with no mounting ring or pickguard? I noticed some Teles with pickguards have it mounted on the body instead of on the pickguard. Is there some difference other than aesthetics? Maybe I'll ditch the mounting ring and do this instead...

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

I don't really know what screws are used for mounting the neck pickup onto the pickguard. You could be right, the pickup, if it's a Tex Mex, should have plastic mounting screws and they are hard to wear out or strip. It is certainly possible though. I would just search for screws that work for it.

As for your side question, In the beginning, when there was the Broadcaster, Leo mounted the neck pickup into the body via little round-head wood screws. I don't believe it was done by some intricate engineering design. I believe he need to get a neck pickup in to expand the product line and that was the quickest way to do it. I believe the first Tele neck pickups to be mounted to the pickguard might have been for the 69 Thinline models. Maybe Leo knew taking the Tele pickguard off to adjust the neck pickup height was easy. Removing the Thinline's pickguard was not; due to all the controls being mounted to it.

Just my sorta-educated guess.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

For pickguard mounting, Fender uses a screw that looks like a skinnier version of the type associated with Stratocaster pickups. I cannot remember the correct size number or length. IMO, this method makes sense on a three PU Tele or one with a 22nd fret fingerboard extension. StewMac, Allparts and others will have it in stock.

For direct-to-body mounting, the screws should pass through the vulcanised fibreboard baseplate without cutting a thread.

 

[Kam]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

Side question...
What's the story with screwing the pickup straight into the body with no mounting ring or pickguard? I noticed some Teles with pickguards have it mounted on the body instead of on the pickguard. Is there some difference other than aesthetics? Maybe I'll ditch the mounting ring and do this instead...

There's an arguement for this increasing sustain and improving tone and response somewhat because the pickup is connected directly to the resonating body of your guitar instead of hovering above it in a plastic pickguard. It's not something that I have any experiance with so I can't vouch for any effect it might have but it might be worth a little research.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

There's an arguement for this increasing sustain and improving tone and response somewhat because the pickup is connected directly to the resonating body of your guitar instead of hovering above it in a plastic pickguard. It's not something that I have any experiance with so I can't vouch for any effect it might have but it might be worth a little research.

I knew I'd read this in some response. lol

It seems logical... but then again I've had no experience where something that claims to be better, such as boiling strings or any kind of bull****, has provided better tone.

maybe im going deaf.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

My favourite argument for Leo Fender choosing direct-to-body mounting via screws and spacers is that it is functional and inexpensive. The pickups on many Hawaiian lap steel guitars were mounted this way.

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

Well the pickup mounting ring showed up and I laid the parts in place on the guitar. The chrome covered neck pickup surrounded by the chrome ring was just too much. It looked like a 50's diner.

I've decided to mount it directly to the wood, with no pickguard or anything. It looks very stripped down...kinda cool I think. I guess these are the way to do it. I have the rubber tubing spacers, do I need foam like under P-Bass pickups as well?

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

Bump for the above question. Foam block? Just rubber tubing?

 

[Nevstavalni]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

I really liked this information.

 

[tonechaser]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

The standard pickup screws worked for me to mount them. You can see it in my aviator.

Then again I guess it's hard to see but I never bought any special mounting screws IIRC.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele Neck Pickup Mounting?

A fixed pad in the bottom of the cavity avoids the fiddling about, trying to keep springs or tubing on the screws as you offer them up to the drilled holes.