How to attach nuts to pickup legs whose holes have been drilled out?

[Rick Lee]

I have some pickups laying around that I've used in various beater partscasters and frankenbuilds. As I've usually mounted them right into the wood, I've sometimes had to drill the leg holes out a little. Now I want to use one in a build with a pickguard, so I need to have the screws stay in the leg holes and with spring tension on them. Do I just use wood screws into the leg holes or can I solder a nut onto the underside of each leg? I've never seen this on anyone's guitar before, but I suppose it would be invisible if I didn't pull it apart. Really love these pickups (Pariah Pasadena, SD JB, etc) and want to use one of these.

 

[beej]

Soldering is a good idea. I've done this with epoxy before and it's worked out great.

 

[BeZo]

Giggity

 

[RedPlated]

Done this a million times. Use a nut and solder it.

Install a screw and spring with the nut so that they hold it in the right place. Then solder around it and you’re done.

 

[Rick Lee]

Ok, will try this. Thanks.

 

[Racerxrated]

What they said. Solder. I have a killer Afwayu that I had to perform that mod to.
Works perfectly now.

 

[SpiderWars]

FWIW, I've used #4 keps nuts and relied on the spring tension to keep it in place. Didn't solder. That worked but if there is a bad thread/burr it could be trouble.

 

[ZEEGLER]

What about a dab of JB Weld in the screw hole and then drill and tap?

 

[mnemonic]

soldering on a nut works well. I got a bunch of 3-48 unc mild steel nuts off eBay which is the correct size for the screw Seymour Duncan uses. Make sure you get steel or brass, can’t solder to stainless (easily). Clamp in place with a pickup adjustment screw and a nut on either side, then solder one on. Make sure you work quick with high heat and the surface is clean, the large size of the pickup baseplate will absorb the heat and that makes it easy to get a cold joint that can pop loose. Take too long and you will probably start melting the wax potting.