How to raise direct mounted pu's?

  • Thread starter Thread starter nevusofota
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nevusofota

nevusofota

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I need to raise my neck pu on my CS Charvel. There is a significant drop in volume when switching to it. I've never had to do this to any of my guitars so I'm wondering if there is a specific way. Spacers?



 
I had the same problem some days ago with my new strandberg bridge PUP. The solution was to cut a little bit of foam from an EMG pickup box I had around and stick it under the pickup. It's now sitting at the right height and solid as a rock.

I also used some picks with adhesive tape some years ago in MM Axis. The disadvantage of using the picks or other stiff spacers is that you loose the possibility to adjust height.
 
I cut a small bit of a spring and put it between the pickup, and the body on an ibanez I had that way I could adjust the height. It was just a pain getting the screw in the centre of the spring.
 
+1 on emg foam, thats how i have always done it.
 
Great, thanks! Can you get the EMG foam separate? Is it "special" or is it just the packing foam?
 
What I use is weather stripping from lowes or Home Depot. The stuff used for under doors or windows to keep cold air out. Just cut and put underside of pickup, since it already is sticky on one side
 
My guitars with direct mount have springs on the bolts that hold the pickup to the body, just like on normal pickups. You just turn the bolt and the pickup raises or lowers.

Or you can use foam under the pickup

Or you can use springs under the pickup

But I don't see why you can't just put springs around the bolts and call it a day. Although, my guitars do have threaded inserts in the wood so they use machine bolts, not wood screws. Maybe that's the difference.
 
i like the foam over springs because the pickup does not move.
 
I've used small washers under the pickup legs. Keeps the "solid connection" to the wood - if that does a thing.

PS--Sweet guitar, lets see a full pic!
 
crwnedblasphemy":3d2amtve said:
What I use is weather stripping from lowes or Home Depot. The stuff used for under doors or windows to keep cold air out. Just cut and put underside of pickup, since it already is sticky on one side
Click to expand...

I have had good luck using this also. The black foam stuff that is about 1" thick with one sticky side. I will cut it into a few strips, and line the bottom of the pickup. Sometimes two layers if needed.
 
AndyK":37b94f6b said:
I've used small washers under the pickup legs. Keeps the "solid connection" to the wood - if that does a thing.

PS--Sweet guitar, lets see a full pic!
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing. I may try some washers first.

Thanks, It's one of my favorite guitars I have ever played. I acquired it in 2012. Amazing neck.





 
I use the adhesive backed foam weatherstripping. Double up if necessary.

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My favorite topic.. people buy $1k and up guitars and fix it with a piece of foam or a napkin.

Just go to Menard's or Home Depot, and buy yourself a piece of thin balsa wood its like $5. Cut out the shape of the pickup base and shim it that way..
 
Found these two small brass spacers in my tool bench's junk parts drawer. Excellent height now and matches the bridge volume. Works perfectly. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 
That's a slickass Charvel. By the Way My granddad taught me the importance of keeping a stocked Junk Drawer or in his case a Junk Box , Junk Jars ,etc , he rarely threw anything away and some of those odds and ends or parts from them sure came in handy down the line.
 
f550maranello2":aubwmxis said:
My favorite topic.. people buy $1k and up guitars and fix it with a piece of foam or a napkin.

Just go to Menard's or Home Depot, and buy yourself a piece of thin balsa wood its like $5. Cut out the shape of the pickup base and shim it that way..
Click to expand...

My early Charvel has a top-mounted Floyd. It still has a chunk of some ancient business card for a shim to get the neck angle right. It's perfect and just what was needed. I've used picks for that too. Though, I found post-it notes were the best thing as they have the one sticky side and you can really "dial in" the thickness of the shim.

On topic, I've always seen these with springs under the screw just like a standard pickup mount. When I've lacked springs, I've stacked up some washers from the garage. Whatever works to get it to the right height. There's no deep science to it! :)
 
... and this is why I'll never pay $$$ for an axe with direct mounted pups. Dumbest idea ever. There's no simple and effective answer here. And adjusting pup height is a critical part to your tone, especially when changing string gauge and/or tunings. Dumb idea is dumb.

The best work around I've come up with is wooden shims. At least its still wood and hopefully transmitting some of the sound to/thru the body. Foam is not a good idea because if anything that will kill the sound transmittance which is the whole point of direct mounted pups in the first place. I much prefer pup rings. Simple.
 
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