I need to make a pickup cavity bigger - what tool?

[dstroud]

I've got my new guitar I want to put in a humbucker with a pickup cover, but the cavity is a little too small. What tool should I get? I tought about sanding, but I'm not sure how even I can get it, so I'm thinking a power tool would be better- suggestions?

 

[maddnotez]

A router is what's normally used I believe.

 

[midnightlaundry]

YOu could use a sharp wood chisel if you're mounting it with a pickup ring. Otherwise, a small router is the norm. But it's a more involved to setup, and a lot more risk of fucking it up.

 

[maddnotez]

Be careful. I wouldn't try that unless it was a beater.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Dremel. But, it may cost as much to buy it, as it would to take it to a luthier to do it in the shop.

Call Tina at The Amp shop, tell her Diego sent ya! (You prolly know her already dude, she's Angus from "Thunderstruck)

 

[ashesofphoenix]

+1 on the dremel. I used that to open up a pick up cavity on my PRS SE One to yank the soap bar out. I through a mounting ring on top and you couldn't tell at all I did it myself. Router works too but can be hard to handle if you're not used to it.

 

[SDMF38]

Laminate router is what is typically used, but a variable speed dremmel with a sanding drum will work great. Should be able to go to a pawn shop and pick one up.

 

[2tallmusic]

For a clean result I would use a router bit with a top bearing flush. The approach with a sharp chisel could work as well, but concerning the coating I would be less worried using a router.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Use a router with a template bearing bit. You can buy a humbucker template or make your own from plex.
Here is a control cavity template I made on a CNC router and used on a Strat body.

 

[snowdog]

I have used a Dremel with a 50 or 80 grit sanding drum with great results. You could use a router as others have mentioned but if you aren't any good one with one or have jigs for it the chances of fucking it up are good.

 

[racerevlon]

Dremel. But, it may cost as much to buy it, as it would to take it to a luthier to do it in the shop.

Call Tina at The Amp shop, tell her Diego sent ya! (You prolly know her already dude, she's Angus from "Thunderstruck)

"Thund-her-struck"

+1 on Tina Wood from The Amp Shop. Tell her you know me as well. We used to have way crazy sex (total lie), but she did do an excellent job of a fret crown and dress on my Mockingbird.

Also, depending on how much you need to remove, you MIGHT be able to get away with simply using the side of a drill bit as an impromptu Dremel. I've done this before for minuscule adjustments and it's worked. Dremel is preferred, but more $$$.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Dremel. But, it may cost as much to buy it, as it would to take it to a luthier to do it in the shop.

Call Tina at The Amp shop, tell her Diego sent ya! (You prolly know her already dude, she's Angus from "Thunderstruck)

"Thund-her-struck"

+1 on Tina Wood from The Amp Shop. Tell her you know me as well. We used to have way crazy sex (total lie), but she did do an excellent job of a fret crown and dress on my Mockingbird.

Also, depending on how much you need to remove, you MIGHT be able to get away with simply using the side of a drill bit as an impromptu Dremel. I've done this before for minuscule adjustments and it's worked. Dremel is preferred, but more $$$.

She's had her hands all over my Bird as well...

 

[bhuard75]

I would use a router with templates. If your planning on buying the tools and materials to do the job yourself, it might be easier and cheaper to have a local shop do the route for you. Checking a local luthier guitar shop here near me in RI, a pickup route is $60. You cant buy a good router and bit for that.

 

[scottywompas]

It seems like you don't need to take away too much wood. I'd try to sand away a little at a time until you get what you need. The dremel or router work great in experienced hands but if you make a mistake, you could scar you guitar for life.

Scott

 

[LukeCurd]

 

[Erock]

It seems like you don't need to take away too much wood. I'd try to sand away a little at a time until you get what you need. The dremel or router work great in experienced hands but if you make a mistake, you could scar you guitar for life.

Scott

That would be my advise too. If it can fit a regular hum, you usually just need to open up the cavity a tiny bit. Hand sanding works very well for just a tiny bit of rounding on the corners.

 

[Laura]

I used a dremel for this task once. Damn near ruined the guitar. Thank goodness the pickup ring hides my "handy work".

 

[RockStarNick]

I've done some pickup cavity enlarging totally by hand. Chisel, sanding blocks, etc. I started this project, and took pictures for "TalkBass Forums". Most people were skeptical, and were expecting a disaster.

I like to think that I proved them wrong.

Just take your time. If you're using the chisel, line up your tape with where the edge will be, but dont chisel all the way up to the edge. Take the last 10% off with sandpaper, to make sure that you don't chip anything.

Standard J Bass bridge route

Putting in a double-J bucker. Measured, and put down some tape.

Just started taking away a little bit of wood at a time, with the hand chisel. Make sure it's super sharp. Again, don't go all the way to the edge.

Just keep working at the edges with sandpaper. Wrap around a pen, or dowel if needed for corners.

The end result, even up close, looks damn near stock. I'm sure that if I TRIED to do this with a router, the thick poly would have chipped like hell.

 

[Michi]

I've done some pickup cavity enlarging totally by hand. Chisel, sanding blocks, etc. I started this project, and took pictures for "TalkBass Forums". Most people were skeptical, and were expecting a disaster.

I like to think that I proved them wrong.

Just take your time. If you're using the chisel, line up your tape with where the edge will be, but dont chisel all the way up to the edge. Take the last 10% off with sandpaper, to make sure that you don't chip anything.

Standard J Bass bridge route

Putting in a double-J bucker. Measured, and put down some tape.

Just started taking away a little bit of wood at a time, with the hand chisel. Make sure it's super sharp. Again, don't go all the way to the edge.

Just keep working at the edges with sandpaper. Wrap around a pen, or dowel if needed for corners.

The end result, even up close, looks damn near stock. I'm sure that if I TRIED to do this with a router, the thick poly would have chipped like hell.

Daumn good job!