Screwing pickups into wood.

ThePrettyDamned

I've got some OCP's and they look boss! 

However, I'm screwing them straight into the body.  The screws for that are a bit different to the ones included (they're self tapping and have a bigger... Er... pitch?).  

It's these http://www.axesrus.co.uk/In-Body-Screws-and-Springs-Dome-Head-p/inbodyscrews.htm

So how do I enlarge the holes in the pickups?

If the screws are too long, I'll see if my local West End has any shorter ones in that are the same

BTW the guitar now looks like this...

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/14119624619_b947518c63_c.jpg

SO DAMN CLOSE TO FINISHED

ICBM

How much space is there under the pickup feet? Are you planning on putting springs to make them height-adjustable, or screwing them directly to the wood? Or maybe using a small rubber bushing?

Those screws are far too long for anything other than springs with a lot of clearance under the feet. You probably want about 10mm into the wood, max.

ThePrettyDamned

@ICBM Hmm okay, I'll definitely look for shorter screws then!

Any ideas on where to find them?  I don't know tech specs for screws...

I'm planning on screwing straight into the wood, but with springs in place - so it will be height adjustable for sure, though only a couple of mm each way I'd imagine.  Or, more likely, some cut up mousemat - that way, it'll be height adjustable and give a solid base for the pickup.  

Ideally, I'd like screws that go straight through the mounts as now, so I don't need to mess up what they're currently tapped for... so maybe I'll take a pickup out with me tomorrow afternoon and see what I can find

ChrisMusic

Did you talk to Ash about this ?

JookyChap

These are  the ones I use on jazzmasters and tele neck pickups..

ThePrettyDamned

ChrisMusic said:

Did you talk to Ash about this ?

Nah mate, but there shouldn't be any real modification needed - a narrower screw than the standard humbuggy mount screw (2.42mm, so anything narrower than that that goes straight through) that self taps and is about half the size of a normal one screwed into the wood through a couple of bits of foam gives adjustable height and lets me use the pickups in a regular guitar, too.  

Win win all around.  I just love the look of wood mounted pickups

ThePrettyDamned

Would these be thin enough, or am I looking at even narrower ones?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2mm-x-10mm-Self-Tapping-Screws-Servo-Screws-x-50pcs-/151007105589?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item2328b99235

ThePrettyDamned

JookyChap said:

These are  the ones I use on jazzmasters and tele neck pickups..

Merci! That'll be a last resort, as I'd need to ream (?) the holes already in the pickups. 

ICBM

ThePrettyDamned said:

Would these be thin enough, or am I looking at even narrower ones?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2mm-x-10mm-Self-Tapping-Screws-Servo-Screws-x-50pcs-/151007105589?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item2328b99235

Those look perfect, if you're going direct to wood. The hole in a humbucker foot is usually M3 (3mm) or the US equivalent.

If you're putting a bit of rubber underneath you might want to go up to about 15mmx2.5mm, but no more.

ThePrettyDamned

ICBM said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

Would these be thin enough, or am I looking at even narrower ones?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2mm-x-10mm-Self-Tapping-Screws-Servo-Screws-x-50pcs-/151007105589?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item2328b99235

Those look perfect, if you're going direct to wood. The hole in a humbucker foot is usually M3 (3mm) or the US equivalent.

If you're putting a bit of rubber underneath you might want to go up to about 15mmx2.5mm, but no more.

I ordered them

I'll let you know how they go, I'm hoping they go straight through so I can preserve the tapping they have, should I want to move them onto a different guitar.  Then that, some foam underneath the pickup and screwed down to height *should* work.  

And look boss while it works.  

Blade pickups Oil City is the king.

ThePrettyDamned

Just to update, those screws are perfect - I just need to screw the pickups into a couple of small pieces of wood, lower them in and adjust the size of the wood until the pickups are a fair height, then glue those blocks in.  

Easy I'm using a few pieces of neoprene to give me a bit of height adjustability, so all is well.  I think.  

guitargeek62

It's looking great, we need some shots in proper light though to show it off!

ThePrettyDamned

Next shot will be finished, pre set up. hopefully Thursday or Friday.

OilCityPickups

My Havocs look mean in that guitar I must say! For further reference ... if anybody wants their mounting holes reamed (ooooooer Missus) .... or indeed their feet rendered triangular on their OC pickups ... just let me know when you order ... its no extra charge :-)

ThePrettyDamned

They look the biz mate. I've never considered blades before, but I don't know why.

It's going to kick bum the neck pickup screwed in at what seems to be a reasonable height! So I just need a couple of wood plug shim type things for the bridge pickup and it's ready to be taken to Bedford for a nut cut and set up

Then it's finally a working guitar!

ThePrettyDamned

Also, I'm trying these screws instead just so there is a bit more purchase in the wood...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M2-Self-Tapping-Screws-2MMX4MM-6MM-8MM-10MM-12MM-Various-size-panel-model-screws-/181411214854?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&var=&hash=item2a3cf37606

The 10mm only go in a tiny bit for the neck pickup, so 12mm should be perfect.  The bridge pickup is being shimmed up so it won't matter so much. 

Just for future reference.  These screws go straight through standard bucker holes, so avoid the need for modification.