Fender Jazzmaster pickup mounting

[Jet-Jaguar]

I'm putting together parts for a Jazzmaster build.

So as I understand it, you're supposed to put foam under the pickups, then use screws to keep the pickups at the right heights.  I thought the pickups would come with the foam, but they didn't.  Is there any particular type of foam that I should be using?

Also, I saw these jazzmaster pick shields at amazon:

Are these necessary to the JM sound? if I shield the body, would I get the same effect?

 

[Cagey]

If those plates were necessary to the Jazzmaster "sound", they'd be installed in the original Jazzmasters where the "sound" originated.

Shielding a Jaguar/Jazzmaster, as it is with most single-coil pickup equipped guitars, is pretty much an exercise in futility. Won't change the sound, and won't quiet it down. But, it won't hurt anything either, so if it'll make you feel better you can do it without worry. At least it'll look better in pictures of the guts, if you're inclined to publish them. But, anyone who knows better will just smile while thinking condescending thoughts.

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

So what about the foam?

 

[Cagey]

So what about the foam?

I'm not sure what to tell you there. Foam comes in about a million different formulations and densities, so what works? I've always used the foam from pickup packaging boxes. I don't know if it's the right or best stuff, it's just what's been handy. Figured if they can pack pickups in it, it's probably not detrimental to their longevity, at least.

 

[Glimmer]

So what about the foam?

I went with the Fender product, though I've seen examples of folks using everything from packing foam to weather stripping.

Beware that the brass shielding plates Fender sells may not fit the Warmoth JM as the routs are shaped differently.

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

My first instinct is to use the product made for the purpose, in this case the fender product, but man does that look like weatherstripping. I've been reading other forums on the web, and it appears as thought weatherstripping is what people are using without any problems, so I think I'll use that.  I'll probably end up with a lot of extra, too, so I'll be set should I need to do extra weatherstripping around the house, lol.