How to deal with humbucker springs use an alligator clip

[Rick]

You can get 4 of the clips at home depot for $2.50.  They really make life easier when dealing with pesky humbucker springs.

 

[rgand]

That is a good trick. I have a dozen of those in my soldering box. Beats that spring taking off on you.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Good tip! I was just fighting that battle a couple of nights ago putting new rings on my ES-137. I just used the “curse under your breath” technique, but I think I will try yours next time.

 

[Rick]

YOu put the pickup ring or pickguard face down on a towel with the screw poking out.  Then push the spring down with your left hand, then put the clip on with your right.  Couldn't be easier.  It also works for tubing.

 

[Cagey]

Great idea! Been fighting those little rascals since forever, and I've got alligator clips.

 

[stratamania]

That is a good tip.  :icon_thumright:

 

[aarontunes]

Great tip!

Here is what I do:

1. Run the screw through the pickup ring.
2. Put the spring on.
3. Clip the spring at the end of the screw.

Using this method, there is no tension to fight when screwing the pickup on. It also mitigates the dreaded "too-much-spring scenario", wherein a fully compressed spring prohibits further upward adjustment, which can sometimes happen when installing a short-footed pickup in the bridge position of an LP-style guitar.


Downside: neck pickups that require a very low height adjustment will be under lower-than-normal tension, and may feel a little wobbly. This has never been a problem for me, but if you are generally bothered by wobblier-than-normal things, I recommend going with the alligator clip method on your neck pickups.  :glasses9:

 

[Rick]

Years ago I spent three hours trying to put on a humbucker.  The spring kept doing what it was designed to do, and jumped, and then I would scrounge around on the floor looking for it.  It was pretty comical ... if it had been happening to someone else.  Then I tried clamping things, like tape (nope), needle nose pliers (don't have three hands), ask my wife for help holding the needle nose (sorry Honey), vice grip pliers (too big and strong), but the vice grip idea was the way to go, and then where do I get a small vice grip?  Then it was ... say could alligator clips work?  Like a monkey trying one tool after the other, till I got one that worked, and it's so cheap and so easy.  It was sort of a duh moment.  Yep, I'm a primate.

 

[aarontunes]

 

[Rick]

That's me trying to figure out how to install those pesky springs!!!!  :headbang1:  :yourock:

 

[Logrinn]

Good tip
and looking forward seeing and hearing those Railhammers when you have the guitar all wired up.

 

[DaveT]

I thought everybody had abandoned springs and started using small bore surgical tubing!
Works well, no springs poinging around.
Lace supply cut to length tubing with their pickups.