Let’s talk about direct mounting guitar pickups!

[supertruper1988]

This is actually causing a bit of a headache.

It seems threaded inserts for 3-48 (Humbucker size) don’t actually exist anywhere for wood, only metal. The closest thing that exists for wood is the metric measurement of M3-0.5 which is slightly bigger. Maybe I can get away with it with minimal damage to the pickups? Would probably still need to do some drilling on the pickup feet.

6-32 (Strat single coil) does exist in a few places, or maybe I don’t know how to read. Seems too good to be true.

EZ-Lok makes "kits" that come with 10 inserts, the driver tool, and the necessary drill bit for both of these sizes (M3-0.5 and 6/32). Maybe?

Does anyone glue in nuts and use that instead of an insert? The thought crossed my mind but seems like a lot of effort for someone that might be futile.

I might just do old school wood screws and super glue at this point.

@supertruper1988 If the screw is smaller, does that mean it’s just held in place by the head of the screw pressing down on the foot? Seems like the pressure would be unbalanced and it might be unstable in the long run.

@Hodgo Let me know how it works out. Might slide into your DMs.

Yes the head of the screw holding it down but the foam provides the pressure to hold it in place. Only the head hold on pickup rings too so I am lost as to what the issue is.

 

[Ernst Johann]

I only used direct mounting once, so i drilled out the holes and used foam.
But then, i wasn't quite satisfied (like always) and wanted to use the pickups for a different body.
So i tried to put some inserts in (which i had at home), but, while drilling the holes even wider for the inserts, one of the leg broke. Tried to solder it, but didn't work properly.
Next step: Bought a backplate and swapped it. Even had to drill out the holes of the backplate, didn't fit...

Conclusio: No more direct mounting for me....



Greetings from europe!

 

[teleme01]

Conclusio: No more direct mounting for me....

Mounting rings and pickguards for me.