Pickup Rings

[Grimstache]

So I did a dumb thing and installed the rings before the bridge and both of them are off by about 1mm up and down, and they're moved too far to the right by about the same. I'm worried about strings not lining up with the pups. What is the best way to line up pups to a bridge? It's a hard tail fender bridge going on a jazzmaster. I'm going to have to move them and I'm worried about the holes I've already drilled. What can I do?

 

[line6man]

1mm isn't enough for most people to even notice, let alone find fault with. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Cagey]

Mount the pickups in the rings, install the high and low E strings, and use those as guides to center up your pickup rings. Drill to suit.

Or, put some masking tape on the body along the sides of the pickup routes and use a straightedge lined up with the sides of the neck to make markings on the tape that you can use as proxies for the high/low E strings.

 

[Grimstache]

Thanks, guys. I know 1mm isn't significant. When I set out to do this build I said to myself: "Do I want to take my time and build exactly what I want? Or do I want  it to look like a middle schooler did it"

I'm worried about re-drilling the holes. Hopefully they won't be too close. I suppose i could use the toothpick and glue trick.

 

[dmraco]

Thanks, guys. I know 1mm isn't significant. When I set out to do this build I said to myself: "Do I want to take my time and build exactly what I want? Or do I want  it to look like a middle schooler did it"

I'm worried about re-drilling the holes. Hopefully they won't be too close. I suppose i could use the toothpick and glue trick.

if you are obsessing about it...change it.  You will notice it every time you pick up the axe.

Line6 is correct that is does not matter, but if it matters to you thats enough to make the change.

Take off the pups and fill with a toothpick and re-drill.  the rings will cover everything.  I never permanently mount pickups until the instrument is stringed, like Cagey suggests.

 

[Glimmer]

Sorry to hear about this. Gotta say I agree with DMRACO: if it bothers you you should probably fill/redrill and do it right, otherwise you'll likely always wish you did.

I recently built a Jazzmaster and was surprised with the Warmoth JM pickup routs – they are so tight that there is virtually no room for error. As long as you don't try to drill for the pick guard *before* you mount the pups, you almost can't go wrong.

 

[dmraco]

Sorry to hear about this. Gotta say I agree with DMRACO: if it bothers you you should probably fill/redrill and do it right, otherwise you'll likely always wish you did.

I recently built a Jazzmaster and was surprised with the Warmoth JM pickup routs – they are so tight that there is virtually no room for error. As long as you don't try to drill for the pick guard *before* you mount the pups, you almost can't go wrong.

p90s??  If so P90 is a different story.  Always tight.  I have at times had to use sandpaper to open up the route.

 

[Glimmer]

p90s??  If so P90 is a different story.  Always tight.  I have at times had to use sandpaper to open up the route.

Nope, trad JM pups, and it was tight believe you me.

OP: what are you using: HBs? P90s? Something else?

 

[Grimstache]

I'm mounting P90 rails. I'm going to remount. I also have to drill the ground wire port. Warmoth forgot to do it.