Size/type of hum rings for carve-top Tele

[TheDrizzle]

Hello again.

So I'm beginning to use my wait time (6 weeks, 1 day left, but who's counting?) to procure all the 'stuff' I'll need for the build (pots, knobs, wires, etc etc).

I'm goign to be using mounting rings, and as I look around (at at my arch-top Epi LP), I notice there are choices to be made - angled, straight, high, low, curved etc.

Does anyone know what I should be using for each pickup?  This is a carve top Tele, HxH setup.

Also I notce that a lot of pickup ring reviews are saying things like "Had to drill new holes, didn't fit exactly right".  I guess I don't need to worry about that stuff since this is a new build, correct?

Thanks.

 

[Updown]

If you have an angled neck pocket .... 1 x curved short for neck and 1 x curved tall for bridge.
http://www.warmoth.com/Curved-Short-Humbucker-Mounting-Ring-Black-P851C71.aspx
http://www.warmoth.com/Curved-Tall-Humbucker-Mounting-Ring-Black-P855C71.aspx
If you don't have a angled neck pocket, then 2 x short curved.

 

[TheDrizzle]

Using a Wilkenson trem, so shouldn't need the tall ones - The sales guy said when I ordered that they wouldn't need an angled neck pocket (thank goodness).

Thanks dood.

 

[JaySwear]

The top of the carved Tele is flat enough for a regular Tele bridge, so I would think it would be flat enough for flat bottom pickup rings.

 

[Cagey]

The top of the carved Tele is flat enough for a regular Tele bridge, so I would think it would be flat enough for flat bottom pickup rings.

Definitely. I've put together a number of carved top Teles and where pickup rings were used the flat ones were appropriate, regardless of the bridge style.

 

[bagman67]

Hello again.

So I'm beginning to use my wait time (6 weeks, 1 day left, but who's counting?) to procure all the 'stuff' I'll need for the build (pots, knobs, wires, etc etc).

I'm goign to be using mounting rings, and as I look around (at at my arch-top Epi LP), I notice there are choices to be made - angled, straight, high, low, curved etc.

Does anyone know what I should be using for each pickup?  This is a carve top Tele, HxH setup.

Also I notce that a lot of pickup ring reviews are saying things like "Had to drill new holes, didn't fit exactly right".  I guess I don't need to worry about that stuff since this is a new build, correct?

Thanks.

I used flat pickup rings on Quty Pie (search for it in the Tele gallery forum) and they were perfect.  Cagey assembled it - fine, fine work.  So if you feel less than up-to-it, you could do worse than to engage our resident curmudgeon.  Not only is he widely and deeply knowledgeable, his workmanship is first-rate.

 

[Cagey]

Here are a few that are laying around loose at the moment...

With a Floyd replacement...

With a Hipshot...

With a Tele-style Gotoh...

With a custom Sarcozi...​

I've also done them with a Wilkinson and a standard Tele bridge. The carved top Tele starts off as a flat top, and gets carved from there. The center section stays fairly flat.

 

[Cagey]

Ignore that vintage white Tele - I just realized it's not a carved top. But, I've used that same bridge on a carved top, so no worries.

And Bagman - thank you for the kinds words. I appreciate the vote. I'd be happy to bring the Drizzle's Tele to life.

 

[TheDrizzle]

So flat rings it is! =)

Thanks guys.  I will have to decide on the color, but having flat rings as the type should give me more options.  Will depend on the color of pickups I wind up (no pun intended) getting.

 

[Cagey]

Just as an aside...

Most pickup rings will come with appropriately-colored ring mounting screws, but rarely with appropriately-colored pickup mounting screws. Then, most pickups come with silver/chrome/nickel colored mounting screws. So, if you're going to do anything other than chrome, you'll probably need to order pickup mounting screws.

 

[TheDrizzle]

Good to know - thanks for the tip

 

[swarfrat]

Another note about the screws/hardware....if you're using gold, funky screws can be hard to locate in gold.  It's axiomatic, but it still caught me off guard - people have been trying to pass off Brass as Gold for milennia. If it worked, people would be ripping the siding off your house in search of copper wire, and not just stealing the easy to get at stuff. Black or stainless is a better compromise.

 

[JaySwear]

Completely off topic, but you're a fan of those GFS humbuckers, Cagey! Or are they a different brand? I think Rio Grande will make pearloid-topped pickups... I'm curious which they are

And didn't you at one point say you weren't a fan of Teles? :icon_biggrin: Or am I thinking of somebody else?

 

[Cagey]

I am a big fan of GFS pickups, but truth be told, I haven't heard any of those you see in those pictures. They're what they call "Dream 180" pups, and they're an experiment. None of those bodies have had a neck on them yet, so I have no idea what they're going to sound like. The Black Cherry Tele is sort of a red-headed stepchild, so I don't care. The Vintage white body is just a test bed that hasn't been tested yet. The blue body is supposed to be a badass fiddle, so I took a chance. The pickups are dirt cheap, so what's the worst thing that could happen? I toss 'em and put in something else. No big loss.

I expect it'll only be a couple/few weeks and I'll have the first one fired up, then we'll know. I'm pretty confident they're going to sound good, though. I have yet to use any of their pickups that I wasn't favorably impressed with. GFS is one of the best-kept secrets in guitar builder world.

 

[Cagey]

Oh, and I forgot to respond to the Tele thing. Yes, it's true: I was never a fan of Telecasters. Vocally disparaged them, in fact. But, I've seen the light. What can I say? I was wrong. Teles can be made to suit.

 

[Updown]

Sorry for being incorrect  :doh:  my bad .....
I really thought you would use curved rings on a Carved top Tele.

:icon_scratch:  So are the curved mount rings JUST for LP's then ?

 

[Cagey]

At least from Warmoth. Since those are gone now, I don't think any of their bodies need them. I have 2 carved top VIPs and a Soloist, and those use flat rings, too.