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Author Topic: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??  (Read 3977 times)

5F6-A

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Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« on: March 31, 2009, 12:56:19 PM »
On some Strats the springs  used to stabilize the pickups against the pickguard have been replaced with rubber grommets.

I feel springs "sound" better but.... what is YOUR experience??
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Jonny

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2009, 01:03:38 PM »
I use the rubber gromets.
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AndyR

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2009, 01:05:58 PM »
I personally prefer rubber - one (or six, actually) less thing to rattle/buzz :D

My understanding is that rubber grommets was the original design anyway? (Might be wrong about that though...)
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Philly Q

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2009, 02:14:28 PM »
I usually use the rubber tubing, but I think it has more of a tendency to make the pickups sit wonky, because it's hard to cut it dead straight.

To be honest, I don't think it matters much either way - I don't think a small metal spring with something plastic at each end has much tendency to rattle.  It's more likely to be a problem with humbuckers.
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5F6-A

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2009, 08:28:24 AM »
My set os Apaches came with rubber gomets if I recall correctly but people like Callaham hardware go for springs instead... I think I might give the springs a go...
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gingataff

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2009, 03:44:19 PM »
Tim told me he always uses the rubber tubing on strat scratchplates, for humbuckers as well as single coils.
I think that as long as you use a long enough piece you can get a good wobble free fit, although those conical SC springs don't seem too bad.
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Ratrod

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2009, 06:19:57 PM »
Use rubber gromets like Leo intended.
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5F6-A

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2009, 07:54:39 PM »
Quote from: Ratrod on April 01, 2009, 06:19:57 PM
Use rubber gromets like Leo intended.

did he really?
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Philly Q

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2009, 09:56:07 PM »
Quote from: 5F6-A on April 02, 2009, 07:54:39 PM
Quote from: Ratrod on April 01, 2009, 06:19:57 PM
Use rubber gromets like Leo intended.

did he really?

Don't know what he intended, but I believe Fender used rubber tubing from the '50s to the mid '60s, then switched to springs.  I don't know when they went back to the tubing again - '80s??
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syr2012

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2009, 10:05:45 PM »
I dunno, both of my strats have springs. I've never tried grommets, but I'm fine with springs (once you get the little bar-stewards on, of course!). It is possible that the extra metal in the springs could do something for the sound, but if so, I'm sure it would be negligible. I'm just speculating, though...
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5F6-A

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2009, 09:06:00 AM »
some people claim they can tell the difference in tone straight away... even they can tell the spring gauge ....
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badgermark

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2009, 10:46:39 AM »
Quote from: 5F6-A on April 06, 2009, 09:06:00 AM
some people claim they can tell the difference in tone straight away... even they can tell the spring gauge ....

Those people are full of shite though.
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AndyR

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Re: Strats and how to hold their pickups... springs or rubber gromets??
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2009, 11:58:01 AM »
Quote from: badgermark on April 06, 2009, 10:46:39 AM
Quote from: 5F6-A on April 06, 2009, 09:06:00 AM
some people claim they can tell the difference in tone straight away... even they can tell the spring gauge ....

Those people are full of shitee though.

:lol:
Tell it like it is... :D
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