Total noob question: Humbucker mounting springs.

[Sifu Ben]

I'm doing my first pickup change, and I've had to change the mounting rings. I now can't get the screws, pickups and rings together because of the springs. Where am I going wrong???

[sgmypod]

best way is to remove pickup ring from body slightly(ie don't screw ring down then try to do this) put screw through ring, then spring....then line up pickup 1 side at a time.
HAve screw driver(small one) on screw push slowly (hold spring so doesn't go of line until screw hits hole...screw quickly first side done...repeat

[Fikealox]

lol, if they're BKPs, make sure to clean the wax out of the screwhole in the humbucker, too. The springs included with BKPs are the longest screws known to man, too - I used to have a hellish time with them, lol.

[Philly Q]

I don't usually use the BKP springs, they're too long (IMO) unless the pickup has long legs. 

And I hate the slot-headed screws too, the screwdriver slips out of the head too easily.  I always replace them with Phillips ones.

[gwEm]

i can only add that this job is always a bit of a pain.

if a spring fires off somewhere, watch to see where it lands

[Madiac]

Haha, this was a big headache for me aswell. I used my girlfriend to hold the springs;) It was tricky to find the right method of holding and pushing etc, but 2 people on the job made it a bit easier, so if you have someone around make use of it!:)

[HTH AMPS]

I hate the slot-headed screws too, the screwdriver slips out of the head too easily.  I always replace them with Phillips ones.

^ +1

it's a pain of a job when you first try, but after a few times it's easy as falling off a bike.

[Tellboy]

I don't usually use the BKP springs, they're too long (IMO) unless the pickup has long legs. 

+1 - Yes, usually after I've 'fired off' the BKP springs around the room a couple of times I fit the old springs of the pickup I'm replacing.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Have a look at this
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Electronics/Humbucker_Helpers.html

[MrBump]

And I hate the slot-headed screws too, the screwdriver slips out of the head too easily.  I always replace them with Phillips ones.

Yeah, I did that fitting my Mules to the Yam SG - ran the screwdriver all the way along my nice, shiny new mounts...

Grrrr!!!!

[Ivan]

installing the mounting springs is the job i hate the most.

I've slipped and stabbed myself with the screwdriver,
Broken mounting rings,
Scratched brand new pickup covers with the screwdriver,
and had springs flying in all directions.

That stewmac tool looks like a what i need!

[Philly Q]

Have a look at this
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Electronics/Humbucker_Helpers.html

The only reservation I'd have about that device is that it'll only work if the screws are longer than the Humbucker Helper itself - maybe they should make it in two different sizes so you can also use it with shorter screws?

[Ivan]

Have a look at this
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Electronics/Humbucker_Helpers.html

The only reservation I'd have about that device is that it'll only work if the screws are longer than the Humbucker Helper itself - maybe they should make it in two different sizes so you can also use it with shorter screws?

Varying sizes would be good.
But I think the intended use for that tool is for you to depress the spring before putting it on. Like an extra hand for holding the spring down while you fiddle with the other bits.

[Philly Q]

Have a look at this
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Electronics/Humbucker_Helpers.html

The only reservation I'd have about that device is that it'll only work if the screws are longer than the Humbucker Helper itself - maybe they should make it in two different sizes so you can also use it with shorter screws?

Varying sizes would be good.
But I think the intended use for that tool is for you to depress the spring before putting it on. Like an extra hand for holding the spring down while you fiddle with the other bits.

Yeah, but the screw still has to be longer than the Humbucker Helper frame (and the compressed spring), or it won't be able to reach the screw hole in the pickup foot before you remove the tool!  :)

[Ivan]

oh sorry I misread your post.

In that case. I agree.