Replacement Pickup: Are my height adjustment springs too long?

[Itchy]

Or am I just a dumbass?

This is my first time replacing a pickup, but I figured it would be a piece of cake. Just soldering a couple spots and being done with it. But NO, I can't even get the damn pickup and the bezel together! :chain:

My replacement pickup is a Holy Diver (which, btw, has paint flaking off the cover like no one's business, also pissing me off.) I got a 1/4 inch leg and the spring is 1 3/4" Now, I understand that there has to be some tension but its impossible to fit the springs between the pickup leg and the bezel like so: http://www.pickuprings.com/installation_

If I really try, I can get the spring short enough to be clear of the end of the height adjustment screw, but I'm so busy holding the spring, I can't get the screw through the hole in the pickup leg.

Can somebody tell me what I'm doing wrong here?

[Dmoney]

paint flaking off?

the springs are probably the right length. I've had both sizes of leg but I don't think i got shorter springs. you just need to try harder. sounds annoying but its true.

I usually do it putting the screw through the pickup ring, put on the spring, put my thumb on the screw and pull back the spring between my middle and index fingers, then try and get the pickup leg onto the end of the screw then push down the pickup ring. the screw should be lightly held in place and the pickup ring will squash the spring, then I just tighten it up.

You can tell if the screw is in the right place because it usually pushes a bit of wax out of the thread in the pickup leg.


I bet everyone has their own method for doing this.



as for the paint, no idea. I didn't think any of the cover got 'painted'

[Itchy]

OK. That's exactly the type of advise I needed. I guess I just have bad technique. Thank you.

And about the paint, yep. I got a black cover and every time the bezel hits the side it flakes off some more paint revealing the bare metal. I'm tempted to strip it all off and repaint it myself. But I'll save that for when I get the guitar painted as well.

[WezV]

there is a simple tool thats helps
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Tools:_Humbucker_Helpers/Humbucker_Helpers.html

but you could have just snipped the springs a bit shorter

[Itchy]

yea, I asked on jcfonline and the consensus there was to snip the springs a bit as well.

[impossible]

Those tools were invented because putting long springs (which work better as there's more tension) onto pickups is so frustrating and unpredictable, even to a seasoned pro. Springs launched across the room, and lost behind furniture anyone?

[WezV]

long springs (which work better as there's more tension)

they do work better with more tension... but he has short legged pickups here. the springs are he same length whichever leg you get... which is why i still say a little trim is a fine way to go

[Itchy]

I got it yesterday. snipped it a quarter inch and it was fine.   :D Thanks guys.