G.E. Smith Mod

I have a couple questions.
I ordered a Wilkinson hard tail bridge plate and I am going to mod a SX STL50.
What is the best way to mount the pickups to the body?
I know I will need wood screws and either rubber tubing or springs.
Which is better? Should I get different length screws for proper height
adjustment? I do not want to go through the body! It sounds like the G.E. set up is pretty close to the strings.
Will I need to ground the bridge pickup?
Any thing else that would help I would appreciate.

I believe it was documented in a thread here that the GE tele uses no springs or rubber tubes for bridge pup mounting. In fact, the bridge pickup rout is much shallower than a normal tele, allowing the pickup to be screwed right into the wood, but sit up high near the strings. If you have a standard bridge tele pickup rout depth, you'd have to add some hardwood to the bottom of the rout to be the same as a GE tele.

I mounted mine solid to the body using a hardwood cutout to bring the bridge to the level I desired below the strings. I beveled the shim so it is higher on the high strings.

I guess the same would be for the neck?

I guess the same would be for the neck?

If I understand your question correctly, I would say no. You shouldn't have to add any wood for the neck mount. Just like any other 50s style neck pickup, you can use springs or tubing when mounting.

I have a couple questions.
I ordered a Wilkinson hard tail bridge plate and I am going to mod a SX STL50.
What is the best way to mount the pickups to the body?
I know I will need wood screws and either rubber tubing or springs.
Which is better? Should I get different length screws for proper height
adjustment? I do not want to go through the body! It sounds like the G.E. set up is pretty close to the strings.
Will I need to ground the bridge pickup?
Any thing else that would help I would appreciate.



I have the guts out of my GE Smith while the body is out getting sparkled. Here're the measurements I got.
Bridge pickup is mounted with slot head wood screws. Outside thread diameter is 3/32" X 1" long and each screw has a 1/2" long piece of surgical tubing on it.

Yes, the bridge PU is grounded by an eyelet type connector screwed to the body in a small indentation beneath the edge of the bridgeplate nearest the pickup. (PU has 3 leads)

Neck pickup is attached with identical hardware and tubing as the bridge PU.

Hope this helps.

Very cool. I got a second pick guard from Rondo with no holes for the neck pick up.
I have already mounted it with wood screws and springs to the body.
I think I will run into trouble modifying the bridge because of the SX bridge configuration.
I have ordered another bridge plate but I do not believe it will mod easily. The bridge plate on the SX's are pretty hefty and screw in both in front and behind the pick up.
I believe some of the tone comes from the lack of a plate around the pick up as well as body mount. I will see if the ordered bridge plate works, if not I have already drilled the original bridge plate to hold the brass saddles. I think the extra screws would probably accomplish the same as the slotted wood screws.

I have the guts out of my GE Smith while the body is out getting sparkled. Here're the measurements I got.
Bridge pickup is mounted with slot head wood screws. Outside thread diameter is 3/32" X 1" long and each screw has a 1/2" long piece of surgical tubing on it.

Yes, the bridge PU is grounded by an eyelet type connector screwed to the body in a small indentation beneath the edge of the bridgeplate nearest the pickup. (PU has 3 leads)

Neck pickup is attached with identical hardware and tubing as the bridge PU.

Hope this helps.

Any pictures of the screws. I am trying to figure out haw it fits through the holes on the pickup?

Very cool. I got a second pick guard from Rondo with no holes for the neck pick up.
I have already mounted it with wood screws and springs to the body.
I think I will run into trouble modifying the bridge because of the SX bridge configuration.
I have ordered another bridge plate but I do not believe it will mod easily. The bridge plate on the SX's are pretty hefty and screw in both in front and behind the pick up.
I believe some of the tone comes from the lack of a plate around the pick up as well as body mount. I will see if the ordered bridge plate works, if not I have already drilled the original bridge plate to hold the brass saddles. I think the extra screws would probably accomplish the same as the slotted wood screws.

You should be able to find a Wilkinson half-bridge for not much.

Bought one on Ebay last week. They took my money Friday then I get a message from them on Tuesday that they are out of stock until 6/28. I hope the string pattern is the same and that I (if needed) can cover up the unused screw holes. I know the 2 front ones will be exposed but I can deal with that.

Pics when you get it, OK? I'm wanting to follow in your footsteps here.

I wonder if using brass slotted wood screws would be better than stainless.
You bet I will post some pictures. I took the guitar to my buddy who makes accoustic pick ups. After play for a while asked me what other colors does the SX come in. Looks like CAR is out of stock currently
I have a 1998 Deluxe that will see less playing.