American Tele Neck Pickup Leveling System

[Barz]

I was just wondering. How does the neck pickup leveling system set up on American Tele's I have a MIM and have the screws through the pickguard and I was wondering if there was a way to make it work like the american models so it would be easy to get the pickguard I want. lol. Thanks.

[Chris Leger]

Originally Posted by Barz

I was just wondering. How does the neck pickup leveling system set up on American Tele's I have a MIM and have the screws through the pickguard and I was wondering if there was a way to make it work like the american models so it would be easy to get the pickguard I want. lol. Thanks.

American Standards have the same screws/holes, so the pickguards will interchange.

[Barz]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

American Standards have the same screws/holes, so the pickguards will interchange.

well the pickguard I'd like to get is from allparts and it doesnt have neck pickup screw holes. That's why I was asking.

[Chris Leger]

Send the Allparts guard to NASA/JPL. They can machine you some holes.

[Barz]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

Send the Allparts guard to NASA/JPL. They can machine you some holes.

OK...........well thanks for that.

Chris let me explain my reasoning for this since you seem to have got the impression that I'm an idiot or something. I have a guard I purchased from someone and I went to put it on then noticed it didn't have the holes so I decided hey I'll drill them. So i got my guard and as most guards go. They weren't an exact match. And for some reason when I drilled they were not even(Maybe they slid a little when drilling and I didn't notice?) and I have some OCD issues when it comes to that kind of stuff. Also they stick up kind of high. But besides that I like the no screw look. The MAIN reason I want the pickguard that's on this is it has less screw holes. I think they look better with less crap thrown on them. So basically I don't mean to sound completely helpless I just want some suggestions and information that's all.

[Chris Leger]

It sounds like you're saying you have a MIM guitar that has screw adjusters through the pickguard, but now you'd like to switch to the set-up without screws?

In that case, you just need a pcikguard minus the holes. The way guitars like that work is they screw the neck pickup directly into the body. You adjust the pickup by screwing the pickup down further/deeper. You can either use springs/tubing over the screws between the pickup and body, or you can put a large block of foam under the pickup.

Lots of guys are doing this. The critical thing (obviously) is to make sure the screws you use are the proper length such that you don't wind up screwing them through the back of the guitar. You may also need to drill out the threaded portion of the neck pickup baseplate in order to get wood screws in there. Might not be an issue if it's the original MIM plastic pickup.

While your drillign experiments to date may not have gone so well, I would suggest drilling some pilot holes in the body so that you don't split it with the screws. If this isn't clear, let me know. You can improvise a simple "depth guage" by wrapping a piece of tape around your drill bit so you know when to stop drilling.

Sorry for my remarks. It did read as if you couldn't figure out how to get holes into your pickguard. I need to switch to decaf.

[Barz]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

It sounds like you're saying you have a MIM guitar that has screw adjusters through the pickguard, but now you'd like to switch to the set-up without screws?

In that case, you just need a pcikguard minus the holes. The way guitars like that work is they screw the neck pickup directly into the body. You adjust the pickup by screwing the pickup down further/deeper. You can either use springs/tubing over the screws between the pickup and body, or you can put a large block of foam under the pickup.

Lots of guys are doing this. The critical thing (obviously) is to make sure the screws you use are the proper length such that you don't wind up screwing them through the back of the guitar. You may also need to drill out the threaded portion of the neck pickup baseplate in order to get wood screws in there. Might not be an issue if it's the original MIM plastic pickup.

While your drillign experiments to date may not have gone so well, I would suggest drilling some pilot holes in the body so that you don't split it with the screws. If this isn't clear, let me know. You can improvise a simple "depth guage" by wrapping a piece of tape around your drill bit so you know when to stop drilling.

Sorry for my remarks. It did read as if you couldn't figure out how to get holes into your pickguard. I need to switch to decaf.

Lol, ok Chris well then I apologize for the snap back.

But down to business I do have a MIM Standard, and yes its the stock PuP's(unfortunatly), I'd like to put an ALLPARTS 5 Screw parchment guard on it.

Thanks for the detailed instructions. Do you think the foam block would be better than the tube?

[LocustPlague]

It's really your decision. The foam block will give the pickup more stability, but I tried it and it kind of vibrated or something and just upset me. I wound up going with tubing around the screws.

[Chris Leger]

I don't think it matters very much whether you use foam or tubing or springs. Use whatever you have handy. I'd use tubing, just because I have a decent-sized collection of the stuff.

No reason why you can't install that 5-hole guard on your guitar. I think you'll find that the shape & fit of the Allparts guard is correct, as well.

Good luck!

[Barz]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

I don't think it matters very much whether you use foam or tubing or springs. Use whatever you have handy. I'd use tubing, just because I have a decent-sized collection of the stuff.

No reason why you can't install that 5-hole guard on your guitar. I think you'll find that the shape & fit of the Allparts guard is correct, as well.

Good luck!

Ok cool, thanks. Yeah I never bought a guard from AllParts I've been buying them on eBay. Each one fits different. Like the one I drilled and have on there now only fits sitting on the control plate and that aggravates the crap outta me. lol

[Chris Leger]

In my experience, the guards from Warmoth, Allparts, WD, and Guitar Fetish all fit well.

I have a Warmoth on now and it's perfect.

For some reason though, it's my experience that while the outside contours of those guards are correct, sometimes the hole pattern is shifted slightly - enough for me to need to dowel and drill new holes. My OCD dictates that my pickguard lie flat without no distortion around the holes.

If you have a stock MIM, and your present guard is lying on top of your control plate, you'll love the Allparts guard.

[Barz]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

In my experience, the guards from Warmoth, Allparts, WD, and Guitar Fetish all fit well.

I have a Warmoth on now and it's perfect.

For some reason though, it's my experience that while the outside contours of those guards are correct, sometimes the hole pattern is shifted slightly - enough for me to need to dowel and drill new holes. My OCD dictates that my pickguard lie flat without no distortion around the holes.

If you have a stock MIM, and your present guard is lying on top of your control plate, you'll love the Allparts guard.

Sounds Good! Thanks Chris.

[pengipete]

If you drill holes for a body-mounted neck pickup be aware that they need to be perfectly level - horizontally and vertically. Anything else will make it difficult or even impossible to fit the pickguard as well as looking tatty.

[Colt W. Knight]

It seems like every pickguard I have retrofitted to any guitar has needed some adjustments and fine tunings. just remember, what goes on under the pickguard, stays under the pickguard. With a MIM, you don't have to worry about resale value because it probably won't ever be a factor, so if you need to make new holes or fill some old holes don't make a big deal about it. Just a chunk of wood. You will, however, have to look your guitar, so if you need to reshape your pickguard, go slow and deliberate. Everything will turn out in the end.

The process of drilling a perfectly straight hole, exactly where you want it doesn't sound complicated at all, but in all actuality, it is very difficult. You almost have to have a drill press and vice. Some people can do it free hand, but I have some essential hand tremors that prevent me from doing such precision work. But when drilling, its always a good idea secure the piece with a clamp of some sort, use a center punch, and always have a good backing to drill into. You would think drilling into open space would be the way to go, but really its a lot better to have it clamped to some scrap wood. That keeps the drill bit from pushing the last bit of material out and splaying it over creating unsightly tearouts, uneven holes, and tattered bits hanging unflush on the bottom.

[cg73cmc]

Originally Posted by Chris Leger

Send the Allparts guard to NASA/JPL. They can machine you some holes.

Not any more they contract this out at $5,000 per hole. Hey - it's got to be government quality so please be understanding.

EDIT: But in reality - I wouldn't drill the holes myself either - I've had no problems finding the correct pickguard somewhere on the internets.