Mounting Neck Pickup?

[martyb1]

Another newbee question

I see looking at pictures of partcasters and of origional tele's
Some have the neck pickup mounted in the pickguard and some have it bounted in the body.

Are some pickups made to mount only onr way?
Can you mount all pickups either way?
And now for the real debate
Which way is better?

Thanks

[defaultoprime]

Originally Posted by martyb1

Another newbee question

I see looking at pictures of partcasters and of origional tele's
Some have the neck pickup mounted in the pickguard and some have it bounted in the body.

Are some pickups made to mount only onr way?
Can you mount all pickups either way?
And now for the real debate
Which way is better?

Thanks

I think most pickups can be mounted either way... it's just a matter of what you're attaching to... be it the pick-guard from the top, or with wood screws to the body...

Which way is better really depends on your ears... some will swear that attaching the pickup directly to the wood makes a difference... perhaps yes, perhaps no... You'll probably lose the ability to adjust height with a body mount unless you have some sort of spring rig working underneath, but then you're probably not connected directly to the wood anymore.

[normantrophy]

Both of mine are body-mounted. The Squier came that way from the factory, the Partscaster I was doing up as a blackguard, so I had to drill the Mexican body, as it was originally a pickguard-mount.

The neck pickup I got had what apper to be P-bass screws, which have a non-threaded shank up near the head. It appears that these can be used in either application, as if you put springs behnid a pickguard, the threaded portion mates up with the ears on the pickup; if, however, you want to do a body-mount, the threaded part slips through allowing the pickup to slide freely on the screw, which you'll need with that kind of mounting.

As to which is better, I couldn't say, although I can see where you might get a little more sustain (however slight) with the body-mount. I prefer the look of the body-mount, although it's a bit of a hassle to adjust, since you have to remove the pickguard to do so.

[martyb1]

As to which is better, I couldn't say, although I can see where you might get a little more sustain (however slight) with the body-mount. I prefer the look of the body-mount, although it's a bit of a hassle to adjust, since you have to remove the pickguard to do so.

Thanks for the answers guys

Kinda what I thought about setting the pickups

[yegbert]

Fender and many other brand Tele neck pickups are made to be capable of being mounted either way.

If someone mounts one to the body using the screws of the right size and with the relieved shank like the Fender specs, the holes in the pickup base have the best chance of not getting reamed out, and the pickup can still easily be installed pickguard mounted.

I've seen some used or aftermarket pups with larger holes in the base that were shipped or used with screws that have larger shanks; those I think might need the screw holes repaired in order to be pickguard mounted. Probably could be repaired without too much difficulty, with a little epoxy or similar material.

Fender uses different screws for pickguard mounting, than for body mounting. At least in the Teles in current production that I've looked at the specs for, like the MIM Classic Series '69 Thinline.

If you want correct spec screws of either type, you can order some from a Fender dealer.

StewMac sells some for body mounting that seem to be the correct spec functionally, although the head drive may not be the style you want. A few months ago they were slotted drive heads only, then more recently they switched to philips. If you're body mounting and using a typical pickguard you won't see the screws other than when you remove the pickguard, so the cosmetics of the screws are not a concern for some folks. If the cosmetics are of concern, and you want slotted drive heads, a Fender dealer might be the best source.

I like the clean looks of a body mounted Tele neck pickup, vs. the two extra screws showing. But if you have a 22-fret neck you should consider ease of access to the screws for adjusting the pickup height. With typical pickguards the 22nd fret overhang will be on top of the edge of the pickguard. The Korean Koa and Lite Ash Teles use guards that are cut differently in that area so they don't fit under the overhang. I trimmed my Squier Std guard to be like that. You might find that a thinner guard or a little removal of material from the underside of the overhang will enable you to slip the guard out with the neck still on. Some folks avoid 22 fret neck Teles for this as one of the reasons, some cut off the 22nd fret to resolve the problem.

I don't know if body mounted vs. pickguard mounted sounds differently, I haven't experimented with doing it both ways. Other than HBs on a couple of Teles, the neck pups on mine are all body mounted.

[0le FUZZY]

Which way is better?

...The way it came from the factory.

...I much pre-furr the old way but iffin yer pick guard has the holes yew mite as well use em.

...The holes inna base plate may be stripped out sew that a screw won't thread in and in this event I alwayz mount tew body and change out the pick guard.

...I don't like tew haff ta pull the strings off in order tew git the guard off sew I like the body mount the bess. Bee-sides bendin them wires all round kin dew sum damage tew the P/U and/or the switch.





(deranged internet-based alter ego, with my own lexicon and all.)

Please visit my page

[mellecaster]

If your the type who is not real Hung-up on how it looks...but more to ..how things work...you can also Body mount the Pickup....and use a Later model guard w/ the 2 holes....and one of those German made Precision screwdrivers will go right thru the empty P/Guard holes..and you can adjust your Body-mounted Pup like that there.