Neck PU sitting at an angle in cavity - why?!

[BBill64]

I did a copper tape shielding job on my MIM 60s Classic (the thing hummed like a bee) but when I reinstalled the neck PU, it's sitting at a weird angle in the cavity and it didn't before.

The side nearest the neck is raised up and the the side nearest the bridge looks sunk into the cavity a bit. I wouldn't mind a little bit of angle but it looks like a ramp or something.

Does anyone know what's happening here or how to fix it?

 

[ScottieHotrod]

Push down on it really hard till it goes back to normal?

Safer option would be to take it out and put it back in again. It might be cross threaded or something weird.

Now would be a good time to make any truss rod adjustments. The neck pu on my 60s classic has a dent in it from where I tried to adjust the rod without taking out the pickup first.

 

[BBill64]

Truss is fine, slight curve on the neck (as in only noticeable when I put my ruler next to it and saw that <1mm gap) and I'm sort of scared of messing with truss rods for some reason. I've never had trouble with them and I think messing about with what I don't understand would only cause me more harm than good.

Taking out/put it in again hasn't helped. I might try propping it up somehow by putting something in the cavity.

 

[BBill64]

Some loo roll under the pickup didn't really work either, I'm at a loss what to do.

Come on, tdpri, tell me how to stop my tele looking stupid.

 

[ScottieHotrod]

You shouldn't be scared of the truss rod but <1mm is fine.

Are the screws going into the body straight?

Or is the pickup not sitting right on the screws?

I had this problem with an artcore once and I had to make a custom piece of card to push it up on one side.

 

[BBill64]

The screws are going into the holes the same way they were before I took the damn thing out.

I simply can't think why it would be at this ridiculous angle now when it wasn't before. It almost makes me regret ever taking a screwdriver to it, it looks that dumb.

I mean look at it and tell me what you think of that angle. Should I stop worrying? Because it still sounds fine.

(Btw, I am not wearing a kilt, only the finest lounge trousers available to me )

 

[ScottieHotrod]

Waaaay too much angle there mate. I'm pretty sure that will effect the sound.

You need to closely inspect every part to see what's up with it. Is there tubing or anything?

 

[kmacaster]

Exactly how my MIM looks as well...

So I'll join the camp with you and wait for an answer as well.

 

[BBill64]

Waaaay too much angle there mate. I'm pretty sure that will effect the sound.

You need to closely inspect every part to see what's up with it. Is there tubing or anything?

I trimmed a tiny bit off of the rubber tubing that sits under the pickup around the screws to see if that would help but nope, took that picture after I tried that.

Best we can do is wait until some guru type comes and gives us all the answers we need.

 

[ScottieHotrod]

Even the master gurus would probly need to look at it. Something must be wonky somewhere.

 

[ScottieHotrod]

It does look a little on the high side. Try screwing it down more. It shouldn't be that close to the strings anyway.

 

[BBill64]

The angle is still there when I've lowered it way down as far as it'll go (the lowest point, under the high E, was below the pickguard).

Could I have messed up the screw holes? I don't really see how, but there's nothing in the cavity, the rubber bits are fine, the pickup looks fine, screws aren't bent. Can't explain it and it's really frustrating.

 

[AJBaker]

Inspect the pickup first, make sure there is nothing weird with the flat work, and try wriggling around the screws. Then try replacing the rubber tubing with some springs.

 

[Glen Smith]

Does it also sit on an angle when the pickguard is removed?

 

[BBill64]

Does it also sit on an angle when the pickguard is removed?

Yep, sure does.

I thought about changing the rubber for springs, would be interesting to see if it made a difference.

At this point I almost feel like getting a pickguard I can mount the pickup to, but that doesn't look as cool as the clean body-mount thing the 60s classic has going on.

 

[Glen Smith]

Can you remove the pickguard and take some pics from the side and overhead? Also, remove the pickguard and put the screws back in the pickup holes to see if the screws are angled. Then install just the screws without the pickup into the body and see if the screws are angled.

 

[mr.fitz]

I too was faced with the same problem and got tired of trying to fix it until I read this thread and here's what I did to fix mine:
Problem 1:my pick guard was rubbing against my pick guard due to misalign ment
Problem 2:the angle of my pickup screws were going into the body on angles and not straight down
Fixing both of these issues as well as placing some expandable foam earplugs under my pickup fixed my issue
Good luck

 

[Bartholomew3]

I had the same problem with my 68 when I changed the pickguard to put back the original p/u. Used a couple of pieces of fibre insulation underneath to level it.

In my case it was due to the new 2011 pick-guard not fitting exactly the same as the 1968 original which was cut for a PAF way back.

 

[italo]

Maybe the pickup wires are too stiff (very common ) and tilting the pickup. Try repositioning the wires.

 

[trev333]

are the PU wires pulling it down by not having some slack?...

I had one like that.. though it was more to do with a mis-cut aftermarket PG pushing on the PU cover...
I replaced the guard with a Fender one and the PU straightened up...

your screws might have made a new hole on an angle into the wood ?...