Anyone got any neoprene foam pickup height adjusters for Strat pickups ?

DrBob · April 2021

Like these

https://imgur.com/gallery/dog6ZQ2

I’m resurrecting an 80s Hohner Superstrat for a mate and I’m struggling to mount the Lace Alumitone single coil pickups in the neck & middle positions. Normally I’d just stick a rectangle of foam under the centre of the pickup and use the screws to adjust height. Except that these Lace pickups don’t really have a centre bit so it needs to fit under the rounded ears at either end and I’ve trashed all the neoprene I’ve managed to scavenge from pickup boxes because I don’t have anything sharp enough to cut neoprene. So anyone got 2 of these knocking about ?

Roland · April 2021

I think that @OilCityPickups uses model aircraft fuel line. If you want something wider then the tube that home brewers and wine makers use when siphoning. Any sharp blade will cut neoprene tubing. I’ve even used a pair of scissors.

Funkfingers · April 2021

Er, are the Lace pickups mounted directly into the body rather than suspended from a pickguard?

DrBob · April 2021

Funkfingers said:

Er, are the Lace pickups mounted directly into the body rather than suspended from a pickguard?

Yes, although not hard screwed to the bottom of the pickup cavity because that leaves them too far away from the strings

OilCityPickups · April 2021

Roland said:

I think that @OilCityPickups uses model aircraft fuel line. If you want something wider then the tube that home brewers and wine makers use when siphoning. Any sharp blade will cut neoprene tubing. I’ve even used a pair of scissors.

Watch it with larger diameter tube ... it can sit on the coil wire as it goes to the eyelet ,,, particularly on Tele bridge pickups ... you tighten the screw and it breaks the pickup wire. We use as @Roland says, model aircraft fuel line that has a thinner wall and won't damage the wires.

DrBob · April 2021

OilCityPickups said:

Roland said:

I think that @OilCityPickups uses model aircraft fuel line. If you want something wider then the tube that home brewers and wine makers use when siphoning. Any sharp blade will cut neoprene tubing. I’ve even used a pair of scissors.

Watch it with larger diameter tube ... it can sit on the coil wire as it goes to the eyelet ,,, particularly on Tele bridge pickups ... you tighten the screw and it breaks the pickup wire. We use as @Roland says, model aircraft fuel line that has a thinner wall and won't damage the wires.

Ash, having just dipped a toe into the murky world of model aircraft there does appear to be a variety of tuning on offer, would you have a specific diameter or type you would recommend?

OilCityPickups · April 2021

DrBob said:

OilCityPickups said:

Roland said:

I think that @OilCityPickups uses model aircraft fuel line. If you want something wider then the tube that home brewers and wine makers use when siphoning. Any sharp blade will cut neoprene tubing. I’ve even used a pair of scissors.

Watch it with larger diameter tube ... it can sit on the coil wire as it goes to the eyelet ,,, particularly on Tele bridge pickups ... you tighten the screw and it breaks the pickup wire. We use as @Roland says, model aircraft fuel line that has a thinner wall and won't damage the wires.

Ash, having just dipped a toe into the murky world of model aircraft there does appear to be a variety of tuning on offer, would you have a specific diameter or type you would recommend?

The stuff I use these days has an outside diameter of 5mm and an inside diameter of 3mm. it's thinner walled than some use, but stands less chance of damaging wires than either 6mm OD tube or springs. Cut the tube a bit longer and they 'spring' just as well as 6mm tube.

Funkfingers · April 2021

DrBob said:

Funkfingers said:

Er, are the Lace pickups mounted directly into the body rather than suspended from a pickguard?

Yes, although not hard screwed to the bottom of the pickup cavity because that leaves them too far away from the strings

You probably only need D-shaped compressible foam pads to fit under the "feet" of the Alumitone pickups.

Full length cavity shaped pads could deform upwards into the hollow part of the pickups and damage the coils and connectors.

Tubing sections would work if used in the style of a vintage Telecaster neck pickup, between the lug and the body wood.

DrBob · April 2021

@Funkfingers yep, you’re spot on my thinking in getting those Strat shaped ones would be to just hack the D shaped bits off of either end as they’re the bits that would be sort of visible I’d want them to look near. My own attempts at cutting neoprene into near curves have not gone well

Richardrichard · April 2021

The foam from sanding blocks works fine, I forgot to order “pickup foam” on my recent build so improvised

DrBob · April 2021

Richardrichard said:

The foam from sanding blocks works fine, I forgot to order “pickup foam” on my recent build so improvised

Off to make a purchase

CasperCaster · May 2021

Probably too late now, but possibly of help to someone else who may stumble across this thread:
https://www.cdguitars.co.uk/neoprene-foam-rubber-sponges-2pcs-for-pickups---pu-6944-023-289-p.asp

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Anyone got any neoprene foam pickup height adjusters for Strat pickups ?

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