Pickup foam, how much to use

[pj-mike]

I've bought some pickup foam to put under a P style pickup.
It's 9/16" wide. The pickup is nearly twice as wide. Would you put two strips side by side or one centered on the mounting screws?

[JustDavid]

I'd go side by side.

[pj-mike]

Thanks JustDavid

[Pilgrim]

I'd put enough under it to push up the pickup. (Duh...) I'd go with one chunk, as it will be under there a long time and foam compresses. One larger chunk is less likely to crumble or compress than two smaller ones.

[lowbass68]

I never had great luck with using foam. I have used various sized springs instead of foam for around 20 years with no issues. Every type of foam seams to degrade over time, springs hold up better IMO.

[Stinsok]

Use old mouse pad material. Firm but springy.

[lethargytartare]

Another material to try is surgical tubing (which actually turns up at hardware stores and isn't hard to find) -- use chunks of that instead of springs. I like it because it's easier to position them (the screws keep them in place), and with springs or tubing, I like the more even way they push the pup up. I find myself having to tinker with foam a lot more to get things the way I like.

[rumblethump]

I use campershell sticky back foam used between the campershell and pickup bed. Because its sticky it stays in place and is thicker and less prone to compress. I've also used old mousepads but usually need multiple layers to get the pickup close enough to the strings.

[Metal Mitch]

Use 2 strips to avoid the "see-saw" effect. Tubing on the pickup screws has the same problem as 1 thin strip in the middle.

[pj-mike]

Thanks everyone for the input.
I've got two basses that need foam. One is an SX that I want to swap the springs for foam. Metal Mich's description the "see-saw" effect is perfect. One is my old parts bass. On this one the foam is just compressed and no longer pushes up. I originally used regular homestore weatherstrip (not very dense). I bought Fender replacement foam to get a denser weatherstrip. Its available in two thickness 3/8" and 1/2". I bought the 1/2" x 9/16" wide. (the 3/8" thick is 1/2" wide)
I know the parts bass needs the 1/2" thick.
In about a week I'll need to change the strings on the SX. I'll look at the SX then. One of these basses will get the new foam. I'm going to go with the side by side method.

Mike

[pj-mike]

I just put the foam in the SX. The split coil pickups in my SX PJ are not as wide where the foam will go. The base of the magnet is well below the rest of the pickup. I put in as single strip of 9/16" wide by 1/2" thick foam. It worked great. The parts bass has a Seymour Duncan SP2 and will get the side by side method.

Mike

[Ron G]

So using foam is better then using Fender Pickup Tubing? I'm not able to adjust my pickups on my Squire P.

[Giraffe]

I am in the habit of measuring the "targeted height" before I start removing components, so when I put it back together I can achieve the desired height with enough stability. I like the pickup to be firmly in place when it is adjusted to the final height, with no rocking or "depressing" and it often requires more than one shot.

One thickness of foam is a little marginal for me. I often use wooden shims, 1/4" or so thick and cut to fit the bottom of the cavity with clearance or holes for the mounting screws.

A lot of high-end guitar techs will use solid shims under a customer's pickups, once they have decided on the best height over a period of time. It is not the most convenient solution but some of those with golden ears claim there is a difference. I think that trick was popularized by Joe Barden. Who am I to argue?!?!

[kcamsdog1387]

I just encountered this problem when I put 1/4 pounders in my Squier II. The old pickups only had springs, but one of them was lost (Im pretty sure eaten by my friend's dog) The foam SD give you in the packaging along with the tubing was no where near enough to get the pickups close to the strings. I don't know exactly how it will hold up, but I just cut whatever foam I could find around the house, and used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Just cut it to size and put em under the pickups. Seems to work for now.

[Ron G]

I'm using Fender's measurements for pickup height 2.8mm (bass side) 2mm (treble side) that's to the bottom of the strings. I'm going to see what I can find in the house, thanks.

[rumblethump]

"A lot of high-end guitar techs will use solid shims under a customer's pickups, once they have decided on the best height over a period of time. It is not the most convenient solution but some of those with golden ears claim there is a difference. I think that trick was popularized by Joe Barden. Who am I to argue"

Thanks for this tid bit. I learn something everyday. I'm trying this. I certainly don't have golden ears, but it kind of makes sense to me.

[walterw]

the issue with springs or tubing is that fender-style bass pickups are just held in place under the plastic covers by the foam pressure from underneath.

if you just use springs, the cover might stay where you want it, but the pickup itself could fall in.