What can I use to raise pick-up height?

[ynot12]

I started a fun little project earlier tonight. I'm restoring my very first bass from 21years ago. It's a Gibson Epiphone P style bass. Way back then, a buddy gave me the pick-ups off his Ibanez and I had a local music store install them. I didnt realize it at the time that they didn't put high enough cushion under the pick-ups and now I want to raise them.

What can I put under these p/j's to get the lift I need?

[subdude67]

how much higher do the PU's have to be?

i use neoprene pads that i cut from old diving suits but you can use sponge cloth or any other foamy material that is compressible.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by subdude67

how much higher do the PU's have to be?

i use neoprene pads that i cut from old diving suits but you can use sponge cloth or any other foamy material that is compressible.

I have some authentic pickup foam pads but they're no better than a cannibalized mouse pad. You can even glue multiple layers together for added thickness if desired.

Narrow latex tubing slid over the mounting screws works well, too.

Riis

[eots]

springs.
maybe source them from a push button pen.

[ynot12]

Originally Posted by subdude67

how much higher do the PU's have to be?

They already have a thin, approximately 1/4 inch black foam like strips stuck on the bottom, but I need another 1/4 to 3/8 inch of height.

I'll see what spongey stuff I can find and perhaps try the spring idea. Thanks for the responses, guys.

[Stinsok]

Mouse pad!!!

[Rocky McDougall]

Fender has used foam weatherstriping (for around doors or windows) quite successfully.
3/4" to 1" is most desirable, 1/2" is too narrow IMO. Springs and tubing also work as mentioned above.
Rocky

[ynot12]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

I have some authentic pickup foam pads but they're no better than a cannibalized mouse pad. You can even glue multiple layers together for added thickness if desired.

Narrow latex tubing slid over the mounting screws works well, too.

Riis

I went with the mouse pad method and it worked beautifully. Thanks for tips, gang!

[bumperbass]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

I have some authentic pickup foam pads but they're no better than a cannibalized mouse pad. You can even glue multiple layers together for added thickness if desired.

Narrow latex tubing slid over the mounting screws works well, too.

Riis

Wow, Zooberwerx! I have been searching this (or trying to for days) and BAM!! MOUSEPAD! Perfect. Thanks a whole whole lotta bunch.

[walterw]

remember, the springs trick only works if the pickups are a solid unit like EMGs or barts; fender-type pickups use the pressure from the foam padding underneath to hold the pickup in place up under the cover, so without it the pickup would fall out of the cover back down into the cavity.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by bumperbass

Wow, Zooberwerx! I have been searching this (or trying to for days) and BAM!! MOUSEPAD! Perfect. Thanks a whole whole lotta bunch.

90% of all repairs can be done with crap you have stashed around the house, plain and simple. Glad it worked out for you.

Riis
Bassist, Therapist, Humanitarian...and All-Around Cheapskate

[JLS]

What pickup raising foam is best for metal?

[walterw]

why, metal foam of course

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by walterw

why, metal foam of course

Un-subscribed and asking for a partial refund.

Riis

[Rocky McDougall]

If you are into soft jazz, I would use Goose Down feathers in a small silk sack. You can add or remove the feathers to gain the exact desired height.

Rocky

[ivanfeg]

So those screws don't raise and lower the pickups as they would on an 6 string eletric guitar? I've never tryed to raise bass pickups before.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by walterw

why, metal foam of course

If a flaky guitar owner used that foam, would that make it metal foam used by a metal flake?

[rfslick]

Originally Posted by ivanfeg

So those screws don't raise and lower the pickups as they would on an 6 string eletric guitar? I've never tryed to raise bass pickups before.

That would depend on what kind of bass you are working on. Fender pickups have the foam cushion under them to push them up as you back the screws out.
Gibson and Hofner Asian pickups are suspended from the plastic pickup surround with screws and springs.
Those are pretty much the way all pickups are mounted. An exception would be the neck pickup on a Gibson EB-3 which is screwed directly to the top of the guitar, with no function to raise or lower it. I'm not sure you would want to raise it anyway. IMO it's way too powerful as it sits.

[bumperbass]

I just replaced my P-Bass pickups with Original 62's, which of course came with the foam and new SCREWS (thank God). What really amazes me is the way the foam was just slapped on the bottom of them haphazardly, kind of like a kid makes a Big Mac at McDonalds. It was glued on crooked and lopsided, as were the ones I took out. I wonder why they don't use a foam piece as big as the pickups?
I was floored. I tried to peel it off but gave up. They seem to adjust OK but still. I'd be curious to see how the foam is installed on a new 2012 Am. Std.

[SoVeryTired]

I found this thread last night and took one of the suggestions to good effect. I took the springs from two push-button pens, snipped them in half, and put one part on each of the four screws. Et voila, a sunken jazz pickup now needs to be tightened to bring it down to the right height. Result.

Now I just need to find another two pens or a mouse mat to sort out the (not so bad) neck pickup...

Thank you TB!