where to get foam for pickups

[BassGreaser]

I'm looking for foam to use under the pickups in my current 5 string project build. anyone know where I can buy Hi-dense foam?

[HARD HAT]

Hey Greaser,
I"m currently working on my first build and had this same question. The best answer I found was at Home Depot, but any hardware store should carry it, - weatherstripping foam. The one I found was very dense, had an adhesive strip on one side, and after a test fit turned out to be perfect.

[WezV]

My cousin just brought me loads of these round. He got them from a fella that works with brand ne cars, apparently the cars are covered in them anyplace they might get knocked when they go out to dealers. Gets boxes full of hundreds of them very cheap. The ones he gave me where almost exactly the same as allparts sell in packs of two for a couple of pounds

[pilotjones]

Some people here recommend, rather than foam under the pup to raise it, instead using surgical tubing around the screws. I would think that would have longer life.

[anonymous278347457]

when i bought my guitar, it came wrapped in a few layers of foamy padding sheet in a box(kinda like the stuff that TVs are wrapped in when they are inside the box) I cut a piece up, folded it up and used that

[andvari7]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Some people here recommend, rather than foam under the pup to raise it, instead using surgical tubing around the screws. I would think that would have longer life.

Exactly how does that work?

[Stinsok]

I didn't come up with this, but it works great. Get a mouse pad and cut it to fit. Use as many layers as needed. Springy and firm. You will not be dissappointed.

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by andvari

Exactly how does that work?

Looking at the screw from the top down, you've got
1. the head
2. the shaft portion that is in the pup
3. the shaft portion that is in open air, between the pup and the bottom of the cavity
4. the shaft portion that is screwed into the bottom of the cavity

The idea is to cut a piece of rubber tubing, slightly longer than section 3. Then to mount the pup, put the screw through the pup, then through the tubing, then screw into the wood.

Kind of like a shock absorber sleeve.

It's also been suggested, instead of tubing, use ball point pen springs the same way.

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by Stinsok

I didn't come up with this, but it works great. Get a mouse pad and cut it to fit. Use as many layers as needed. Springy and firm. You will not be dissappointed.

I've used mouse pads for a lot of things. They're pretty firm, often free, and don't seem to decay quickly. Good idea.

[dcartoon]

Echoing what pilotjones said, here's the Stewmac page that has tubing as well as springs. I use the springs for my P-pickups, and they work pretty well.

Kitchen sponges(clean), may also do the trick.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...ps:_Parts.html


Dan

[fish man]

Jeez. I don't even want to click on that. StewMac probably want 10 bucks for an inch of tubing.

[pilotjones]

Some home centers have surgical tubing for cheap.

[BassGreaser]

thanks guys...I think I'm going to try a few different things and see what works best.

[keyboardguy]

I went to the Dollar store and bought foam sponges for, well, a dollar..... works for me.


Mike

[Musiclogic]

Mouse pads are made out of Neoprene in many cases(NOT ALL) and you can buy bulk neoprene sheet at fabric stores. It works well. Just a note.

[wilser]

I got some garage door weather stripping foam from wal-mart at around $3.99 per 10 feet. It has 2 oposing faces that are self adhesive and it works great for pickup foam.

[iamlowsound]

I have never even heard of using foam, I have only ever seen/used springs. They work great.

lowsound

[tplyons]

Weatherstripping foam for me. Frost King brand in particular.

[Suburban]

Home made conical springs around the screws. Made from cheap soft steel wire.
The stress is so minimal that soft steel is OK. The wire will creep less than any foam or even the surgical tube.
But of course, piano wire (or guitar strings...) will be better in the loooong run.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Weatherstripping foam for me

+1

cheap and effective. i pick mine up at home depot usually.