Pickup Foam

[Zooberwerx]

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Definitely something thick and black!

...which describes what I just found in my parts drawer: AllParts Black Pickup Sponges PU 6944-023. It's a split rectangle with peel-off adhesive backing. The foam can be used intact for a larger footprint or separated into two narrow sections for use with a jazz style pup.

http://www.allparts.com/PU-6944-023-Black-Pickup-Sponges_p_3183.html

Riis

 

[edsand]

I got a thick can coozie from the dollar store. Cut out strips for my J and there is plenty left over. On the neck pickup it was just a little on the thick side so I cut it down a little much like filleting a fish.

I like the neoprene idea. I have several thinner neoprene koozies, so I will cut and stack two or four layers under there. I think this will be similar to the mouse-pad method, but provide a little greater compression range.

[OT] I also have also used these as mutes, to get a little flat-wound thump and dial back the zing. Fold and tuck under the strings, tight up against the bridge. Fold and cut to taste.

 

[Cleaner44]

I recently have been search for big piece of foam for a project bass that I am creating. I wanted a big sheet for pickups other than Precision or Jazz pickups. Not easy to find what I wanted... until today!

Big 5 sporting goods has a Stadium Cushion that is the perfect density and thickness. I got it in black, but it comes in other colors too. It was only $6.99 and it is bigger than 12 inches by 12 inches.

 

[RobbieK]

Nice find.

A while back I bought a pack of three pieces of dark grey foam about 80cm x 20cm x 1cm. It has a self-adhesive side and, (like your seat thing) just the right springiness. Both great for pickup installations. It also cuts cleanly with a stanley blade. The item was sold as foam strips to stick on the walls of your garage so your car doors don't get scuffed when you open them too far...

 

[Ductapeman]

This thread is very relevant to my interests, if a bit necro-- I have a Squier Precision that I decided to swap pickups in when I found a Lindy Fralin unit I never seem to have used (imagine that)-- went to do the swap and 1) the existing foam is glued to the pickup back and 2) the pickup bobbin is loose in the cover, so using screws adjusts the cover only, while the bobbin has fallen down into the rout. I've been chewing on this for a few days, and then figured "Why don't I look in TalkBass?" and there it is-- thanks again, guys! Though truth be told, when I found the foam in my '64 Jazz and '65 Precision I thought it was a cheezy way to elevate the pkps, I guess if it's factory it can't be too bad-- I guess--

 

[bassbenj]

This thread is very relevant to my interests, if a bit necro-- I have a Squier Precision that I decided to swap pickups in when I found a Lindy Fralin unit I never seem to have used (imagine that)-- went to do the swap and 1) the existing foam is glued to the pickup back and 2) the pickup bobbin is loose in the cover, so using screws adjusts the cover only, while the bobbin has fallen down into the rout. I've been chewing on this for a few days, and then figured "Why don't I look in TalkBass?" and there it is-- thanks again, guys! Though truth be told, when I found the foam in my '64 Jazz and '65 Precision I thought it was a cheezy way to elevate the pkps, I guess if it's factory it can't be too bad-- I guess--

Of course you need something under the pickup to hold the coils in the cover. Or you could just glue it in there. Typical is some kind of foam or springs. Sprngs give the widest adjustement range but will vibrate and the pickup will pick them up. IF you tap on the pickup with NO STRINGS on the instrument you will hear a spring-like boing-boing sound. THat WILL change the sound of your pickups if you try to ignore it. One fix people use is to shove foam ear plugs down the springs to damp them out.

The other is use foam. What you DO NOT want to use is ANY kind of polyurethane foam (like typical weather stripping). It self-destucts in a year or so and makes a mess and mus be replaced. best choices are real foam rubber (will be black and rubbery) which gives a reasonable adjustment range for any given thickness and lasts reasonably well. Note mouse pads are foam rubber but are very stiff and don't compress well at all. Best is real foam rubber weather strip, but it's hard to find these days. The other is polyethylene foam. This is often used as packing and is stiff and if you crush it down it does not bounce back well at all, BUT the crap lasts forever and once you get the right thickness in there and never adjust the bass after that you won't have to worry about self-destruct years later.

I have basses with each of these methods and any can be made to work, it's mostly about how often you want to replace your foam (even if only used to damp string vibrations)