Routing for a pickup

[LowWay]

Hi, I want to route a bass for a music man sized pickup. I plan to order a template. I have some woodworking experience, but not a lot of template routing. I watched a few YouTube videos and think I can do this, but I’d like to know what you all recommend for a light and agile handheld router. Do they make a good plunge router well suited for this task?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The Bosch Colt router is a nice size for small routing jobs like this, I think there is a plunge base available. I bought a full size Porter Cable and kind of regret it, no built in work light or dust extraction. If you think you need something more powerful, I’d look at the Dewalt plunge routers. If you go that route, get one with a 1/2” collet, which can be swapped out for 1/4” for smaller bits. For router bits I like Freud or Whiteside.

 

[LowWay]

I have a few alt plunge with a 1:2” collet already. The Bosch colt sounds like the kind of thing I might be looking for. Thanks!

 

[Vintage-Blue]

I second the Bosch Colt. I have a trio of them that I have used for years and they have been great.

 

[LowWay]

Ordered the bosch colt with plunge bass. Thanks for the help!

 

[ragetoca]

I just wen through this.....I have modded a lot of basses! of course soapbars are the easiest and I usually make my own template on a piece of MDF. Now, jazz and P pickups are difficult, so I usually try to buy a template. Bestbassgear has some for like $15 dls each, it makes a huge diff!
I also will drill some holes in the cavity with a bit and a wood block/stop a little less than the PU depth....plenty of videos on youtube

Go slow and make multiple passes

 

[LowWay]

Thanks for the tip. I used to have a hobby woodshop, so I'm familiar with woodworking in general, and also not making the router do all the work. I'm pretty confident I can do this without wrecking the bass.

 

[groovaholic]

You've already gotten good advice from experienced woodworkers and luthiers.

As a hobbyist, I've found that a helpful alternative to a plunge base is to "hog out" the center of the pickup rout with a forstner bit on a drill press.
That way, the router is only doing clean-up.

 

[turf3]

I'd probably rough out the corners with a Forstner bit (ideally on a drill press, but I am able to hold a hand drill accurately), then clean it all up with a sharp chisel. At least for a one-off. Consider the time (which is money, too) to go buy the super special router, set it up, make your templates, test out on scrap pieces, etc. - for a one time job it makes no sense. Heck, you could buy a good quality OWT hand router and still be ahead.

Templates and routers are production tools. Fabulous for making a run of something. Not efficient for one piece.

Now of course if you've been hankering for a particular tool and this offers you the excuse to buy it, well, that's something different.

 

[LowWay]

For me efficiency is secondary to quality. I have built jigs for single tasks before.

Also, the router and template route is faster, as I ordered the router and templates to be delivered. It will take less time to use them than hogging out with a drill and sharpening chisels. And less prone to error. I’ve done enough woodworking to know this about my machine skills vs hand tool skills.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I’d suggest using the pickup template to make a second template in MDF or good plywood and keep the original as a master in case a bearing slips on a template bit or something like that.

 

[LowWay]

I’d suggest using the pickup template to make a second template in MDF or good plywood and keep the original as a master in case a bearing slips on a template bit or something like that.

Yes This is my plan.

 

[LHbassist]

I also have a Bosch Colt. The Luthier's choice. I STRONGLY recommend, if you have a drill press, or a drill guide, to use a forstner bit to remove most of the wood before you use the router to finalize the cut. See pics.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yep. Pre-hog most of the waste is pretty much mandatory, particularly with 1/4" router bits. A forstner bit works great. I found that out the hard way as a novice woodworker. Managed to make a Craftsman router leap out of my hands, luckily AWAY from me, when it bogged down in way too much waste. No blood involved, but I think I gained a few grey hairs on the spot.

 

[Brian Patterson]

The Bosch Colt router is a nice size for small routing jobs like this, I think there is a plunge base available. I bought a full size Porter Cable and kind of regret it, no built in work light or dust extraction. If you think you need something more powerful, I’d look at the Dewalt plunge routers. If you go that route, get one with a 1/2” collet, which can be swapped out for 1/4” for smaller bits. For router bits I like Freud or Whiteside.

The Colt is handy cuz you can hand guide it easily - just make shallow cuts to get to depth needed.
If you can rig up a guide, fine but for hidden channels it's pretty easy.
You need to be most careful on a non-flat surface. Most important tip? Go slow!!

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Only thing I'd add is that if you drill with the correct diameter bit to provide the required corner radius, and you line up those corner holes carefully when you pre-drill, it solves a number of possible issues (such as the corner radius being smaller than the router bit you were planning to use, as sometimes happens) Much easier to drill those out before you've removed the rest of the waste than tighten them up after the fact.

Also the easy way to do pickups with "bumps" while using a simple template without bumps. But only if you plan ahead and put the holes that will be half-holes for the bumps first.

 

[FatOwlBass]

A larger base plate on the router can be very helpful in keeping the router straight. Templates have a narrow surface area around the pickup hole and the router can tip if not careful. the Bosch Colt is what I have, and I made my own plate with Lexan. You can find some on Etsy.

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[Max Bogosity]

One other consideration for this kind of work versus general woodworking is not damaging the paint on a finished instrument. Plan ahead for how you’re going to keep the body from sliding around (a cheap no-slip mat is a good solution) and how to attach the template.

You also may get some finish chipping at the edges of the cut. Some people like to score a line around the outside first and/or apply a layer of tape to help prevent that. Or just ignore it if it will be hidden under a pickup ring or pick guard.