How to Direct Mount your Guitar Pickups and why you should | I opened a can of worms!

In this video, I'll show you my method of direct mounting pickups in your solidbody guitar. By making a small modification to the pickup mounting screws, you can avoid modifying the pickup itself and keep it completely intact and unchanged. I also discuss my reasons for choosing this mounting method over using a pickup ring. There may have been a can of worms opened. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section.
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#guitarpickups #electricguitar #hayleyguitars

[@revhappymv]

My theory on the tone debate is if you think it sounds better, you're gonna feel better and in turn, play better. Doesn't matter if it actually sounds better.

[@WhiskerBiscuit1]

Exactly. Perceiving sound and images is subjective.... for literally everything that can hear and see. 2 people hear the same sound; 1 wants it as wedding music, and the other wants to rip their ears off and stuff them in the speakers. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@marcuscarrozza732]

If you drill out the screw connection you can reverse it by soldering a proper nut to the bottom of the ear . I have done it several times and it works

[@docmcbungas3303]

It is insane how difficult it is to find direct mount wood screws for pickups. The companies are lacking.

[@Jestersage]

Especially since more and more pickup are direct mounted nowadays

[@root961]

This is one of the best videos on this topic that I've seen. Very nice work!

[@tom-840]

I like this. I'm in the middle of a solid body build and very likely will change the way I was going to mount my pickups. Thank you!

[@kevinjackson4237]

Fantastic video! So very clear and concise. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@robertr4193]

Nice to have information on pickup mounting.

[@anthonybeel]

Thank you very much~The doctoring of the screws was simple and elegant! Very helpful.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks!

[@MyGuitartime]

Brilliant! I have a guitar that I have been wanting to do this to but wanted to find the proper way! this is it!

[@guitarnight3375]

Thanks for providing smart solutions !

[@chriszaferes5984]

Great video brother, you are correct I believe on the tone that direct mounting produces which I prefer as well.

[@nashmanzl]

LOVE IT!! I was guilty of the pickup damaging method. Never again!

[@homebuiltshop]

Awesome! Save the Pickups.

[@scottmorris4914]

I have seen two other methods for direct mount.The first is actually a brass bar that mounts at the bottom of the pocket, there is a high adjust screw in the middle, and the end screws screw into the bar to adjust height. The second is to drill the bottom of the pocke ton each end and screw in a brass insert. You add a pice of foam between the pickup and the bottom of the pocket. You adjust the height screwing the srews in and out.

[@homebuiltshop]

I've seen the brass inserts. I kind of like that and may try it out. I would still modify the screws to disengage from the pickup though.

[@angusorvid8840]

I've always preferred direct mounting, but I can't say it makes the tonal difference a lot of players think it does. It makes a slight difference. It doesn't hurt.

[@theturtlerguy1236]

Direct mounting when done right just looks clean

[@jo_boo]

This literally has been on my mind recently I normally use mounting rings

[@danielwiedemann8545]

great explanation, thanks for sharing!

[@Αδιάφθορος]

Brilliant!!!

[@JohnK-id1zj]

This was very helpful, thank you!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thank you!

[@kk-om5zm]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart my friend Jeff. A little difficult for me but I will learn something from it. We, as you know, have a celebration in Greece, the Holy Easter and the Resurrection of Christ ... I wish the best for you and your family but also the good friends of the show that we watch with joy ..😎

[@michaels775]

Blessed Pascha to you from the states!

[@kk-om5zm]

@@michaels775 💝

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks my Brother! I wish you and your the best holiday.

[@kk-om5zm]

@@homebuiltshop 💝💝

[@watchnlearn2731]

Ingenious.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks man! Hope you're doing great.

[@cujocommander]

Hell yes what a genius ❤

[@morrisdelarosa]

Nice content. Thanks.

[@GuitarsMatrix]

thank you for this very interesting vidéo obviously not applicable on all type of guitars but I'll definitely try your method on the occasion, especially because I like sometimes to carve the instrument, to the point that having a mounting ring cann really become unesthetic to say the least Take care and keep it up

[@rafaelporcher8049]

Thanks!!!

[@Ibaneddie76]

Great method!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks!

[@Thirdgen83]

Wow! I never thought of doing it that way. I always drilled out the holes on the pickup. I'm gonna try your method on my next build. Great video!

[@homebuiltshop]

I don't like to modify the actual pickup as that makes it not reversible. This way, the pickup is unharmed. Make sure you don't remove too much from the screws or it will become weak. Just remove the threads enough so it disengages from the pickup.

[@rperry70]

Great tips here. I would like to mention though that your pickup mounting is still floating the pick up above the body and not actually making direct contact (unless the screws are bottomed out). Although I do not know if this matters. I have built several guitars and I used EMG pick ups in all of them. They were truly a direct mount, screwed solidly to the body. I am looking to replace them in one of my old builds though with passive pick ups. I do not have room for the rings, so need to still direct mount them. I like your method, and will most likely be giving it a try. It is nice to have some adjustment to get the pickup the correct distance from the strings.

[@bedwards1224]

This really isn't a question about what you just posted but more of a question about guitar building in general. Do you radius all your guitar necks? I know I've heard most people do but some don't. Is it absolutely necessary? I love your channel I have learned so much I've done two guitar builds and you have directly supported that. I love making guitars and love that I can refer back to, you thank you so much

[@dryter]

I'm doing the same thing but with a threaded insert with 6-32 threads, which are the threads on your HB height adjustment screw. With the insert threaded into the wood your HB screw is threaded into the insert instead of the wood. Of course the body of the guitar has to have enough room for the insert behind the pickup. You can get threaded inserts that are 3/8" long but don't have to thread completely into wood.

[@pyratoothNL]

Thanks for the video. Interesting what you say about aesthetic. If you mount that on a solid body guitar directly I imagine you;d get more dirt and dust ion the cavity (you example is closed off so it's not a problem). I did a PU replacement on a guitar where the cavity for the humbuckers seems shallow compared to other guitars. Even though they are mounted on plastic trims I think the pickup screws are in contact with the bottom of the cavity. The result is more of a microphonic effect from body noise than I have with other guitars. Can I reduce this effect by just adding foam or insulation under the pickup, should I cut off the excess on the pickups screws, or try something else.

[@davideoverman]

I just ordered Filtertron pickups for my Gretsch electromatic solid body guitar. If it has the deeper wells routed in the sides of the pickup cavities to accommodate the screws for a ring mount will I need to fill those with say a wooden dowel to wood mount the new filtertron pickups?

[@XChristianNoirX]

No stripped holes in the wood yet? The threads on the original pickup screws are pretty tiny singe they're machine threads.. I suppose you're using pretty lightweight foam though and the mounting springs. I have a method on my channel that can use more rigid foam (or rubber), but it requires installing an extra part... However, it also uses the technique of taking down the threads near the heads to make the screws spin freely... Your method seems much easier, but I'm still worried about reliability, especially if the guitar is made from a soft wood like basswood or something.

[@fluidalchemist68]

Do you use tone foam under the pickup?

[@felixguitarshop]

Best video ever!!!

[@homebuiltshop]

Thank you!

[@Noah-gq7pq]

dude that cigar guitar,,,great

[@3DayFunk]

When you think about it. Technically the pickup is still floating the same as if you used pickup rings. There is no direct contact between the pickup and the body unless you mount it flush. Its still a nice look though.

[@homebuiltshop]

Its not a lot when you think about it, but there is a small contact point between the screw and the pickup tab.

[@3DayFunk]

@@homebuiltshop But it is indirect contact points. Same as a pickup in a ring. It's not direct contact with the body of the guitar. In the end, I think this is a lot like many things guitar. Its mostly down to aesthetics. What you like the look of the best.

[@ccook31]

I'm interested enough to do this... but how often do you really adjust the pickup height? I'm going to simply use washers BENEATH the pickup tabs with short wood screws and use a straight edge to determine the approx gap. Most guys can't do the machining in this vid - but it's a great vid and topic IMO.

[@Thirdgen83]

@@3DayFunk The pickup ring is mounted to the wood with 4 screws, so yes, it still makes as much contact as direct-mounting.

[@realtruenorth]

@@Thirdgen83 no it doesn't, the pickup is only mounted to the ring by 2 screws, the height adjustment screws. That's what matters, not the ring screws. You can wiggle the pickups in a ring setup, not good.

[@bevinmodrak4997]

Yeah decades ago didn't understand the need for the foam and the length of the screw.... Still feel bad about everything I did to that bass that was just wrong..... it deserved better, lol!

[@tronus98]

I've never been into pickup swapping but I had a pair of gibson 57 classics sitting around. I got a little reckless and widened my carvin h2t's pickup holes with a Dremel. The gibsons are still mounted using the plastic pieces and are adjustable but I was worried that they were too snug against the body now.... possibly killing sustain/resonance. It's a chambered guitar. I'm rewiring it today with new electronics. It seems fine. Chime in if I'm neutering my guitar this way please.

[@TheLithGH]

I will need to direct mount the covered Sat Night Specials I want to buy, since the rings won't fit, but when you file off the top threads of the mounting screws, won't it still make the pickups wiggle, since the screw wiggles? The pickups won't be tight in the cavity... Your's are a snug, tight fit because it's custom cut box...?

[@homebuiltshop]

You're right, it will probably wiggle a little. One solution is to use some foam under the pickup to keep it tight against the screws.

[@realtruenorth]

Van Halen did it on his ugly frankenstrat for the improvement in sound, not for looks.

[@jo_boo]

I definitely can hear a difference with direct vs rings you right on that

[@homebuiltshop]

I really think there's something there. I just don't know what to call it. Lol.

[@jo_boo]

@@homebuiltshop sounds more open to me it's definitely not as warm it's not over the top open sounding but almost like a form of reverb and not to say it's bad because I have all my guitars fitted with mounting rings but just adds to the tone of my style there is definitely no wrong way in music I really appreciate your efforts and videos bro great job keep it up and not to do a shameless plug but I started playing again after my father passed away last year and have some of it on KZbin and KZbin music if you have time and open to checking it out I go by Jo-Boo and have a new one out called "Cut It Loose..All We Have Is Our Time, HERE WE GO" if you have any tracks let me know where I can find them I want to check them out, again thanks for replying and your time excellent content very informative and I really enjoy watching 🤘🤘

[@Thirdgen83]

I guarantee you would NOT hear a difference in a blind test. I still prefer the look of direct mounting.

[@jo_boo]

@Thirdgen83 never said I could.. that was never even implied

[@Thirdgen83]

@@jo_boo It definitely was implied.

[@borgonianevolution]

Nice way to mount pickups. I'm gonna roll with personal preference on what is a clean look so as to not fuel that debate. I will however reiterate that unless you are using those super old and REALLY microphonic pickups there will be zero tone / sonic changes from doing this as its ALL electronic / magnetism producing the sound and ZERO to do with string vibration in regards to sound. Many people confuse resonance with all that and that comes from the wood working side and how everything is put together and either aids or detracts from that.

[@Thirdgen83]

While I agree that direct-mounting the pickup does not change the tone, it's NOT just electric signal/ magnetism that is involved. This is because pickups are MICROPHONIC. They actually "hear", in addition to producing an electronic signal. A prime example is how a hollow-body electric guitar sounds different from a solid-body with the SAME pickup. But yeah, direct mounting vs. a pickup ring makes no difference. I also laugh at the MYTH that a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard sounds different from a maple neck with maple fingerboard. Pure NONSENSE, as there isn't enough material there to have any effect on the tone.

[@borgonianevolution]

@@Thirdgen83 Technically a pickup can NOT be microphonic as it has no diaphragm. What makes a pickup "Microphonic" is sound pressure subtly vibrating the strings and causing a resonance that then feeds back from the amp causing a loop. Its that same resonance that makes a hollow body sound different. Listen to Paul Reed Smiths interview at Andertons at the 30 minute mark where he starts discussing the Robben Ford guitar and breaks into the part about each guitar having that resonance and how he manipulates that to act with pickups.

[@Thirdgen83]

@@borgonianevolution The REALITY is that pickups are microphonic. You can postulate about what MAKES them microphonic, but the end result is the same. My example of a hollow body electric sounding different from a solid body with the SAME pickup is evidence of such. The magnetic electrical signal doesn't differentiate between body construction. That is microphonics.

[@borgonianevolution]

@@Thirdgen83 ANYTHING microphonic has to produce a motion be it vibration, air pressure or an electrical change of sign. For a pickup which is an electrical device to produce a sound something HAS to move. It does not in any way shape or form "hear" sound. In the case of a pickup acting micro phonic it means something within its structure is moving. Most cases it is loose coil windings which is why "potting" coils is so important and in most cases reduces or eliminates the ability to become microphonic. If you talk at a pickup and your voice produces a sound it is because the air pressure changes needed to make sound are transferring those vibrations to something loose within the pickup and inducing sound electrically.

[@Thirdgen83]

@@borgonianevolution Again, you're going into detail on WHY the pickup "hears". That in no way refutes the fact that it does. Obviously it doesn't function the way a diaphragm microphone does, but it is producing more tonal qualities than JUST an electrical signal created by a metal string moving over a magnetic field. If it were, then it would sound tbe SAME no matter what kind of body it's mounted in.

[@maigus12345]

Thanks a lot for the video! Quick question: If i'm not mistaken, i could technically still use these exact modified pickup screws and the pickup on another guitar together with a pickup ring, right?! Or am i thinking wrong here? 😅

[@vautrain]

That's right, you can use the modified screw with a pickup ring if you wanted, but new screws are not expensive.

[@edadpops1709]

Great tip Jeff I like it 👏👏

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks. It works pretty well for me.

[@frankvallich2084]

Instead of mounting into the wood a threaded metal insert could/should be used for threading the pickup height adjustment screw.

[@lavh93]

hey man i think you just reinvented the wheel. you can get wood screws at any hardware store. They are pointy an have a flat surface towards the head. Also you can get them any size you need

[@ccook31]

Great video and under-valued topic. A humbucker is a (relatively) heavy object compared to the springs that isolate them from the body. String signal comes from movement - whether it's the string vibrating but also the movement (even micro) of the pickup in relation to the body/tailpiece/strings. Hit the back of your guitar and part of that sound is the bounce of the pickup. Might be very small... but this is definitely a topic more worthy than caps, pots and cloth insulated wire (head slap). Direct mounting of pickups to bodies (and therefore the tailpiece) SHOULD have an effect .... admittedly only if you play like Townshend.

[@henkehakansson2004]

To me, the direct mount is not about this. It is to use as much material from the pickups bottom to touch the wood. And if possible the sides of it too. The foam should not be used. Better to use silicon tubes on the screws. The thing is only that you add the mass of the pickup to the total density of the body, and may have an impact on sustain or tone that is so subtle that it is neglible. If the pickup "hangs" in frames it wobbles more - the magnet and copper wires inside it wobbles back and forth although not detectible by the eye. It oscillates. If kept firmly, by secured to the body, you keep it SLIGHTLY more steady and not "rockin" back and forth so much, but keeps it still. But that comes with a concession. Not all pickups benefits from this. If they are wax potted the "keeping-it-still" is solved already. No diff there. If they are open it might. Also if they are open, the chances are that they are just slightly microphonic, and will transfer mechanical wood vibrations from the body into the pickup and add a slight flavor to the sound. For some time. However if they are too microphonic the will just squeal, and this added vibration into the coils will slowly make them even more microphonic down the road. It adds mechanical vibrations. Not magnetic.Then what to do? Wax pot them, of course, but then you get no benefits at all from the direct mounting, and in the end it defeats its purpose. Yes, a can of worms. If there was some design that made you be able to WEDGE your pickup into your guitar so it is hold steadfast by all the sides of the pickup touching the guitar body, it would have made some more sense, but once in there, you wouldn't be able to adjust any height at all, and to take it out from there would be a major chore.

[@kosaponglusang4595]

Why don't you drill from the back of the body and do the adjustment from the back of the body that way the pickup screw can thread in to it's original pickup plate (just a thought )

[@homebuiltshop]

That's definitely an option. It just depends on whether or not you want more holes on the back.

[@kosaponglusang4595]

@@homebuiltshop exactly 😂😂

[@shredgd5]

I do the same

[@jeffallen3382]

Tried leaving a comment about a company that sells a brass plate to mount the pick up to yhe body and it keeps getting deleted...

[@homebuiltshop]

Thats weird, I haven't deleted anything here.

[@jeffallen3382]

@@homebuiltshop no I didn't think it was you. It was KZbin doing it. I was trying to put in the website for Fu-tone and I think it was thinking I was spamming.

[@threepe0]

Just drill out the pickups and use a nut under them if you want to go back to a ring. This is a lot of work for some day over the rainbow and no functional benefit ( the threads aren’t really needed in any scenario )

[@raytorvalds3699]

Maybe it's an idea to use threaded inserts instead of using machine screws (bolts) to screw into wood. Those threads are not suited for reliably screwing into wood. Especially when you use them to adjust things. Plus I wouldn't call your method direct mounting. The pickups are still suspended on springs/foam. It does look good, though.

[@Dirge4july]

Have you considered that you might actually be hearing your pickup height difference after swapping from one to another and not how it’s mounted ? On another note I encourage anyone who believes that the type of wood is responsible to an electic guitars tone or sustain to go and watch Jim LIll’s video :Tested where does guitar tone come from in an electric guitar. There are 2 videos with the same name. Watch both. I

[@Nellil]

FU-Tone PMS... 🤘

[@XChristianNoirX]

The problem with that thing is that you have to remove the pickup to adjust the height, which is a total PITA... Because if that, you also can't adjust the pickup height in real time, while you are playing.

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

Great device but totally overpriced though! $50 per mount is ridiculous!

[@insederec]

do what you like far as nobody gets hurt but uh... pickups pick up electromagnetic interference. No amount of vibration in the body will translate to even a peep out of the pickup.

[@WhiskerBiscuit1]

I pretty much did say, "What the hell is direct mounting a pickup??"

[@Living_EDventures]

Common sense explains that a plastic pickup ring, regardless of the pickup hanging off of it, would have zero effect in any tone change as plastic doesn't ring out.

[@nathanaelmoxon4996]

2:31 in and you demonstrate that you don't understand how pickup mounting works.

[@rocksteady6448]

It gives it more sustained

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

EVH thought so!

[@Thirdgen83]

Does not.

[@colinc6031]

This is really fishy.....you cannot grind a point with no threads into a "machine screw" and expect it to thread into wood, period! It will strip and come loose. The only way to do it properly using machine screws with "NO" modification of the screw or pickup is to: sorry, not sharing this genius method. What he is doing is not the correct way that will last the life of the guitar.

[@homebuiltshop]

I haven't had one come out so far. Another option is to use threaded inserts into the wood. Then screw the machine screw into that.

[@olegoleg1838]

but doesn't the foam dumpen the resonance even worse than the plastic ring?

[@homebuiltshop]

I haven't noticed any negative impact caused by the foam.