How to fit a baseplate to a Stratocaster pickup (and what they do)

[@alanthew6490]

I order one and installed it today. I love the improvement in the tone of the bridge pickup. Nice work…

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

So glad you're liking it dear chap. Cheers M

[@kevinmackfurniture]

So... I bought Two. A single thickness and a double. The double went on my 92' left handed Johnson Strat. Ive previously upgraded it with vintage 60's pickups, locking tuners and a wiring harness, with the correct left handed pots and a treble bleed/bridge tone mod. The baseplate is just another fun, inexpensive upgrade.... and yes I( and my guitar tech) do hear a difference. He ended up installing the other plate in his own Strat.

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

Nice one!

[@ijahtom]

Wow, seen. Hmm its true, thats what it does. I didnt know. Always asked myself why my strat doesnt have that always discriped biting highs eveyone's talking about, but exactly that rounded beautiful sound, coz I didnt know those days my Bridge pickup alredi came in the Set like that. Lucky me. Well wishings o

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

Good stuff!

[@bartlettoshay7708]

Montonians!! Great video, may well be giving this a try soon. Videos about the regular or repeated problems you see in guitars that come across your bench would be helpful to get ahead of or keep an eye out for in my own guitars

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

Great idea!

[@madgeniusmusic]

I fitted one yesterday, about an hour better this video went up, it’s awesome!

[@ranman58635]

My 89 Squier stratocaster from Korea has this from the factory.

[@trevor10001000]

Order placed, thanks for the ‘how to’ bit!

[@lamoksaabit6794]

Can I add them to my pickups?? I have staggered pickups (like a silver sky se) and the magnet poles are not flat against the bottom base, is that possible??? Sorry for the bad English :(

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

No need to appologies dear chap. The baseplates do fit the Silver Sky SE pickups as the magnets don't stick out to far, just don't overtighten the screws when attaching the baseplate. If you get stuck just drop me an email and we can sort a zoom or something to get you up and rocking. Cheers M

[@lamoksaabit6794]

Thank you!!

[@seanmann6124]

Nicely done. Very informative!

[@K1C2]

A few questions: Is the plate you're using in the video the Standard or Double thickness? It looks thick, but there's no definition of what standard and double means. Does the plate mess up the position 2 sound? And finally, do think the wax would be ok shipping to the US? Enjoyed seeing you on That Pedal Show. Thanks

[@madgeniusmusic]

I used the soldering iron to melt the wax with the pickup in situ, nice and quick but your way is probably safer.

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

It's doable that way and tbh I've done that in that past but it's very easy to melt/burn something.

[@madgeniusmusic]

@@Montysguitarsandpickups it was a bit scary but I seemed to get away with it.

[@Liberty-hw9dh]

FATTER LOW MID

[@CrazedFandango]

There's a slight difference in tone I hear, but there also seems a jump in volume. Is that correct?

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

There is a volume lift. The plate increases the magnetic field which boosts the pickups output. Cheers M

[@guitardaawg]

Doesn't the pickup have a chance to become micro-phonic with the removal of the wax melting out? (Just curious)

[@jamesl5550]

Late reply, but I'd guess the remaining wax that glues the plate to the pup is simultaneously doing the job of stopping micro-phonics.

[@keaneeng]

Late to the party... Great video! Question... you mentioned the tape, and how it prevents physical contact. Why is that important? eg. In some cases, especially with electric guitars, the better the physical contact, the better the sustain. To maintain the electrical or magnetic separation/isolation of the six slugs? Touch slugs to metal and the magnetic quality diminishes? I believe, the metal must be ferrous, and the phenomenon of adding ferrous mass on a particular side, has the side-effect of increasing the magnetic quality opposite the mass, correct? Cheers

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

🤜🤛💚 Thanks mate. The tape stops the metal plate touching the magnets as it can create static/noise problems. Hope that helps. Cheers M

[@jejealin]

excelente video.Muchas Gracias!!!

[@kr_music999]

Won’t the heat demagnetize the poles

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

No you'll be fine dear chap. It needs way more heat to do that. Cheers M

[@billoneill475]

Why is it necessary to earth the base plate.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Gathering up the bits needed right now. Could I use Brass for the base-plate or is steel better ? Thanks.

[@qddk9545]

No it needs to be magnetic. Some use copper plated steel, but still magnetic.

[@wojciechstecyszyn6040]

Hi. can this be done also to a ceramic single coil that has a magnet plate underneath and nonmagnetic poles?

[@ltfringr]

Yes

[@Moreno280161]

hello, what kind of material is better copper, brass, steel aluminum etc ....

[@qddk9545]

It needs to be magnetic.

[@yvesaltana5732]

Use a Telecaster? 😅

[@wesbranchfield]

Now I need a soldering iron 😕

[@ksiazepaweek1064]

Okay, so there's absolutely no difference if u don't believe it check freq in daw... Wh yare we pretending that it actually matters?

[@jamesreynolds4487]

Please cover the retro 70's bass pickup you only do guitars. Never bass

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

Hey James, yep I'll get on it. Sorry for not giving the bass enough love. Cheers Matt

[@jamesreynolds4487]

Your pickups sound amazing!!! You know how many bass players and parts caster builder’s that would love to experiment with your pups. I can’t wait to hear your version of the 70’s and hopefully the 60’s pbass.

[@michaelkiese7794]

Just my opinion, it would have been more helpful to play simple chords back to back, rather than a single line. There is a subtle difference between baseplate and no baseplate. This is an old trick/mod, and it’s more of a preference thing than an “Improvement”.

[@michaelbevins2405]

????? naaa. Its all in your head,You might barely see it on a graph,But is it worth the time and money to gunk up your pickup? Buy a simple and useful E Q to put on your board ,It will even reshape your pickup sound if you want.

[@mattbluesmain1359]

'' DO WHAT '' thats texas talk for what???

[@raydowley1038]

to much hassle this way just use a soldering iron on the plate to melt the wax just take care when doing it, then the iron is ready to go for soldering the wire to the vol pot simple pimple

[@mr.timebombman2230]

You can just put a few nails and put it onto the magnet underneath.

[@sohosteveuk]

Wow...! Quite astounded that there's such a pronounced difference with the baseplate!

[@madgeniusmusic]

I literally did this an hour ago!

[@1madaxeman]

it is noticable...but to my ears is still fairly subtle. Still a subtle plus is a plus I guess.

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

You are right it is subtle. Most of these mods and tweaks are dealing with the last 1-5% of the guitars tone, fine tuning it to get it exactly where you want it. It's the part I find most fun. Cheers M

[@orlandorohena]

Hey awesome video bud….. where we can buy it?

[@hgxnorton1986]

What is the difference between the regular and double thickness?

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

you get a touch low mid push with the double thick baseplate

[@hgxnorton1986]

@@Montysguitarsandpickups Thanks, is the one in the video regular thickness?

[@jerrylee087]

Im planning to do this🎉😅 cheers soundwise it adds really to overall tone❤

[@TUNNELOFREVERB]

awesome video!

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

Thanks!

[@ruechel]

super awesome, Matt. Thank you!

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

My pleasure!

[@sohosteveuk]

I'd love to hear what your Firebird pickups sound like

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

I'll get on it dear chap

[@sohosteveuk]

@@Montysguitarsandpickups awesome! I'd be curious to hear what they sound like vs standard mini humbuckers

[@hugowasalreadytaken]

Hey guys thanks so much for the video. Very informative! I was wondering, since both the standard and double thickness baseplates are offered on the website, which of the two was used for the purposes of this video? THanks a bunch!! :)

[@Montysguitarsandpickups]

A pleasure dear chap. We used a double baseplate in this video. Cheers M

[@Tonetwisters]

I found the baseplate to make the pickup too bright ...