Fitting Dimarzio Evolution pickups

andyg_prs · Feb 24th 2016

Hi,

I need to route about 5mm for the feet of some Dimarzio pickups to fit in my guitar. It's direct mount so no scratch plate and I need to do a neat job.

Any advice on the best way to do this? I've started creating a cardboard template that I can draw around to mark the area to be routed....and as it's a pretty small triangular shaped foot,

I think I'd need to get a Dremel tool or something..... But I'm hoping someone here has experience and has an idea of the best way to do this.....or any tips/tricks.

Cheers,

Andy

darthwain · Feb 24th 2016

check google for installation videos

paults · Feb 24th 2016

A Dremel, (perhaps with a router attachment to keep things level) is a good plan. If your guitar has a carved top, forget the router attachment.

If if you have never done this before, practice on some scrap wood until your technique is flawless.

They don't make the pickups with short legs?

paults · Feb 24th 2016

Since you are just routing the bottom of the hole, put painters tape on the edges/corners of the pickup holes, so they will not get damaged by the side of the router bit.

andyg_prs · Feb 24th 2016

It's a flat top. I will absolutely practice. I'm being OCD about tone. I've been through very well thought of pickups and now my final choice before selling this guitar is to try the pickups I use in my favourite guitar...and unfortunately they don't do a shorter leg option.

the alternative is to cut and get re-welded the legs...but that is expensive and need to find someone who wouldn't damage the coils. And welding by its very nature seems highly risky for delicate copper coils.

i guess I could try and cut and araldite the feet back on.

the guitar is a Vigier, like a piece of art even gloss finished in the cavities which is why I'm being so careful...

cheers,
andy

ps - forgive the typos- there seems to be a bug when using my phone and randomly the text goes white!!

andyg_prs · Feb 24th 2016

So, yeah, thinking a better idea would be to cut off the downward leg (or bend it out of the way) and the foot....and glue (epoxy or "liquid metal") the triangular foot to the side of the base plate.

What do you think? It doesn't have to be particularly strong.....and of course, I don't touch the guitar at all....you may not be able to see, but that pickup route is gloss finished...

Ideas for best way to cut (and or bend) and glue?

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Cheers,
Andy

paults · Feb 24th 2016

It would be simpler to:

bend them flat

cut them with a hacksaw to triangle shape

drill holes for the pickup screws (threaded holes are not needed do direct mounting.).

andyg_prs · Feb 24th 2016

True....hope they don't snap off or damage / distort the base plate....

andyg_prs · Feb 25th 2016

So far so good. By coincidence the downward "leg" is the same length as the "foot". So I can put the pickup in with the foot as it is. If it doesn't sound good, I can carefully bend back and I still have a "normal" pickup

Now to mark the spot for the holes with a hole punch I guess and find a small metal drill bit...
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paults · Feb 25th 2016

Looks great!

Netheravon · Feb 25th 2016

Following with interest;) good luck!

andyg_prs · Feb 26th 2016

Fitted great but didn't check and I need F-spaced! Doh......will still be interested how they sound. I got them very cheaply....if they sound good, I'll replace with F spaced ones (bridge at least) and use these in another project

Netheravon · Feb 26th 2016

Arrrg I really like the tone of the Evolutions too. Not sure how the wrong spacing will affect the tone tho;)

paults · Feb 26th 2016

If the outside strings are not quieter with normal spaced pickups, there is likely no need to swap for F-spacing.

andyg_prs · Feb 26th 2016

I was thinking along those lines too

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