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How would you raise the bridge P.U. on a 330?

Russ

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Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
311
I would like to raise the bridge PU on a 64 ES 330 I bought today.
A PU riser like on an old L-5?
I need a plan!
Thanks,
Russ
 

rw 1969

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Joined
Feb 6, 2004
Messages
69
I did this using a couple of small plastic washers about 10mm in diameter threaded onto the body screws between the top and the pickup, you get a gap then between body and pickup of a few mm all the way around but its surprisingly unnoticeable and lifts the pickup sufficiently. The dog ears hide the washers. Saves buying a spacer which if you have nickel covers wouldn't match.
 

Reinhard

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Nov 12, 2002
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3,747
The Lollar shims work well. I used some on the bridge pup of a '67 330.
 

Russ

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May 11, 2004
Messages
311
The Lollar shims work well. I used some on the bridge pup of a '67 330.

I just went to Lollar's website.
What do they look like, what are they made of? I'm trying to envision what they look like.
No photo, or description available on Lollars site.
Do you have a photo?
Thank you
 
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Don

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Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
I bought a pack of shims from Lollar for $8. I used one so I have spares. You can have one if I have what you need. How thick do you think you need?
 

Russ

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Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
311
Wow Don! that's really cool..
I'm thinking I need to raise the front (towards the neck) up a 1/16 perhaps 3/32. The PU needs to come up 5/32 on the bridge side.
Did you guys bevel the PU risers to make the PU more parallel to the string?
Thanks for all the help,
Russ
 

MapleFlame

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Jul 3, 2005
Messages
14,044
I would leave the neck alone, the bridge riser would balance things out nicely. The risers come in 3's so you can try all of them. pick the middle one.
 

Russ

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May 11, 2004
Messages
311
I'm with ya MapleFlame..
I was referring to the 'north' side of the bridge PU, when I said 'towards the neck'.
Thanks!
Currently, I'm putting some plumbing bib washers under the bridge PU to raise it up.
I have 2 gigs this weekend and would like to have this guitar howling tonight!
 

Don

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Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
Wow Don! that's really cool..
I'm thinking I need to raise the front (towards the neck) up a 1/16 perhaps 3/32. The PU needs to come up 5/32 on the bridge side.
Did you guys bevel the PU risers to make the PU more parallel to the string?
Thanks for all the help,
Russ

My pickups are level with the top, not the strings. I don't think it matters with P-90s. I put a 3/32" thick shim between the existing spacer and the pickup.

I have a spare 3/32", two 1/32", two 1/16" and a 1/8" spacer left over. They're die cut from a black fiber type material. E-mail me and I'll send you a couple.
 

Don

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Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
Raising the pole piece screws gives a brighter, less fat sound. I had the poles jacked up on my ES-225 and it was just okay. When I installed a 3/32" thick shim and lowered the pole pieces I got the fat tone that P-90s are known for. The poles are the same distance from the strings with the whole pickup being closer.
 

RnB

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Nov 9, 2004
Messages
831
Got my spacers from Guitar Parts Resource. IIRC...I had to thin it down some? Since they are oversized around the perimeter, I also sanded those edges down to match the size of the cover. More in keeping w/ the original look imo. Had the pole-pieces jacked way up & it looked senseless. Made a big difference!!! The neck pickup's very strong sounding, so there was no need for one. :jim

 
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Reinhard

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Nov 12, 2002
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I just went to Lollar's website.
What do they look like, what are they made of? I'm trying to envision what they look like.
No photo, or description available on Lollars site.
Do you have a photo?
Thank you

I don't have any pics, but they fit perfectly underneath the dogears. They come in different thicknesses as mentioned and are made from a softer (not hard plastic) type of material.
 

zombiwoof

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
3,565
Got my spacers from Guitar Parts Resource. IIRC...I had to thin it down some? Since they are oversized around the perimeter, I also sanded those edges down to match the size of the cover. More in keeping w/ the original look imo. Had the pole-pieces jacked way up & it looked senseless. Made a big difference!!! The neck pickup's very strong sounding, so there was no need for one. :jim


The spacers that Guitar Parts Resource sells are most likely the Allparts ones that I talked about previously. GPR sells a lot of Allparts parts, but they are discounted.

Al
 

Russ

Member
Joined
May 11, 2004
Messages
311
Thanks for all the suggestions.....
I temporarily put a couple rubber faucet washers under the PU and Cover to raise it up for last weekends gigs.
e9e1037e46db162f18aaeef38d607326_zps4061c3a3.jpg

It worked well.
Forum member Don is sending me out a couple spare shims that he had.
How cool is that?!? He told me to help the next guy out, whenever I could. Cool guy, cool attitude. Thank you Don!
The 64 330 is real nice ...here's a picture
cae5e58a661d9fb70dff92fa59f0731d_zps86369b33.jpg
 

Jason Lollar

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Jul 26, 2001
Messages
307
The risers Lindy sells are the ones I make but he only offers 1/8 and 1/4 and they are acrylic which will cover most adjustments. The thinner risers are made of vulcanized fiber and all the risers are the same size as the footprint of a dog ear cover unlike the others available that are oversize and look kind of funny .)
I dont know why they made them goofy like that.
 

RnB

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2004
Messages
831
Good-Looking 330 Russ...

The thinner risers are made of vulcanized fiber and all the risers are the same size as the footprint of a dog ear cover unlike the others available that are oversize and look kind of funny.

B4 I knew risers were available, my 1st attempt to raise the pup, was cut-out black rubber baseboard from Home Depot...lol! Looked pretty hoakey! Neck shim lasted all of 5 mins. Cover has a slight twist in it. Soon afterwards, I found out about risers from the LPF . . . :jim
Had I known about the Fralin/Lollars shims. I would have gone w/ them, but I don't know if they were available at the time? Would've saved me all that sanding...

 
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