Wobbly Hamer USA pickups

[crunchee]

I've noticed that on my two '01 Hamers (one Studio, one Studio Custom), that the pickups seem to be a little wiggly in the mountings; especially the neck pickups where they'll actually move back and forth (not side to side) if you shift the guitar back and forth from end to end. The mounting/surround itself isn't moving, the pickups seem to be otherwise secure and are easily adjusted up and down in the mounting, but they seem to be a bit slack and wobbly. This is very noticeable if you give the top of the pickup a gentle wiggle with your finger.

I don't know if it's because of lack of tension to the pickup adjustment/mounting screws or what on later Hamers, but my mid'90s Hamer models don't appear to have this problem, and don't shift back and forth in the mounting. The pickup types and mountings appear to be the same (coverless SD '59 and JB pickups, as standard on many Hamers), as well as the routings. Has anybody else noticed this, and is there a cure? It doesn't affect pickup output or playing, but it is unusual--on one guitar, maybe it's just that particular guitar; but two makes me think it's a trend. Thanks in advance!

[DaveL]

You could always stick a piece of foam under there to give it more tension.

[crunchee]

You could always stick a piece of foam under there to give it more tension.

Thanks! I had thought along those lines as far as correcting this, but I'm wondering why this should be the case on my two '01 models but not on the mid '90s models that I have, all other things apparently being equal (as far as I can tell, anyway). I haven't disassembled my guitars to find out what the difference is--Hamer didn't do something differently on earlier models (like use foam), did they?

[Mike Lee]

My 90's Hamers have doubled-up springs to increase the tension on the pickups. You can do the same to tighten them up. I've also bought heavier springs from industrial supply houses and cut them to length to get a tight fit at the appropriate pickup height.

[crunchee]

My 90's Hamers have doubled-up springs to increase the tension on the pickups. You can do the same to tighten them up. I've also bought heavier springs from industrial supply houses and cut them to length to get a tight fit at the appropriate pickup height.

Thanks! On your '90's Hamers, did you have to do this yourself, or was it done that way at the factory? None of my '90's Hamers (I have several) seem to have this problem.

[analogsystem]

get some tighter springs. I've had loose mountings cause mechanical feedack at high volumes before.

[Mike Lee]

My 90's Hamers have doubled-up springs to increase the tension on the pickups. You can do the same to tighten them up. I've also bought heavier springs from industrial supply houses and cut them to length to get a tight fit at the appropriate pickup height.

Thanks! On your '90's Hamers, did you have to do this yourself, or was it done that way at the factory? None of my '90's Hamers (I have several) seem to have this problem.

My '94 Studio Custom came with doubled up springs, and I think my '02 Newport did as well. The top mount pickups (P-90's and some HB's) came with stouter single springs.

[FrankieIII]

I prefer Dave's idea of the foam strip underneath as it also reduces possibility of feedback as well.

[tbonesullivan]

This is why I wish they used 3 or 4 mounting screws instead of the 2 that gibson has used for years. It stabilizes the pickup and even allows you to set the angle.