Anything I need to know about swapping out pup rings?

[skydog]

My 150 has a fairly deep top carve it seems, and the originals have both cracked. Should i sand some of the profile into them, or soften them in hot water?

[MartyGrass]

Schaller rings are notorious for cracking in the center.

 

Heritage tops are not as consistent as mass production LPs, so the rings may need sanding for a good fit.

 

Having replaced dozens of these rings over the years, here's my advice.

 

1. Forget it. The rings still work if they split. If you focusing on the cosmetics of the guitar, you are not focusing on mastering the instrument. Most of the time people still want to fix them.

 

2. Replace the rings but do not tighten them fully. They don't need to be snug and that stress the bezel.

 

3. If you must snug them down, sand them to fit the top. It's a bit of a pain but anyone can do it.

 

4. When you order a set of rings, plan ahead and buy a few sets.