Schaller pickup mounting rings

[H]

Hi all,

 

I'm now getting my H-535 into shape having swapped out the bridge and tailpiece for TonePros and changing the Grover Rotomatics to TonePros Kluson cream 'tulips'. $30 bucks and hour's careful work and I'm very pleased with the way the headstock looks now. Pics very soon

 

The last item on the agenda is to change the pickup mounting rings which are currently black and holding the Schallers it was built with. Does anyone know whether these are the stock Schaller items (part numbers 5124CM and 5128CM) or whether these have been reworked for the arch/carve on the H-535 top?

 

I want to swap to cream pickup surrounds to more closely match the body and neck binding colour. However, I'm finding them hard to source in the UK with only www.guitarbitz.com showing them and being out of stock of the 5128CM until June when they re-order Has anyone done this swap before? Any info on US stockists? Can I get them straight from Heritage maybe?

 

Thanks,

 

H

[barrymclark]

check here

[H]

check here

 

Yeah, I know. As I said in my original post they're out of stock until June....

 

Anywhere in the States do these?

[barrymclark]

Yeah, I know. As I said in my original post they're out of stock until June....

 

Anywhere in the States do these?

Oops. Sorry.

 

Well, I have a bridge ring I believe.

 

If someone can dig up a neck maybe we can do that. I have no issue sending what I have out.

[H]

Oops. Sorry.

 

Well, I have a bridge ring I believe.

 

If someone can dig up a neck maybe we can do that. I have no issue sending what I have out.

 

I'd be more than happy to contribute to your "Heritage fund" if that pup ring came off an H-535

[H]

And it looks like Patrick, recent H-535 buyer of this very forum, may also be looking for the same thing!

[barrymclark]

Hmm....

 

Mine would have been for a 140.

 

Not sure what difference there would really be.

 

I have no idea what they originally came off of. Should work fine. Never seen a dead perfect fit. But... You can shape them as you need to.

[H]

Hmm....

 

Mine would have been for a 140.

 

Not sure what difference there would really be.

 

I have no idea what they originally came off of. Should work fine. Never seen a dead perfect fit. But... You can shape them as you need to.

 

The ones I see on sites like guitarbitz seem to have no 'carve' on the bottom edge. The black ones on my H-535 are a beautiful fit, no gaps whatsoever and I'm keen to keep it looking like that when I swap out.

 

I'm going to email Heritage with the same question but I hope someone here will have done this before and know what the answer is. In the meantime thanks for your offer, hold onto that part until the answer is with us

[barrymclark]

The ones I see on sites like guitarbitz seem to have no 'carve' on the bottom edge. The black ones on my H-535 are a beautiful fit, no gaps whatsoever and I'm keen to keep it looking like that when I swap out.

 

I'm going to email Heritage with the same question but I hope someone here will have done this before and know what the answer is. In the meantime thanks for your offer, hold onto that part until the answer is with us

Yeah. I have gotten some from them before so you might could score some that way.

[Hfan]

I'm looking for a black neck pup ring for a schaller pup as well. I've been unable to find any in the USA on the internet (all parts, Stew Mac etc). I even contacted Ren at Heritage, "no longer available". I was hoping guitar bitz would ship here but they are out evidently from whats been said here. The old rings heritage used I believe had 2 height adj. holes per side. I've also seen other rings with 3 holes which is what the Guitarbitz site had, they should work. maybe we have to contact schaller directly?

 

My neck pup (Schaller with a conventional pup ring) on my 157 is on a slant which causes the upper edge to hit the strings if the pup is raised and a string is fretted on the end of the fret board

[barrymclark]

In all honesty, I would just go with one screw a side. It will make a life a lot easier.

So.. that is my recommendation.

[barrymclark]

My neck pup (Schaller with a conventional pup ring) on my 157 is on a slant which causes the upper edge to hit the strings if the pup is raised and a string is fretted on the end of the fret board

That just sounds like someone did a bad fit with the ring. If these are Schallers and didn't have the two per side, I would definitely assume this is aftermarket.

[H]

I'm looking for a black neck pup ring for a schaller pup as well. I've been unable to find any in the USA on the internet (all parts, Stew Mac etc). I even contacted Ren at Heritage, "no longer available". I was hoping guitar bitz would ship here but they are out evidently from whats been said here. The old rings heritage used I believe had 2 height adj. holes per side. I've also seen other rings with 3 holes which is what the Guitarbitz site had, they should work. maybe we have to contact schaller directly?

 

My neck pup (Schaller with a conventional pup ring) on my 157 is on a slant which causes the upper edge to hit the strings if the pup is raised and a string is fretted on the end of the fret board

 

 

GuitarBitz has both the black ones - it's the bridge side cream one they're out of stock on. Look for 5126BK and 5130BK.

[Hfan]

That just sounds like someone did a bad fit with the ring. If these are Schallers and didn't have the two per side, I would definitely assume this is aftermarket.

Yes I'm assuming they are after market rings, they pup fits the opening ok and there are no gaps where it meets the body, just the slant which I could think I could tweak out with the additional adj. screws. I've had the pup out a few times and can't adjust out the slant. Maybe Guitarbitz (H, thanks for the parts #'s)will ship to the US. I could just keep the pickup low and forget the slant but I would like the option of maintaining the full adjustable range.

[barrymclark]

Yes I'm assuming they are after market rings, they pup fits the opening ok and there are no gaps where it meets the body, just the slant which I could think I could tweak out with the additional adj. screws. I've had the pup out a few times and can't adjust out the slant. Maybe Guitarbitz (H, thanks for the parts #'s)will ship to the US. I could just keep the pickup low and forget the slant but I would like the option of maintaining the full adjustable range.

Why not just take it to your local luthier and have them make it fit if you don't have the means? That's what I'd do. Sounds like just a bit more needs to get shaved off.

[H]

Maybe Guitarbitz (H, thanks for the parts #'s)will ship to the US.

 

If they won't I'm happy to get them for you and ship 'em on.

[H]

OK, a bit more on this: Ren has emailed me to say that they have the pickup rings and they're $10 each. I'm now waiting to find out from him whether they're pre-shaped for the body contour or not. Hopefully more quite soon...

[Guido]

OK, a bit more on this: Ren has emailed me to say that they have the pickup rings and they're $10 each. I'm now waiting to find out from him whether they're pre-shaped for the body contour or not. Hopefully more quite soon...

Hi,

 

I am from Germany and have good contacts to Schaller.

I ordered some pickup rings in cream for my H150 a few weeks ago.

The original Schaller rings have 3 screw holes on each side. The reason is that Schaller Pickups are mounted with 4 screws (2 on each side). Schaller says that gives the pickup a better stability in the pickup ring. The 3rd hole (the one in the middle) is for mounting other pickups than Schaller.

Unfortunately the cream rings are not carved!!! Only the metal rings by Schaller are carved to fit the top. For the plastic rings, you have to do it on your own.

10$ is a fair price, but all the screws and springs should be included.

 

Hope I could help!

 

Guido

[H]

Final piece of the puzzle Ren confirms that the $10 pickup rings available direct from Heritage are carved on the bottom edge to fit the contour of the guitar you order them for. I'm ordering some today.

 

Guido, thanks for the offer. Like most people on this forum, you are a gent

[Hfan]

If they won't I'm happy to get them for you and ship 'em on.

Thank you very much H.

[Hfan]

Final piece of the puzzle Ren confirms that the $10 pickup rings available direct from Heritage are carved on the bottom edge to fit the contour of the guitar you order them for. I'm ordering some today.

 

Guido, thanks for the offer. Like most people on this forum, you are a gent

Thats funny, when I e mailed Ren, he said they where out. Maybe its only the black ones that are not available.

[Hfan]

Hi,

 

I am from Germany and have good contacts to Schaller.

I ordered some pickup rings in cream for my H150 a few weeks ago.

The original Schaller rings have 3 screw holes on each side. The reason is that Schaller Pickups are mounted with 4 screws (2 on each side). Schaller says that gives the pickup a better stability in the pickup ring. The 3rd hole (the one in the middle) is for mounting other pickups than Schaller.

Unfortunately the cream rings are not carved!!! Only the metal rings by Schaller are carved to fit the top. For the plastic rings, you have to do it on your own.

10$ is a fair price, but all the screws and springs should be included.

 

Hope I could help!

 

Guido

I was assuming that the extra screw was for adjusting the slant, guess I'm wrong. Sounds like barry is on the right track..if there is a slant, the pup ring was not cut properly to conform to the body contour.

[barrymclark]

I agree that the Schallers 4-screw method does provide more stability, but I have found that they do create a great deal of torsion on the rings if not carefully adjusted. The extra stability, I have found, is just not necessary for me. I just dropped the extra two screws and problem solved.

 

The problem I am referring to is the neck rings being split so often. I am thinking that since the rings are being cut for the bodies, that they have less strength and if the 4 screws are adjusted as though you have two, you are putting a lot of twist in them eventually leading to a split in the ring.

 

That is my guess... and it doesn't sound too far out of whack. So... I am running with it. All I know is, since going with two screws instead of the four, no problems at all with the rings splitting.