First build Explorer EXM-1

[Simon Barden]

Aluminium is fine. Any non-magnetic metal is fine. As Frankenwashie mentioned, you may find that an aluminium bar is a lot easier to install than two blocks. You can screw the bar to the wood in the middle of the pickup rout. I'd consider making two holes either side of the existing central adjustment hole on the pickup leg, so that you can tap a thread into four matching holes in the aluminium bar. This means the original hole can still be used if you ever swap the pickups out and use them in another guitar. The four screws allow you to adjust the angle of the pickup. Rather than use a hard foam block or springs foam, you could tap some holes for a couple of flat headed screws that sit under the pickup to set its height.



The four mounting screws then pull the pickup down hard onto the screws, so the pickup is mounted firmly in place for maximum connection to the body.

You certainly want to position the neck so that the strings run down parallel to the sides of the neck. You may be better fitting a piece of veneer to one side of the neck pocket and sanding that down so the neck is kept at the right angle rather than tying to adjust it and glue it at the same time.

[Alexej]

Aluminium is fine. Any non-magnetic metal is fine. As Frankenwashie mentioned, you may find that an aluminium bar is a lot easier to install than two blocks. You can screw the bar to the wood in the middle of the pickup rout. I'd consider making two holes either side of the existing central adjustment hole on the pickup leg, so that you can tap a thread into four matching holes in the aluminium bar. This means the original hole can still be used if you ever swap the pickups out and use them in another guitar. The four screws allow you to adjust the angle of the pickup. Rather than use a hard foam block or springs foam, you could tap some holes for a couple of flat headed screws that sit under the pickup to set its height.



The four mounting screws then pull the pickup down hard onto the screws, so the pickup is mounted firmly in place for maximum connection to the body.

You certainly want to position the neck so that the strings run down parallel to the sides of the neck. You may be better fitting a piece of veneer to one side of the neck pocket and sanding that down so the neck is kept at the right angle rather than tying to adjust it and glue it at the same time.

Thank you for the advices. I also had a bar first in mind, but then thought maybe it was too thin to get proper thread. Maybe using 3mm will be fine I think. I also like the 4 holes idear instead of two, to be able adjusting the angle of the PUPs, that's a good point. I will try it out

More concerns I have about the neck, I have to measure it not twice but ten times before gluing 🙂