PUPs are a "tight fit"

[mentalextra]

Bit strange, but recently swapped some old pups into my j bass and they are catching a little on the wood! The foam is not springy enough to overcome this slight dragging. My question is, what is the best way to remove a little wood from the bottom of the pup cavity to give them a big of wiggle room

[Pete1967]

The best way is to clean the rout up with a router. If it's just from the bottom of the cavity that's best done with a 1/2in top bearing guided profiler bit and a plunge router. Ditto if you want to enlarge the cavities on the sides but you'll also need a 1/4in straight bit for the corners and the right sized routing template - which you fit over the top of the cavity and run the bearing round the template to start with and work down. If you've never done this before I'd really recommend taking it to someone who has...... it's not as big a job as it sounds and shouldn't cost much.

Alternatively you might be able to win enough clearance by sanding. Stick some 100 grit to the end and sides of a length of 12mm dowel with double sided tape to create a sanding wand... rip it off when it clogs and stick a fresh piece on.

[neepheid]

If it's only catching a little, or in one particular place, I'd go down the sanding route. I helped a friend out recently with his Jazzmaster - the tremolo arm was pushing down and then sticking because the sprung loaded plate underneath the bridge plate was catching on the wood in the cavity. You could see where the scuffing was. I gently sanded those areas out until it moved freely.

Edited March 12, 2013 by neepheid

[mentalextra]

OK, thanks I'll give that a go