Making a center hole for other pickups

**buddroyce** · 03-08-2008, 06:50 PM

This really applies to just the Horus since all other models pretty much use pickup rings for the most part, but should work for any model that's got direct mounted pickups.

As we all know, Caparison used a funky two screws on one side and one screw on the other setup for their pickups. What some people overlook is that the side where they install two screws, there's actually THREE holes, meaning you can actually install these pickups in a guitar using regular pickup rings. But when you want to install say a set of Dimarzio's or something on a Horus, it does pose a misalignment problem.

I've heard of people either drilling a small hole for the new pickup or people who just flat out try to screw in the new pickup and let the screw bore a new hole. Both methods work except with the first, you have to be accurate in where the hole is going to be drilled and the 2nd method tends to lead to more misalignment than anything.

NOTE: I've also seen some people exchange the baseplates of thier new pickup with the stock pickup just to get it to fit!!! This in my opinion is a waste of time and can alter the tone of the pickup (the baseplates on Caparison pickups are brass, while some other companies use nickel, aluminum or ever a PC board, changing the material of the baseplate will affect the conductivity of the pickup, meaning your tone will change. Whether it's better or worse really depends)

By taking the screw from the single screw side and screwing it into the middle hole of the fat pickup ear, you effectively have used the original mounting plate to measure out and mark the location of your new screw hole; like so:

You can either screw in that extra screw only for a short distance and use the hole as a marker to drill in a deeper hole or you can do what I do and just screw in the screw some more and let it bore in a new hole. The fact that the pickup is still screwed in with the other two screws stabilizes this hole process. In the end you get get this:

That middle hole is positioned exactly where your want to screw in your new pickup. This method saves a lot of the guess work and aggravation involved with installing a Dimarzio or a Duncan in your Horus.]

ENJOY!!! The Caparison Horus is a great guitar, but the stock BHII-R is generally the first thing to go on them. This will give you the freedom to pop in whatever pickup you want.

**5150** · 03-08-2008, 08:57 PM

Awesome advice man! Thanks for the info!

**yellowv03** · 04-08-2008, 04:12 AM

But Budd do all pickups have the exact same ear spacing? I wouldn't think so, meaning that if you use the middle hole in the caparison baseplate you may be a little off from the spacing on your new pickup. Personally I would just fit the new pickup so it was centered properly, mark where you need the hole with a pencil, then remove the pickup and start the hole. Then put the pickup in and screw it down. Also I would put a tad bit of filler in the stock holes and put some black on them with a sharpie, b/c I'm anal like that.

**buddroyce** · 04-08-2008, 08:11 PM

Actually, seeing that more than 90% of the humbuckers on the market are based off the original Gibson PAF design, so the holes are actually in the same spot as they're all designed to be fit in the same pickup mounting holes.

firewalker · 05-08-2008, 12:35 AM

i always thought all pickups have the holes in the same spot. Maybe the screw size is different but I think Budd's right about all the pickups copying the original PAF design.