Direct-mount pickups

[killerburst]

Hey Tom,

If one were to order a guitar with a humbucker direct-mounted in the body (no ring), how much of a gap would there be around the pickup? I've only seen one pic of an Anderson with a direct-mount humbucker:

http://www.andersonalley.com/spot/spot26.htm

This picture shows quite a gap around the pickup. Would it be possible to do this with a tighter route? Something more like this (sorry for the competitor pic- it was the best example I could find):

http://www.suhrguitars.com/images/600.jpg

[tom]

we didn't intend for there not to be a ring, so there is some space, probably more than you want to see. not interested in doing a different route, i really prefer the sound of the ring. besides i wouldn't dare want to look like john.

[killerburst]

Fair enough. I've owned guitars with both types of mounting, but I've never done a first hand A/B comparison of with and without rings on the same guitar. How would you describe the difference in sound?

[tom]

without has a harder attack, and is more prone to microphonics. with the ring or pickguard, sweetness prevails.