AntonBolthaus Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 As the attached picture shows, when I try to lower my neck pickup, only the side opposite the poles lowers. So really the poles never adjust unless I were to lower the individual poles. Anyone else have this issue? If so, how did you fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Could you turn the pu around? Have the poles on the other side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie1971 Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 (edited) This is very common. Sometimes you can fix it by turning the springs the other way round I’d one end is wider that the other. Failing that then taking a pair of pliers to the pickup legs and bending the ears slightly will fix it.  its only a cosmetic issue though. The effect in tone is negligible. Edited January 11, 2020 by Vinnie1971 Added sentence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Put a piece of foam under it. Like on Jazz Basses. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 16 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Put a piece of foam under it. Like on Jazz Basses. I guess I don't understand how this fixes the issue. My problem isn't that the pickup is falling forward on its own. When I tighten or loosen the pickup height adjustment screws, only that one side of the pickup moves. The side with the poles always stays at the same spot. I'll be taking a closer look when I change strings next, but was hoping that someone had identified the exact reason that this happens if it is so common. Any other ideas? I'll post what I find out once I take stuff apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 16 hours ago, Vinnie1971 said: This is very common. Sometimes you can fix it by turning the springs the other way round I’d one end is wider that the other. Failing that then taking a pair of pliers to the pickup legs and bending the ears slightly will fix it.  its only a cosmetic issue though. The effect in tone is negligible. If the poles are technically angled, how would that not affect tone? I know it would be minor, but it should still slightly affect tone. I will definitely experiment with the spring and the legs and see if that helps resolve the issue. Thanks for the insight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 18 hours ago, brad1 said: Could you turn the pu around? Have the poles on the other side? Thanks for the suggestion. If all else fails I might give this a shot. I feel like having the pole pieces slightly closer to the bridge will brighten up this already bright guitar. So I'm hoping adjusting the legs and/or spring will resolve instead. If not, I'll try turning the pickup around and see what happens. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 (edited) 29 minutes ago, AntonBolthaus said: I guess I don't understand how this fixes the issue. My problem isn't that the pickup is falling forward on its own. When I tighten or loosen the pickup height adjustment screws, only that one side of the pickup moves. The side with the poles always stays at the same spot. I'll be taking a closer look when I change strings next, but was hoping that someone had identified the exact reason that this happens if it is so common. Any other ideas? I'll post what I find out once I take stuff apart. If you just want the pup to look the the other one, put a piece of foam under the side that is dipping down so it will not be able to lay at that angle. It wont affect sound. It's like shimming one side just with soft foam. But yours is extreme. You may have to trim the foam to get it at just the right thickness. Edited January 12, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labomba Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 (edited) 22 hours ago, AntonBolthaus said: As the attached picture shows, when I try to lower my neck pickup, only the side opposite the poles lowers. So really the poles never adjust unless I were to lower the individual poles. Anyone else have this issue? If so, how did you fix it?  I had that happen on an old Les Paul I had and what I did was loosen the ring around the pup and pressed lightly on the pup till it bottomed out and let go quickly and it popped up. than re adjusted the pup.  Hope that's helps Edited January 12, 2020 by labomba 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 32 minutes ago, labomba said: Â I had that happen on an old Les Paul I had and what I did was loosen the ring around the pup and pressed lightly on the pup till it bottomed out and let go quickly and it popped up. than re adjusted the pup. Â Hope that's helps I'm willing to bet this will do the trick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Best to see what's snagging inside the pickup cavity. Loosen the strings enough so you can remove the pickup unit. Unscrew the four screws on the pickup ring and see why it's snagging. It could just be the PU leads are bunched up or the cavity is not routed clean. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Probably user error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Sometimes the springs buckle when you compress them a long way. If they both buckle over the same way, that will allow the pickup to bend over like that. Might be snagged on something like Kaicho says^^. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Surgical tubing, no springs. Ever. rct 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Just now, rct said: Surgical tubing, no springs. Ever. rct Acoustic, no pups needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 3 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Acoustic, no pups needed.  I have surgical tubing taped inside the Martins for consistency. It's one of my tone secrets. rct 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 7 minutes ago, rct said: Surgical tubing, no springs. Ever. rct  Yup. Best mod I ever did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 30 minutes ago, rct said:  I have surgical tubing taped inside the Martins for consistency. It's one of my tone secrets. rct Now it's out. I'm trying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticsg Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 35 minutes ago, rct said:  I have surgical tubing taped inside the Martins for consistency. It's one of my tone secrets. rct LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 7 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: If you just want the pup to look the the other one, put a piece of foam under the side that is dipping down so it will not be able to lay at that angle. It wont affect sound. It's like shimming one side just with soft foam. But yours is extreme. You may have to trim the foam to get it at just the right thickness. Thanks for the insight. I’ll keep this in mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 6 hours ago, labomba said:  I had that happen on an old Les Paul I had and what I did was loosen the ring around the pup and pressed lightly on the pup till it bottomed out and let go quickly and it popped up. than re adjusted the pup.  Hope that's helps Thanks so much! I’ll check this out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonBolthaus Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 3 hours ago, Leonard McCoy said: Probably user error. I totally thought that too at first. Haha. I’ve got some good suggestions on here to look at. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 There are 2 points for the pickup to pivot on. Put a block of foam in the pickup cavety when the pickup is lowered it compresses the foam and keeps the pickup from twisting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Eracer_Team said: There are 2 points for the pickup to pivot on. Put a block of foam in the pickup cavety when the pickup is lowered it compresses the foam and keeps the pickup from twisting That is a good idea why didn't I post that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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