Adjusting floating pickups...
Peter
Armstrong, either higher or lower?
Pickups that are set IN the body, like an ES 175, are straight
forward, as they have the screws on the sides, which raise or lower
the pickups. As I sit here and look at the pick up on a hand carved
archtop, I can't see any way to raise or lower the pickup. Am I
missing something?
Thank you! Your input is very much appreciated!
Peter
David J. Littleboy
"Peter" <petertod...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:27fac6e4-f3fc-4a95...@k3g2000prl.googlegroups.com...
> Is there a way to adjust floating pickups, like an EMG or Kent
> Armstrong, either higher or lower?
>
> Pickups that are set IN the body, like an ES 175, are straight
> forward, as they have the screws on the sides, which raise or lower
> the pickups. As I sit here and look at the pick up on a hand carved
> archtop, I can't see any way to raise or lower the pickup. Am I
> missing something?
No. Once installed, they are fixed in place. So it's important to get it
right when installing<g>. Also, there's often not a whole lot of extra space
between the strings and the top, so there's very little vertical play.
Especially on older guitars. (I'm thinking about replacing the KA ultrathin
on my '52 L-4C with the KA 12-pole black humbucker, but it's an extremely
close fit. I'm thinking that I may have to put some felt or cloth between
the PUP and the top. (Is the "floating" PUP on the Heritage Sweet 16
actually in contact with the top? It looks as though it is...))
Still, set-in pickups are usually set up to be as close to the strings as
possible, I thought. (Corrections appreciated if I'm dizzy here, of course.)
--
David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
Joe Finn
news:27fac6e4-f3fc-4a95...@k3g2000prl.googlegroups.com...
The floating pickup is typically attached to the pick guard on the treble
side. It may also have a post or something on the bass side. Raising the
pick guard will therefore bring the pickup closer to the strings. This is
accomplished by inserting washers under the vertical mounting screw. Soft
polymer/plastic washers are best; avoid metal and you won't scratch the top
of the instrument. In the case of a horizontal mounting screw design the
pick guard can be removed and shims inserted to lift the pick guard and
pickup closer to the strings. Reverse the process to lower everything.
It is usually possible to raise the bass side of the pickup a little without
disturbing the pick guard mount by inserting felt shims or similar under
the bass side of the pickup itself.
All of this is academic if you have adjustable poll screws as are featured
on certain Kent Armstrong floating humbuckers and other similar designs.
..joe
--
Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
Or say hello via Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/?ref=home
Guido Scope
On my D'Angelico the pickguard on the side of the strings is attached with
a screw that goes through a tube below the pickguard. I replaced this tube
by a slightly longer one to raise the floater on the treble side and glued
a small piece of rubber under the bass side of the pu. (Be carefull though
rubber reacts with some kinds of laquer.)
Guido Scope
Peter
Joe, you have some interesting ideas with the washers / shims. I would
have never thought of that. It does appear that mine is mounted with
horizontal screws. Great idea!
Again, thank you all for the posts.
JNugent
A little pad of folded offcut silk can be a lot safer than rubber when in
contact with the pickup. Perhaps even better is to remove the pad when not in
use and just keep it in the guitar case.