Elan P bass pickup

[dazzbass]

Hi

Just looking for some advice with my Elan P pickup. The pickup is spring mounted and the screws unwind while playing with end result being pickup touching strings. This happens over the course of only playing a few songs. Is there a way to adjust these pickups so they stay in place.

Thanks for your help.

[maarten⊙]

Hello Dazz,
That's kind of weird. It seems that the srews fit a little too loose in the srewholes. What you can try is new srews. Or turn out the srews and remove the pickups, then put a little, thin piece of rope in the srewholes, trie if you can turn in the srews and look if you have to use a little force. Then  add, or remove, some of the rope and try again till you can turn them in with just a littele force. When that' done, remount the pickups.
Maarten

[mica]

First thing to check is that the threaded inserts are still firmly seated. Maybe send a picture so we can see what screws you have.

You can convert to a mounting style like the bridge with an aircraft fastener under the mounting flange instead of the spring.

[dazzbass]

Thanks Mica,

I will check the inserts over the weekend and attach a photo. I like the idea of having the pickup fixed like the bridge pickup as well. This would. E the best option for me I think.

I would also like to upgrade the bridge screws as well as they are the black ones at the moment.

Appreciate your help.

Regards

Darren

[dazzbass]

Hi Maarten,

Thank you for your idea. Appreciate your suggestion. I think that I will upgrade the fasteners as Mica suggested as it will be a more permanent fix in the long term.

Regards
Darren

[mica]

Another thing is that if the springs are not strong enough, the pickup can vibrate the screw.

For the J pickup, mounting like the bridge may need some modification to recess the inserts since the fastener takes up some room. For the P pickups, it should be easier since they are thinner to begin with.

[dazzbass]

Thanks Mica,

The J pickup is fixed and not spring mounted currently. I am only having a problem with the P pickup.

I will also check the springs as they seem a little soft.

Thanks for your help.

Regards

Darren

[manticore]

Wow! I just picked up an Elan with the exact same issue. Thanks for writing in and asking.

[dazzbass]

Hi Mica,

I have had a look at the inserts and they are still seated well. The screws can be unwound by hand when you take a bit of pressure off the springs and seem very loose in the inserts. The springs are conical and are very soft as well.

I have attached a couple of photos which I hope is useful.

Thanks again for your help.

Kind Regards
Darren

[maarten⊙]

Hi Darren,

You can try to put some special foam under the pickups, then fasten the screws just enough, so that the pickups don't move (not too tight, just tight enough).
Here's an example. I think you can buy it at StewMac or an good guitar shop.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/goeldo_foam_rubber_for_pickups.htm

Maarten

[dazzbass]

Thanks Maarten,

Thanks for your suggestion. I will definitely check my local guitar shop and see if I can get some of this. Might be just what I need to fix the problem.

Kind regards
Darren