The Series pickups...

[toma_hawk01]

Greetings everybody,
 
Are there folks who's pickups get's lose enough to move around in the cavity?
 
Well, this consistently happening when I play my bass. Is there a remedy?
 
I am seriously thinking about retrofitting a   poly-urethane thin cushion liner for the flat surface layer of the pickup cavity, with hopes to provide enough flex-ion and protection between the wood and pickup, which I believe would have a more snug fit while providing a great upward force, holding the screws.
 
Anyone have any ideas?
 
What about adding springs on the screws, had anyone tried this method?
 
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[tbrannon]

They shouldn't move around in the cavity if the top screws are tightened down against those two screws underneath the pickup that set pickup height.  
 
Are the two screws on the top of the pickup snugged down against the pickup?  I'm assuming you know this, but if you do go to tighten them, don't tighten too hard, you can crack the pickup housing.

[toma_hawk01]

Exactly...
 
All 4 screws are snug. I use a small micro screw driver that can't over tighten the screws. It's like a hand torque driver that can go past my comfort level.
 
I never experience this problem before, and I am ultra careful when it comes to these delicate things.
 
Also, I like my pickups low and deep making sure, my string never touch them regardless of the methods I play the strings.
 
I am taking notes on ideas in this brainstorm...
 
Peace and love,
 
Hal-

[terryc]

You could try thread locking fluid to ensure the screws are secure, it easily frees off with the slightest turn as it just 'fills' out the thread pitch.
Strange that this should happen as mine have never worked loose.
Maybe because you have them low that the screws are at the thread limits although with taking one out I think they are threaded all they to the bolt cap.
keep us posted on the problem

[tbrannon]

Really odd...  
 
You're close to Alembic, correct?  If it's not something that someone here has a solution for, I'd take it back to Alembic and ask them to figure it out before I started putting springs or neoprene in the pickup cavity.

[mica]

Which screws are coming loose - the ones under the pickup mount or the ones above the pickup mount? Are both pickups coming loose?  
 
As Toby explained, the way the pickup mounting works is that the screws under the pickup determine the height, and the screws above the pickup provide the clamping pressure. This is the same system we've used ever since we started having 4 screws per pickup, so it should be the same on both of your basses.  
 
I'm thinking that if you have the pickups lowered so much, the clamping screws are simply too long. I can mail you a small package with some shorter screws to try.

[mike1762]

Mine have come completely loose a couple of times (always on the Series I).  I really beat the crap out of my instrument when I'm playing, so I suspect that has something to do with it.

[toma_hawk01]

Hi Mica,
 
Both pickups gets lose.
 
Although the problems are not immediate after making adjustments to a nice, and snug fit with the screw tensions. However, after playing a few sets of straight 4 hour playing, the pickups starts to wobble... (still in tact, mind you...) but lose enough to stop production.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

[garth4664]

Hello Hal - here is a reversible suggestion, and  a cheap/non threatning/non asthetic impact one. Get some plumbers thread tape from a hardware store and put a wrap or two on the screws a few mm from the start of the thread. Should add the extra friction/tightness you need and is easily removable.

[toma_hawk01]

Ok, I will be honest with everybody. I would love to see Alembic change their configuration of having the naked pickup up against hard wood cavity held by a static tension, which could chip or damage the pickups.  
 
To solve this problem, I applied a gasket...
 
I placed a pair of soft foam pads under my pickups cut-to-shape-to-fit and fastened everything as normal.  
 
I believe it's better than the original setup, because it's padded, and there's less stress between my lacquer finish and pickups.  
 
The solution is nice and snug enough to handle any of my playing vibrations which loosened the screws in the first place.  
 
The gasket method works nicely, and I believe it should be a standard feature.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 15, 2010)

[toma_hawk01]

Garth,
 
That is a great idea I didn't think of. Thanks.
 
But you know, I am really loving the the gasket method, because it keeps my pickups from hard wood, and scaring up my nice lacquer finish. I changed both basses to the gasket concept.  
 
But, be sure I'll certainly use your idea if mine fails, or I might even use both methods.  
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 15, 2010)

[tmoney61092]

every time i've taken the pickups out of a bass they've had a layer of foam between the pickup and body, helps a lot with the whole not clanging around in the cavity
 
~Taylor

[toma_hawk01]

Exactly.
 
Last I looked, Series pickups are over a grand, so it just makes sense to try to protect your investment.
 
Maybe, I should open shop and offer pads for free to our members. Better yet, I could show my solution for people to do for self.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 16, 2010)

[tbrannon]

Correct me if I'm reading what you're writing incorrectly, but the only reason other basses use some sort of foam padding below the pickup is because there isn't a built in 'stop' like the under-pickup height determining screws Alembic uses.  Other types of pickups can be pressed down into the pickup cavity, so a spring or piece of foam is used to keep the pickup relatively stable.  
 
If Alembic pickups are properly seated against those bottom screws, why do you need anything underneath?   The only way the pickups should touch the bottom of the pickup route is if you're hitting the pickup so hard that the casing is breaking and/or you're actually breaking the height setting screws found underneath the pickups, allowing the pickups to travel down.
 
Hal- it sounds like Mica may have addressed your problem by offering a different length screw, but once the issue is resolved, those pickups shouldn't hit the bottom ever again (unless you lower them all the way down so they're resting against the basses body.  
 
BTW:  the activator pickups and the jazz/P style Alembic pickups DO move around in the pickup route because they're made with the traditional 1 screw per side construction.  It was the one thing about my custom Elan that I didn't consider before hand and that I wasn't entirely crazy about.

[toma_hawk01]

Yes, you are right...
 
The 2 screws (the 2 screws in the inside) does keep the pickups from touching the bottom, for those people who preferably heightens their pickups.
 
However, I like mine deep down in the pocket, and in the socket. And although my pickups are at the base, I still don't like my pickups resting on only two screws alone...
 
Also, with the pickups being elevated by opposite static forces, is no doubt a very creative idea for pickup height adjustments. But, after experiencing issues, I can clearly understand if any of the screws are lose at the slightest, it trows the balance completely off.
 
Therefore, with the Gasket method, as I explained it softens the static pressure and weight on the screws alone and acts as a micro deck, evenly distributing the weight equally and less stress on the screws alone.
 
I seen the damage those two screws done on other Alembics over the years, so I know from my own eyes. In fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea to even use a softer head or something softer than stainless steel. Maybe a screw with rubber head, or a softer nylon.  But I still like the gasket method better.
 
I'll be in recording today, and I will note my findings.  
 
Thanks,
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on July 16, 2010)