4001 pickup vs string alignment

[heinz]

Greetings all,

Long time lurker, finally got an old (75) 4001 but there's an odd issue with it. The string alignment doesn't match the pickup, starts fine on the high string but on the E it's so far off the pickup pole that the tone is seriously wrong.

Any suggestions on how to address this? (please see pic).



Thanks and best regards,
Heinz

[jps]

Hi Heinz,

Try turning the pickup around 180º as it is probably not quite symmetrical. I have read of people doing this and getting the poles to line up better under the strings. They don't have to be perfectly under them as there is a wide enough field to cover the strings generally. How is the spacing from the edges of the fingerboard to the E and G strings?

The pickguard has been changed out to what looks like a poorly cut one, so there may be other mods that have been done to the bass, also. Can you post more photos of this 4001?

Getting back to the pickup, my guess is that it had been flipped around at one point, hence the mis-alignment of the poles, possibly.

[aceonbass]

The bridge saddles appear to be cut slightly off center, so that is a factor as well. Flipping the pickup 180 degrees won't help because with the G string lining up, and the other strings off, the distance between the first and last poles will still be the same once flipped. I'd order three new saddles, and cut them to line up with the poles.

[heinz]

Thank you both for the insights, the pickup flip is interesting i gotta look at that. The fingerboard spacing seems good.

And yeah I figured the bridge saddles might have a big influence as well will look into replacing them.

I received this bass from the original owner (my brother in law) and would be surprised if it was not original, but given the age I'm sure anything is possible, Here are some more pics of the body:

[aceonbass]

I can tell by the wiring on the bottom that the pickup is oriented correctly.

[heinz]

I can tell by the wiring on the bottom that the pickup is oriented correctly.

Thanks you, seemed good but it's nice to know for sure.

[chefothefuture]

The bridge saddles appear to be cut slightly off center, so that is a factor as well. Flipping the pickup 180 degrees won't help because with the G string lining up, and the other strings off, the distance between the first and last poles will still be the same once flipped. I'd order three new saddles, and cut them to line up with the poles.

Wouldn't that mess up the alignment with the neck pickup and the neck itself?
Also- that two layer guard is funky.

What about flipping the pickup 180deg in the bezel?

[aceonbass]

Ya, recutting saddles would throw off the string alignment with the sides of the neck. Honestly, I thing removing the bridge pickup assembly, pegging the four mounting holes, then placing the assembly back on the bass while lining it up with the strings and redrilling those four holes is the way to go. The string spacing would be a bit wider than the pole spacing, but overall it would line up better. Nowadays the bridge pickup pole spacing is wider on a 4003, but if it weren't back in the 70's, that would explain this. Measure the pole spacing on both neck and bridge pickup, and see of they're the same.

[JRyder]

Just a thought:
Can the PUP base plate be modded or replaced? seems less invasive than drilling holes in the body.

[aceonbass]

Just a thought:
Can the PUP base plate be modded or replaced? seems less invasive than drilling holes in the body.

No. I'll bet there were extra holes drilled when that aftermarket guard was installed.

[chefothefuture]

A little more involved would be removing the bobbin/magnet from the support plate and using a jeweler's file, widening the screw holes in the plate just a MM or so over to correct the alignment. You could also do it with a drill press.

[jps]

A little more involved would be removing the bobbin/magnet from the support plate and using a jeweler's file, widening the screw holes in the plate just a MM or so over to correct the alignment. You could also do it with a drill press.

That's a great idea, IMO.

[Graze]

mine's like that as well, '92 4003S

[cassius987]

Am I the only one who thinks it probably will have zero effect on the sound to get the strings perfectly lined up with the pole pieces? I have never found that this matters much, on Rics or Fenders.

[jps]

Am I the only one who thinks it probably will have zero effect on the sound to get the strings perfectly lined up with the pole pieces? I have never found that this matters much, on Rics or Fenders.

+1, big time.