Horsehoe pole piece adjustment

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:47 pm

I've got a '65 4001 and the H/S "A" string pole piece frequently slightly fouls the string, leading to a tap sound. Dropping the pup causes the E string to risk fouling the 'shoe. The "A" pole is higher than the rest. I note it is a screw type pole (you can tell I don't do tech, can't you?) Whilst I'm loathe to tamper with it, in principle can the pole be screwed in/lowered?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:37 pm

I used to dab a small amount of clear silicon on the tops of my horseshoe polepieces to keep from getting the clicking poping sounds ...

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:33 pm

Even though they are screws, they sometimes cannot
be adjusted down- in one of my '65s the A and D poles
were longer so that the bottoms would contact the horsey
while the heads followed the radius of the strings.
This can be adjusted by carefully removing the coil, carefully
removing the screw, and then grinding(or filling) a little
off of the bottom of the screw until the desired length is obtained. Be aware that if you have the later coil, the E and
G poles directly contact the coil, and that removing them
might damage the windings. Also- If you have the Fillister
head screws; these were sometimes drilled through the side so that you could adjust them with a thin allen wrench or whatever would fit.

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 2:48 pm

Phil,

I have lowered and raised my screw polepieces over the years...Very carefully I might add...

Maybe someone else can chime in here. I would proceed with proper and due caution...

philipharris · Post by **philipharris** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:18 am

Thanks, everyone, for your very helpful advice. I think caution is the key here. Maybe I can just live with it..