High-Gain Questions

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rickcrazy
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High-Gain Questions

Post by rickcrazy »

On again to my favourite subject - pickups. In 'Rickenbacker Guitars' someone has asked whether the polepieces on high-gain pickups can be adjusted. I think I've addressed the subject before, but here goes. Up to the early 90s the polepieces on high-gain pickups are not meant to be adjusted - any attempt to adjust them will result in damage to the coil. UNLESS you really know what you're doing, period. However, though the polepieces on 90s/current high-gains are not meant to be adjusted either, you CAN adjust them and even remove them from the bobbin (to switch or replace them) with no danger of damaging the pickup in the process. You can even substitute different polepieces for the original ones on 90s/current high-gains. If you have questions, fire away.
A Rickenbacker bass is much like the Jaguar E car - perennially ultra-fashionable.
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paul_yan
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Post by paul_yan »

Sergio,
What if I only want to adjust the height of one or two polepieces?
Any way I can do it?
How high can the polepieces be raised without being damaged?
rickcrazy
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Post by rickcrazy »

It depends on whether you want to raise or to lower them. Lowering them is not feasible, you can only raise them. Usually it's the G-string polepiece that needs to be raised. Use a suitable pair of pliers to do this. Make sure you don't dent both the relatively soft plastic bobbin AND the polepiece itself. Pull the pliers while torquing same counter-clockwise. That should start the polepiece to rotate and raise.
Polepieces on the high-gain pickup are simple drive screws. Raising them will not damage them in any way.
Should you need to lower one or two polepieces, well, I suggest you replace all four of them with suitably sized screws resembling the original polepieces.
A Rickenbacker bass is much like the Jaguar E car - perennially ultra-fashionable.
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