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Topic: Rickenbacker Frypan Mechanics - String Buzz |
Christian Wadlington
From:
Honomu, Big Island, Hawai'i
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Posted 17 Jan 2014 8:08 am |
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Aloha friends, I have a frypan question for you. How exactly does the pickup / pickup guard suspension mechanism work? I can see the springs and the tension knobs but I don't know the correct settings.
The problem I have is that my steel has developed an intermittent buzz that's driving me crazy. If I tighten the tension knobs then the high G string collides and is muted by the pickup guards (it's a 7 string). If I put my hand on the guards it mostly goes away (usually). If I tweak the knobs I can usually get it to go away or be greatly reduced but only temporarily.
Anybody run into this? I sure would appreciate some advice.
Mahalos!
-Christian |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 17 Jan 2014 8:30 am
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The "pickup guard" is actually the horseshoe magnet of the pickup. The height adjustment wheels are for setting the proper height of the pickup. To do that properly you need to sight thru the pickup and adjust so the offending string is sitting half way between the pole piece and the magnet. That will give maximum deflection of the string. On some of those pickups I have seen a pole piece that is higher than the others, enough so that it is the string you need to use for adjustment and then use the other end to balance the strings out as best as possible.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2014 8:42 am
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The knurl nuts on both sides of the horseshoe pickup ... Move the entire unit ( horseshoe magnets, bobbin/coil and mounting plate) up and down ... The springs provide the tension to keep the unit in place ... Once the height is set.
Ideally, you want the strings to be about 1/3 of the distance from the slug pole pieces of the bobbin and about 2/3 of the distance from the underside of the horseshoe magnets ( what you are calling the pickup guard) ...
Sometimes it's a tight fit ... So if you can get the strings 1/2 way between the pole pieces and magnet ... Your doing good.
From the sound of your question ... It seems like the springs are rusted (a common problem) ... And the height adjusting mechanism isn't functioning 100% ... IE, the unit is " sticking in place" ... Basically not moving properly when the knurl nuts are turned ...
A good hardware store usually has various springs that can be used ( probably have to cut them to proper length) as replacements ... I've had to do this to many units I've fixed ...
If you don't want to do that ... Usually loosening the knurl nuts ... Then pressing down on the magnets will lower the unit till the strings touch the underside of the magnets ... Then, bring the unit up by tightening the knurl nuts ... Sometimes you have to pull up on the magnets to get them to move ...
It's really best to replace the rusted springs ... If that is what's going on ...
I have instructions to find the sweet spot on my site ... http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m7_1.htm ... Click "Settin' the height of a Ricky Pickup" ... |
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Christian Wadlington
From:
Honomu, Big Island, Hawai'i
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Posted 17 Jan 2014 8:53 am
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Thanks so much Rick and Mike! I bet it is rusted springs, especially given the humidity here and the fact that it just kind of came on wihtout me adjusting anything. I'm going to try to replace the springs and see how it goes.
Thanks again for your expertise! |
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