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Topic: Emmons PP finger wear |
J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 26 May 2009 7:38 am |
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| I have my changer apart to install a new axle, and have noticed wear on the sides of some raise fingers, where they rub against the spacer washers. There is a semi circle worn into the side of the finger. Not sure what, if anything, to do here. There's going to be more slop in the changer because of this. Should I replace the washers with oversized thickness ones perhaps?...Jerry |
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Mike Cass
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Posted 26 May 2009 7:58 am
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The Emmons Co. has new p/p changer spacers available for sale. I use them and they're the same as the originals, about .030. Installing them correctly is a matter of proper alignment, taking into consideration the overall distance alloted between your changer pillow mounts(mounted on the axle, lined up for installation to the body)and the factory pre-determined distance between strings. Spacing a changer isnt difficult but everything all the way from the tuning gear down to the open tuning screw has to line up correctly. Tightening up a changer is usually a benefit from installing new spacers. Be sure to see how many are on each end of the axle as well. Most guitars have 2 on each end but Ive seen variations. The wear on the side of the fingers is inconsequential as long as there are no digs or burrs apparent.
Good luck and write if you get hung up. |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 26 May 2009 8:24 am
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Thanks for the response Mike.
There are two spacers on each end of the axle, and one between each set of fingers. Spacing seems predetermined by this arrangement.
Not sure how to align the changer, as there seems to be only one way for it to go back on. Holes in the pillow blocks align with the holes on the top of the body. Or can I put everything back on the guitar, and then nudge the changer into position before I tighten it down?
Strings don't pass directly over the pickup magnets, so I know there's something out of whack here.
I appreciate your expertise and time in this matter...Jerry |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 26 May 2009 8:52 am
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| I wouldn't re-align the changer fingers, it is much easier to re-align the pickup. |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 27 May 2009 8:37 am
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Hi Erv
Yes aligning the pickup would be easy, but if everything left the factory aligned, then the pickup shouldn't need to be realigned. Have you ever aligned a changer? I think I'll order the new spacers and see how it goes from there.
Thanks...Jerry |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 May 2009 8:43 am
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Jerry,
I don't know the history on your guitar but maybe the pickup has been changed sometime in the past. I have had to re-align pickups on quite a few guitars. Usually the screw holes in the pickup are slotted and you can position the pickup to align it with the strings. |
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Chris Lucker
From:
Los Angeles, California USA
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Posted 27 May 2009 9:34 am
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| Is the pickup installed backwards? |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 27 May 2009 11:10 am
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Hi Chris
I've tried the pickup both ways, and it doesn't align quite right under the strings. I could enlarge the four mounting holes easily enough, and move it into position. Sounds fine as is though. This guitar, which is an SD10 from 1984, has a lot of miles on it...Jerry |
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 27 May 2009 11:21 am
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| The E 9th fingers on my 68 pp are very worn in every way. It still seems to play ok but,I need to replace them some day. |
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Mike Cass
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Posted 28 May 2009 3:02 am
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older pickups had offset magnets in them and if a guitar has been worked on or taken down at some point people often get those pickup in backwards. Also, its easy to get the p/u plate in upside down which throws everything off at the magnet as well. You should go with the current changer spacing arrangement as long as the tuning screws hit their mark on center and the open tuning screws line up centered in the bottom row of holes in the e/p. It is very important that all of this be lined up and on center to the endplate. I think its bad advice to just go with whatever gets it close....... only counts in horeshoes  this is a bit more complicated than that. Im a factory authorized Emmons Repair Station(since 1987)should you find yourself needing help or advice with the project.
good luck,
MC |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 May 2009 7:45 am
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| Quote: |
| Strings don't pass directly over the pickup magnets, so I know there's something out of whack here. |
Contrary to popular opinion, it's not important for the strings to be centered on the polepieces. "Close" will work just fine. I've even seen new guitars that didn't line up properly. They played well just the same. |
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Mike Cass
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Posted 30 May 2009 8:06 am
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Donny,
true, but I feel sure that the guitar was assembled correctly at the factory so somebody got it out of line along the way or its not a factory p/u. If one wants his guitar like factory and the p/u is original, leave the changer alone and attempt to reposition the p/u by rotating it 180 degrees along with making sure that the p/u mounting plate is in right-side up. Between these 2 things you should be able to get it back to factory with little or no trouble.
Jerry, yes, the mounting holes in the body and the space between pillow mounts is pre-determined @ the factory, so install it as is and lock it down fairly tight one you've used a metal rule to make sure that the scale is on. Go from the mid-line of the roller axle to the mid-line of the raise finger...24 1/4" is factory scale length. Also, once the changer is locked down(as above)and you've strung up the guitar, take a wooden block covered w/masking tape and place it against the plate behind the changer which usually has a patent# on it. Give it a few whacks with the mallet and re-check the scale length. If its on, lock 'er down tight! Now, if after all of this you still find looseness between the fingers check to see if adding a spacer on either end will tighten it up sufficienty(tight but not in a bind). The fingers shouldnt wobble on the axle but they need to swing freely. Make sure though that adding a spacer wont compromise the overall alignment of the string path from tuning machine to ball-end pin on the raise finger. That will throw off the alignment for the open and lower tuning screws. The mounting holes for most all parts on an Emmons are transferred from a body jig so you should be able to get it back to factory specs.
Good luck!
MC |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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