| Author |
Topic: National Console Pickup |
Mick Hearn
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 20 Dec 2017 4:47 am |
|
Have any of you pickup guru's out there had any experience of the National D8 console pickup. For those who are not familiar with it, the bridge, string anchor and pickup housing are all one unit made from sheet metal. The pickup itself is the usual coil with a magnet either side of the coil and all are attached to the metal base plate by small bolts. All eight of the pole pieces pass through the coil and into a threaded hole in the base plate. Whilst this gives some minute height adjustment I suspect the the coil is held on to the base plate by the same posts as I can see no other means of securing the coil to the base plate. I am reluctant to try and pull this coil off. It may have been glued into place.
As a result of this design every little bit of noise from tapping the base plate comes through the amp which can be a little bit annoying as the whole thing is microphonic. The coil looks as though it may have been waxed but again I am reluctant to strip off the covering tape. There are gaps where the coil can be seen.
I would suspect that the tone of the guitar comes not only from disturbances in the magnetic field but also the acoustic sounds by the fact that the bridge is attached to the pickup base.
Any ways of stopping the noise?
_________________
MSA Classic 12 string Universal, Remington Steelmaster D8, National D8 Console x 2, George Boards Lap Steel, National New Yorker. |
|
|
|
Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
|
Posted 20 Dec 2017 11:13 am
|
|
I'm not sure if you're describing the National pickup where the strings "pass over" the entire pickup of "pass through" part of the housing -
But either way I'd send it to Jerry Sentell (Sentell pickups) for service. It may need rewinding and potting or it might just need improvement in vibration isolation. He works on all sorts of oddly-built steel pickups though. I've had him service vintage ones and build replacements for missing pickup all with excellent results.
If nothing else just email him pictures and ask him about it.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
|
|
|
Mick Hearn
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 20 Dec 2017 1:50 pm
|
|
I suppose I am really aiming this at National D8 owners who know the layout of the guitar. Do they have a similar experience and have they tried in any way to eradicate this problem. I have two of these models the second of which I am in the process of restoring. Just thought I might try a few things whilst the pickup section was apart. I have thought of a couple of tricks to try to increase sustain so will be experimenting. Seeing as I have had to strip off all the paint there is nothing to lose as the vintage value has now gone.
_________________
MSA Classic 12 string Universal, Remington Steelmaster D8, National D8 Console x 2, George Boards Lap Steel, National New Yorker. |
|
|
|
Mick Hearn
From:
United Kingdom
|
Posted 21 Dec 2017 11:35 am
|
|
Well today with my heart in my mouth I took the pickups apart on my 57 National D8. What a surprise inside. Firstly the reading on the meter was just over 2k on both pickups. Similar to my other 52 model.
The construction is as follows. Eight pole pieces are screwed into the base plate and then the coil (consisting of two smaller coils each covering 4 strings) is lowered over this. There is nothing to secure the coil in place. A magnet equaling the height of the pickup is held in place either side of the pickup by a bar and small bolts. I can only assume that the coil would be held in place by the pickup cover. Such a construction leaves the coils able to move about by a small degree, sufficient to act like a microphone thus picking up unwanted acoustic noises from the guitar. That's my thought anyway.
As I am on a voyage of discovery here, I have for the time being removed two coils from a humbucking base pickup and put one coil in each pickup securely held in place. Each coil gives a reading of 6.3k. I was able to retain the original magnets. The pole pieces from the original are safely stored as the new coils have a rail.
Time will tell if my theory and work pays off. Just waiting for tuners to arrive. I have had to invest in some el cheapo Kluson clones as replacement melt on tuner buttons appear hard to come by in the UK.
_________________
MSA Classic 12 string Universal, Remington Steelmaster D8, National D8 Console x 2, George Boards Lap Steel, National New Yorker. |
|
|
|
