Brand new St. Vincent, pickup not centered

**pollux** · 03-14-2021, 11:19 PM

I purchased a new St. Vincent Music Man all the way from Germany (I'm in California... ironic, I know). I'd been looking for an all rosewood neck for some time and finally found just the one I wanted.

It looks like the middle pickup isn't quite centered correctly in the cavity. There's also some occasional buzzing (only notice when not plugged in). Not a huge deal, but I'm wondering if the buzzing might be related to the pickup not being centered properly?

Any quick way to fix the alignment? Do I need to remove the pickguard and see what's going on underneath?

Photos:

iCloud

iCloud

**Pink** · 03-15-2021, 05:38 AM

Just spitballing here, but it looks like the pickup is angled down a bit. Maybe the screws aren’t in the pickup claws straight?

As for the buzzing, is it possibly fret buzz? Has the guitar been properly set up since you received it?

**tbonesullivan** · 03-15-2021, 06:38 AM

Most of the pictures I have seen of the St. Vincent have the pickups slightly off center, which is unfortunately hard to prevent with a two point mounting system. They are held on by two screws and springs or rubber tubing, which sometimes just goes which ever way it wants. Also the wiring on the pickup can also pull it out of center.

This isn't really a new thing. It's just part of the limitations of a two point pickup mounting design. I have seen some makers (Hamer) that would put foam under pickups in some models to keep them more stable.

With a mini humbucker design, I doubt it has any influence on the sound.

If you want to see some horror inducing photos, just google "Gibson Sg Standard Pickup Slant".

**fbecir** · 03-15-2021, 07:43 AM

Hello & welcome

For the buzz, you just need to adjust a bit the truss rod with the wheel.
For the middle humbucker, I agree with tbonesullivan : it does not change the sound.

**TripHazard** · 03-15-2021, 07:47 AM

I'd use a little foam to recentre it.

**pollux** · 03-15-2021, 11:55 AM

Thanks so much for all the responses! I should take it for a proper setup. Only just got here a few days ago!

Regarding the buzzing, I'm relatively confident it's the pickup as it stops buzzing if I hold my pinky on it when playing.

**tbonesullivan** · 03-15-2021, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by pollux

Thanks so much for all the responses! I should take it for a proper setup. Only just got here a few days ago!

Regarding the buzzing, I'm relatively confident it's the pickup as it stops buzzing if I hold my pinky on it when playing.

Have you tried tightening the screws? Maybe one worked its way loose.

**pollux** · 03-15-2021, 05:08 PM

I tightened the screws on the center pickup and it moves up/down on both screws. Assuming that means the screws are in correctly?

**tbonesullivan** · 03-15-2021, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by pollux

I tightened the screws on the center pickup and it moves up/down on both screws. Assuming that means the screws are in correctly?

Yep. I would assume they have springs, and those can unfortunately sometimes vibrate.

**pollux** · 03-20-2021, 10:37 AM

I’m not so convinced anymore that it’s the center pickup alignment that’s causing the buzzing. It seems to have gotten louder and I think it’s the pick guard vibrating. I tried tightening all the screws but doesn’t seem to have had any effect.

Here’s a video: iCloud

FYI I have reached out to Ernie Ball support about this, waiting to hear back.