Sharp pickup poles

[delberthot]

I have a lovely 20th Anniversary stringray 4 string that sounds fantastic but I have a small but painful problem.

I always play right over the pickup but when I do, the poles on the A &D strings feel really sharp against my fingers. I played for about an hour last night and they are still sore to the touch.

Does anyone have any advice for how to cure this?

2 things I have thought about are:

1) take the pickup off and smooth the edges of the offending poles with a file

2) Find a replacement cover that is completely covered like the ones used on replacement pickups and use that instead

Any other ideas or reasons why mine may not work are welcome.

I don't have this problem on any of my other stringrays

Thanks in advance

 

[saxnbass]

Clear finger nail polish?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

The alnico pole pieces are now rounded off. EB may sell you a new one but you'll have to check with Customer Service. I believe you'll also have to hand over the older pickup in exchange

I wouldn't attemp filing your existing pole pieces

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I always looked at it as a rite of passage. Man up.

 

[delberthot]

I'll email them now and find out what the script is with getting a new pickup.

 

[prickly_pete]

Get another 4 string pickup cover, and cut the top off. You can then use the new pickup cover top piece to shim your pickup, which effectively moves the sharp pole pieces flush with the pickup cover.

EDIT: BP, what about a top-thicker EB replacement cover that would obscure the sharp pole pieces as an aftermarket part?

 

[midopa]

Hmm How about tape over the pole pieces?

 

[Micolao]

I'll email them now and find out what the script is with getting a new pickup.

please let me know what they tell you
maybe I'll change too...

 

[todd4ta]

I'm pretty sure someone (Brad?) has made a thin cardboard spacer to go between the top of the pickup and the underside of the cover (you remove the cover to insert the spacer). I never saw a picture, but I'm guessing you would cut out holes for the pole pieces. This would 'raise' the cover to be flush with the edges of the sharp pole pieces.

 

[prickly_pete]

I'm pretty sure someone (Brad?) has made a thin cardboard spacer to go between the top of the pickup and the underside of the cover (you remove the cover to insert the spacer). I never saw a picture, but I'm guessing you would cut out holes for the pole pieces. This would 'raise' the cover to be flush with the edges of the sharp pole pieces.

Yup, that's exactly what I had in mind. I think an extra pickup cover would work if cut properly, although it still might not be think enough. A shim could be made out of anything, though.

 

[rhythmCity944]

what ever happened to calloused finger tips?

 

[prickly_pete]

what ever happened to calloused finger tips?

Man those old-style sharp pole pieces will slice through the thickest callouses

 

[rhythmCity944]

Man those old-style sharp pole pieces will slice through the thickest callouses

then i guess I just lost all feeling in my finger tips

 

[olistorck]

pole pieces on 20th anni sr4

I also own a 20th anni sr4. It´s a beaut, but the pole pieces on d and a string are much higher than the other two. I took out the pickup but I can´t seem to push the magnets up or down. Anyone have an idea...
Greets from germany
Oliver

 

[SLUGGO]

I believe....but I may be wrong....that they are set that way to match the radius of the fretboard.

 

[olistorck]

Now that is a complete new picture. cool, I never thought of that... Thanx, man, that does make me feel better.

 

[PocketGroove82]

I really don't dig in so much on the strings that my fingers hit the poles a lot.
If you are not going for a really aggressive style, then you could try turning up your volume and try playing with a lighter touch.
Altering your technique just a little can really help.

 

[Micolao]

It´s a beaut, but the pole pieces on d and a string are much higher than the other two. I took out the pickup but I can´t seem to push the magnets up or down. Anyone have an idea...

I'm still trying to figure out how to solve this problem...

ps: delberthot did you spoke with the customer service about switching the pu?

my SR4 is the best bass I've ever had, that's for sure, there's only this minor small insignificant problem but it's important to me and I really want to solve it to make this bass perfect.

 

[oli@bass]

I always play right over the pickup but when I do, the poles on the A &D strings feel really sharp against my fingers. I played for about an hour last night and they are still sore to the touch.

Same problem here... guess I'll have to get a replacement pickup for my brand new case aged SR4 -- most probably that would not be considered a "warranty case", would it?

 

[Bass Control]

Hmm How about tape over the pole pieces?

I did the same thing with one of my basses. Not only a striking effect, but it does help... especially if the strings ride the pickup and that is also where you fingerpick.