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Shardan

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I have '99 SR with blackened pole pieces.

I bought it used and they were like this since the first day I got it.

How do I restore them?

image.jpg

It doesn't look like rust.
 

nervous

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Interesting. I was checking out some of the Stealth model pickups and many also have blackened pole pieces. But those look a little more glossy to me than what I am guessing yours were. But no matter. I am thinking they weer painted originally. My mind comes up with a couple options, both of which would involve pulling the cover off the coils.

1) simply sand off what is left of the current black, mask off most of the coil area and respray with your choice of color/finish, i.e. gloss, satin or flat. I'd bet a good make of auto quality touch up paint would wear very well or a small can of model/hobby paint as small cans are easy to find.

2) as long as those pole pieces are ferrous sand off what's left of the current and apply a couple applications of Birchwood Casey gun blue. Easy stuff to use You get your dark back and makes for real easy touch-ups down the road.

2.jpg
 
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Shardan

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Thank you.

I'm scared about metal dust and magnetic field during sanding operations.

Can it damage the picukup?
 

sanderhermans

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Yes it can damage the pickup! Be carefull. Ebmm recomends using a verry fine grid sanding paper and then sealing the coils with translucent nail pollish to prevent corosion.
 

nervous

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Yes it can damage the pickup! Be careful. EBMM recommends using a very fine grit sanding paper and then sealing the coils with translucent nail polish to prevent corrosion.

Of course. That's just common sense for a job like this. No need to go breaking out the orbital sander on this one. And, it ain't gonna blow up in your hand.

But, since there is so little original finish on there a little super fine auto grade wet/dry paper will clean that off and you wouldn't get into the metal very minimally if at all. I'd bet that once you have the cover off and the pole pieces exposed a little lacquer thinner on a rag might easily wipe what's left off. And, your black paint will serve the same purpose and have the same or better durability as the recommended nail polish.

I think I used a 3M Micro finishing pas on mine to remove a touch of surface rust. Easy and everything still works! :)
 

Shardan

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Thank you so much men.

As i said the pole pieces were already blackened when i bought this bass almost 8 years ago.

Maybe the previous owner painted them in black years before but I don't really know.

I'll text him by email tomorrow to ask information about that.
 

sanderhermans

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If ebmm sugests nail polish then i would use that instead of anny paint... im no expert in the composition of paint but it seems to me that the folk over at musicman know what to use beter then you and i do so if possible i would say nail pollish is the way to go. :)
 

MrMusashi

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an eraser for pen ink (you know the erasers with 2 colors.. use the blue one)

it doesnt do much more than polish the metal. no magnetic residue to worry about..

MrM
 

Rod Trussbroken

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an eraser for pen ink (you know the erasers with 2 colors.. use the blue one)

it doesnt do much more than polish the metal. no magnetic residue to worry about..

MrM

+1

An eraser would be the way to go but perhaps ask Customer Service for advice before doing anything:

[email protected]

I'd be cautious of sanding. Any fine metal will be attracted to the pole pieces. You'll never get it off.
 

Shardan

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Does their customer service usually reply quickly to e-mails?

This bass is sick, I love it.
 

Shardan

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Thanks for playing Music Man! Unfortunately there isn't a good method to restore the pole pieces to their original color. The discoloration should not affect the tone or performance of the bass.

We do offer replacement pickups if you are interested.

This is what they reply.

What do you think about it?

I don't want to buy any new pickup.
 

sanderhermans

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I wouldnt buy a new pickup if i where you. If it really bothers you than a verry light sanding pad can do the trick. Should do no harm but it is allways safer to leave it.
On 2 of my ebmm basses i had some rust on the pole pieces. I used a super fine grid sanding pad and then sealed the pole pices with nail pollish to prevent future corrosion. This does not affect your tone.
 

Shardan

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Dec 22, 2014
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I also send an e-mail using the Music Man website and this is what they reply me:

You can lightly sand the pole pieces without worry. After they are clean, put a coat of clear nail polish to prevent IT from happening again. This will not affect the sound.

First they told me "there is no good metophod to restore your polepieces" and now "you can lightly sand the pole pieces whitout worry".

Are they kidding me?
 
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