A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

[dave74]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

Since open-coils vary on size from brand to brand I think (and agree with Lew) that ALL brands should offer the option of a form-fitted ring to go with the model.
And to take it a step further, they should all have 3-holes each side and two holes on the bass-side of the form-fitted ring.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might not like Carvin's pickups, but that's a great mounting design for rings,,,,,,,it won't be moved or wiggled out of place and you can set the tilt just as you prefer or not.

 

[SJ318]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

Hi,
On the pickup wobble problem: I swear I have done this from 1968 and on. Just did it to 2 SD p'ups recently. The 59/Cust and the WLH.
I bend both pickup leg screws (not the leg) just below the ring. Enough to be visible. About 10-15 degrees, keep the springs tight, don't trim them. When installed each one works against the other and if you get the angle right on one end first, then the other one will, when turned, will create a slight push pull so it will no longer tip down or up.
Once as a kid I soldered an extra piece on one leg, then tapped it so I would have 2 on one side and 1 on the other. This is great too, but takes too much time and hassle.
I have never broken a leg screw. They do bend easy, I've used my fingers, but needle nose pliers are better. Bend just enough so they don't run on a flat surface. It has worked for about 50 years.
I did use a Trem spaced with a Gibson pickup ring, the sides were fine but I just gently used a wide flat file for the length. Worked beautifully.
Steve Buffington

 

[Mincer]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

That is actually a really cool idea.

 

[dave74]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

Hi,
On the pickup wobble problem: I swear I have done this from 1968 and on. Just did it to 2 SD p'ups recently. The 59/Cust and the WLH.
I bend both pickup leg screws (not the leg) just below the ring. Enough to be visible. About 10-15 degrees, keep the springs tight, don't trim them. When installed each one works against the other and if you get the angle right on one end first, then the other one will, when turned, will create a slight push pull so it will no longer tip down or up.
Once as a kid I soldered an extra piece on one leg, then tapped it so I would have 2 on one side and 1 on the other. This is great too, but takes too much time and hassle.
I have never broken a leg screw. They do bend easy, I've used my fingers, but needle nose pliers are better. Bend just enough so they don't run on a flat surface. It has worked for about 50 years.
I did use a Trem spaced with a Gibson pickup ring, the sides were fine but I just gently used a wide flat file for the length. Worked beautifully.
Steve Buffington

Yeah that is a cool way to do it. Not really easily adjustable after the fact,, but since you already know how you like them it works forya.

 

[SJ318]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

Hi,
Thank you. I bend them enough so when I raise the p'up it usually takes me about 10 turns each side, watching them go up/down, up/down, etc. one side kind of down on the screws, and up on screws on the other side. back and forth, till they are where I want them. Now they are in the place where I fine tune them. Do one side, then do the other, and you will feel tension on both, so that tension keeps them in place.
I UNDER did it on my new 59/Custom, as it still moves a bit, so I must remove the scratch plate and bend just a few more degrees on each side.
Thanks,
Steve Buffington
It doesn't have to be a lot for them to fight each other.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

What causes the wobble? I rarely have the issue with new pickups.

When I do, sometimes it's because I'm using a used pickup and the cable is a little short so that after it's soldered in, it pulls on the pickup and makes it tilt.

I've also cut the foam that comes in the box of a new Duncan pickup and put it under the pickup. That sometimes helps. And sometimes it makes it worse in terms of getting the top of the pickup parallel to the strings.

But generally, if the rout is cut right and the pickup ring is not binding and the ring is the correct angle, and the pickup is new and the cable nice and long and slack, I don't have trouble getting the pickup so it's parallel to the strings and not tipped.

 

[Mincer]

Re: A word on the Duncan humbucker sets.

I've done the 'cut the foam that the pickup came in' trick before. Usually it works just fine.