JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

E

Emopunk

New member
Hi all.

I was wondering if this JB being slightly tilted could have an impact on its performance.



It came like this from the factory, in my brand new Charvel San Dimas (which I love). I think there must be some kind of foam beneath the PUP.

I don't want to mess with it unless actually needed, so I thought you might share your knowledge with me.
Thanks!
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

That's pretty common on humbuckers with only 2 middle screw mounts. If you change out the screws to the firm compressible rubber it helps tighten them up. guitarelectronics sells it.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Toner said:
That's pretty common on humbuckers with only 2 middle screw mounts. If you change out the screws to the firm compressible rubber it helps tighten them up. guitarelectronics sells it.
Click to expand...


Good advice. Could you provide a link to these items so that I better understand what do they look like? Thanks.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Emopunk said:
Good advice. Could you provide a link to these items so that I better understand what do they look like? Thanks.
Click to expand...

http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts_for_Strat/Pickup_Spring_Tubing.html
or
http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/SPRT1/Guitar-Pickup-Mounting-Rubber.html

Alternatively, I've just put some foam (I cut it from an old microphone case) under the pickup to put some upward pressure on the springs.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

dd12939 said:
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts_for_Strat/Pickup_Spring_Tubing.html
or
http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/SPRT1/Guitar-Pickup-Mounting-Rubber.html

Alternatively, I've just put some foam (I cut it from an old microphone case) under the pickup to put some upward pressure on the springs.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the links. I think at the moment there's already some foam under the PUPs. Would eventually something like this do the trick?



I happen to have some of those lying around because of my job..
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Any tilt is like having the pickup moved closer or further from the strings - it will change tone.

But there is NO reason to even consider that the pickup being flat or level with the strings is the only way (or the best way) to have a pickup. You might find the best tone is way more tilted than it is.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Emopunk said:
Hi all.

I was wondering if this JB being slightly tilted could have an impact on its performance.



It came like this from the factory, in my brand new Charvel San Dimas (which I love). I think there must be some kind of foam beneath the PUP.

I don't want to mess with it unless actually needed, so I thought you might share your knowledge with me.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Figure out the spacing you need under the pickup to make it your desired amount of "level". For this example, let's say it is 1/4". Go to the Ace Hardware or the Lowe's or the hobby shop or wherever and find strips of wood in that dimension. Hobby shops will probably have it in balsa, for example.

Get a strip of that. Cut it to size to run the span of the pickup. Generally 2-1/2", but about 2-1/4" along the edge where the lead wire comes out.

I use some double sided tape to hold them in place. It might take a degree of MacGyver here and there, depending on how OCD you want to be....but I've done this one a few direct mount pickups with good results.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Before you go all crazy with a level and foam, use some masking tape to pull it level and see if you'd care first.

I don't - especially with a hottie like a JB
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Emopunk said:
Hi all.

I was wondering if this JB being slightly tilted could have an impact on its performance.



It came like this from the factory, in my brand new Charvel San Dimas (which I love). I think there must be some kind of foam beneath the PUP.

I don't want to mess with it unless actually needed, so I thought you might share your knowledge with me.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I`ve got the same guitar in satin orange. The stock white Duncans had the same tilt yours have. I swapped them out for some zebra Duncans and they still tilt but for me It`s no big deal
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

I have never had a humbucker that wasn't tilted to at least some degree, apart from the three or four screw types that can be easily tweaked. Don't worry about it.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

dd12939 said:
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts_for_Strat/Pickup_Spring_Tubing.html
or
http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/SPRT1/Guitar-Pickup-Mounting-Rubber.html

Alternatively, I've just put some foam (I cut it from an old microphone case) under the pickup to put some upward pressure on the springs.
Click to expand...

Was about to say this. I use foam as well (from my seymour duncan packaging) and it works great!
I also slide small pieces of this foam under the strings behind the nut and behind the springs of my trems (if my guitar has some) to mute vibrations from there.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Zarg said:
Was about to say this. I use foam as well (from my seymour duncan packaging) and it works great!
I also slide small pieces of this foam under the strings behind the nut and behind the springs of my trems (if my guitar has some) to mute vibrations from there.
Click to expand...

As I stated above I think I can see that there's a black foam already placed under the PUP from factory so I don't know how am I supposed to use more foam.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

A slight inward tilt is perfect IMO. That pic doesn't look bad, but I wouldn't want anymore than that.
I like to set the tilt to match the angle of the strings when fretted at the upper-most fret, or at least fairly close.
IMO they sound better that way, just a hair more bite and clarity, and can get them just a smidget closer to the strings without wavering.
 
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Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

I have always looked at one that is perfectly parallel with the strings and went "cool" for just a tiny moment and moved on.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

A real easy and cheap fix to level it out is get some black tissue paper and neatly stuff a little bit or as much as it takes between the pickup and the cavity to level it out. I've done it a lot on a few guitars and once the paper is stuffed in there you'll never see it since its black , I'm OCD and knowing its there doesn't bother me . I'll do it to my Charvel in a few hours and post a few pics to show you how it turned out
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

51501984 said:
A real easy and cheap fix to level it out is get some black tissue paper and neatly stuff a little bit or as much as it takes between the pickup and the cavity to level it out. I've done it a lot on a few guitars and once the paper is stuffed in there you'll never see it since its black , I'm OCD and knowing its there doesn't bother me . I'll do it to my Charvel in a few hours and post a few pics to show you how it turned out
Click to expand...

Great, I would highly aprreciate it. If you can, show me the kind of paper/material you'll be using, too! Regards!
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

Well, I'd ask..is there a sound problem, or just OCD? Some pickups can tilt front/back, and some left/right, especially with the 2 point mounting system that apparently is the standard. I would just add to the foam underneath, or leave it alone if you like the sound.
 
Re: JB a bit tilted. Shall I leave it like that?

The way yours is tilted, I wouldn't stress about that for a second. Its fine.
 
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