modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

[Albert]

I bought a used, 4-conductor SH1B and discovered that all of the polepiece screws have a 1/8" section cut out of their bottom ends, so that a quarter of the end is missing, but the cut tapers down a bit as it heads toward the head of the screw.

Does anyone know anything about this? Was it ever stock on Duncan '59 humbuckers or is this a modification anyone knows about? What sonic effect would it have?

FWIW, the sticker on the baseplate says IGB71 on the top, with SH1B 0067 below it.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

Sounds like someone cut the screw lengths to get more highs,less lows,and more articulation from the pickup?

Read my post,as I just did the exact same mod on my Dimarzio VPAF Neck pickup!


https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=63448

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

Shorter screws give you more beef and output, and push the upper mids in particular, at least in my experience. Shorter screws concentrate the magnetic field over a smaller area so it is more intense.

 

[Spark]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

My JB came that way new

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

Shorter screws give you more beef and output, and push the upper mids in particular, at least in my experience. Shorter screws concentrate the magnetic field over a smaller area so it is more intense.

It actually didn't boost the output or give my pickup more beef,but it did make the pickup more articulate,cleaner,and maybe increased "slightly" the highs,but it took some lowend woofy stuff out of the equation and it's the reason I tryed the mod...The screws were already pretty short to begin with...I Only cut 1/8" off each screw...I compared the original length to one of Seymour's pickups and the Duncan pickup screws were "quite a bit" longer by comparison...There's a reason I'm finding for the screw lengths...Maybe it's one of the reasons we relate Seymour's pickups to being warmer,rounder..

The Dimarzio VPAF N is more aggressive,tight,and very articulate...I've found this to be a trait with some of the DMZ pickups....Maybe there's more to the screw length thing than we know?

Pretty cool learning experience for me!

 

[Marcel]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

My JB came that way new

I don't know if I understand it right
Do you mean the small jag (?) at the end off the screw...
My came with this too

 

[Spark]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

I don't know if I understand it right
Do you mean the small jag (?) at the end off the screw...
My came with this too

Yes, a small angled cut (around 60 degrees) at the bottom of the screw. Didn't seem like it removed that much mass, but all 6 screws were like that.

 

[Albert]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

Thanks for your responses.

To clarify, I don't think the screws were shortened on my '59, judging from the drawing of the pup when you click on the "dimensions" link for it on the SD products webpage. The exposed shaft protruding from the baseplate is about 5/16" long. There is just a section, about 90 degrees at the end but less further up the shaft, that seems very carefully cut from the last 1/8" of each screw. It's done so uniformly on each screw that I suspect it wasn't an amateur modification.

I've seen this before on screws, but I think these were screws for installing deadbolts or some other hardware application, not polepiece screws.

I haven't installed the pickup yet, and I don't have any other '59 bridge pickups, so I don't know if it is any different physically or sonically from other SH1Bs.

Those of you with '59s, did you notice this on your polepiece screws?

 

[Marcel]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

The duncans came this way... I thought it has something to do with the wax... but I dunno
And it should just sound like a SH-1B sounds... coz what you described is a stock SH-1B

btw it's a newer model. It has the new label on the stickers...
I can make a photo of my screws if you want..

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: modified '59 polepiece screw threads?

They sound like standard thread-cutting screws.