Replacing pickup backing plate

dpaterson

dpaterson

New member
Hi.

Does the pickup backing plate (or whatever it's called) have any effect on the pickup itself (tone for example or anything else)??? I've just received my Invader (bridge) and (to my surprise) it too (as with DM) came with thinner mounting screws and the screws are chrome. This pickup is to go into a Jackson (a replacement for the Belcat pickup shown). The Belcat's plate is brass (to begin with) and the screws are black and they're thicker. Can I simply swap these plates??? If so: anything I need to be aware of before unscrewing the whole lot???

DSC00613Plate.jpg
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

I would prob order new height screws rather than going into all that. Isnt there a local shop to you? Would suck to wait for a couple screws being jammed up in customs...

As far as the baseplates, you'll want to measure the bobbin screw distance (easily modded by making them slightly bigger with a drill bit) Also measure the pole distance.. (Edit: nevermind on the pole distance, I see they don't stick out... but typically you would have to)
You'll also have to solder the ground wire, and also probably get the hair dryer out for the wax once you're done.

Check the actual width of the new baseplate and if it has flanges on either side which could inhibit the SH8 bobbins from seating so you may have to trim those.

You could also take a 3M pad and scuff your chrome screws and paint them black. (taping off the thread so you don't get paint on them). Or poke a hole into card board or a cereal box and push them down in before spraying. Light coats.
 
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Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Hello.

Thanks for that. Didn’t know any of that. So nope. Not worth it. Not just because of the screw head color anyway (although it is a bit more of a problem because the holes in the plastic Jackson pickup rings are also obviously larger so the screws have a lot of play in the pickup rings). Reckon I may as well install and test first and then order black screws and a replacement pickup ring and have done with it. Really surprised that the screws are chrome though i.e. I cannot think of any guitar I’ve seen of late (including my Blaze) that has chrome pickup adjustment screws. Oh well. It is what it is I guess.

Thanks again.

P.S.

Or I could just enlarge the holes in the SD plate and use the Jackson screws??? This pickup will never go into anything else other than a Jackson so should be alright??? What is that tool called again (that you use to make holes and cut a thread)???
 
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Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

I would not recommend enlarging the holes in the SH8 because it'll need tapped otherwise you'll tear up your threads on your screws and pretty much render them and the baseplate useless.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Chrome is fairly common actually. What gets me are the flat head screws... why they all can't be phillips head is beyond me.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Oddly enough (and I only noticed this now) that DM SD came with a set of both screw types (both chrome though).

This Invader has Phillips.

But got another problem with it (dunno if I am being paranoid and dunno if I should start a new thread for this):

Just checked the pole pieces. Three of them will not tighten up at all. I would not say that they are loose and they do screw in and out just fine but they will not tighten like all of the others???
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

I'm sure it's slight at the most, but yes, it does affect the tone. Brass I've always read is the darkest, those silvers that SD uses are in the middle, and plastics have basically no effect so they are the "brightest".
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

I wouldn’t even consider changing baseplates unless the height adjustment screw holes are completely stripped.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

I must agree.

After finding out all that is involved and the potential pitfalls it’s just not worth it. Cannot really say that the chrome screws currently in the guitar with the DM SD have bugged me much or been an issue (other than the one spring but that is another issue but easily solved).

At this point I am more concerned with these pole pieces that will not tighten.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

IMO SD needs to use a denser plastic for the bobbins and/or a more robust threading on the pole-screws.
I've noticed the same thing as you on a few of their pickups I've had, and that's with the exact poles the pickup came with.

When I once tried swapping-in standard black invader poles in place of the chromes on the Gates version, the blacks could literally be pulled put without even unscrewing them lol.
Turns out that the chromes have a slightly more robust threading, maybe just from the chrome-plating process(?). Chromes would be super snug in yours but I assume you want black and it wouldn't be practical to order and ship just for the screws.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Hey thanks. As long as it is not just me and that the pickup is alright and has not been tampered with. From what I gather: the magnets are powerful enough in these things to keep the pole pieces from falling out. Hope they don’t rattle though??? But I also read somewhere that there is supposed to be some type of plate inside the pickup into which these pole pieces are supposed to screw into??? I cannot see it though and I am not going to strip to find out.

But I will say this: I ain’t impressed. Not with the quality or anything else (including the packaging). Pole pieces??? And this silver backing plate is much thinner and more flimsy than the brass plates on the Dimarzio and my Belcats. Really surprised. To me (and before I started mucking about with pickups): SD was like Rolls-Royce and DM was like poor cousin and stock Jackson (Belcat) was like the bottom of the food chain. After this: my opinion has rolled over to the exact opposite and in reverse order. All I know is that this Invader had better be all I expect it to be. Otherwise I’m getting shot of all of this crap, which includes my “case queen” Blaze, and buying me a couple more Jackson JS32 DKA-Ms (only decent sound I have now) and have done with it. So be sure to watch that “trade” thread or whatever it’s called. And I ain’t joking. I promised myself that this year I am practicing and playing and that is it. No more mucking about with this stuff.
 
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Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

metalchurch79 said:
I remember that Dave. Do you think plumbers tape would help?
Click to expand...

Not sure if it would work well on such fine threading without then being too thick to screw in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,not sure really.

Could jam some toothpicks in the holes to tighten things up! (joking of course lol)
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Or take a tooth pick and put a dab of superglue on it and run it around the inside perimeter of the bobbin hole. Let it dry, then run the poles back in.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

This starting to remind me of the old Ford car joke: F-irst O-rder R-epair then D-eliver!!!
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

Really though they shouldn't rattle or fall out with so much magnetic power, and I doubt you would need much individual pole adjustment since the Jackson's bridge is probably higher radius.
 
Re: Replacing pickup backing plate

^^ that's exactly what I was thinking. Most Invader (and high output pup) users, generally have them all even. Plus with the added height of the poles if you did stagger them it would accentuate it, meaning youd have to lower your pup further to allow for the stagger.

Dale,
WWVD?
 
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