replacing pole piece screws on humbuckers

[rawpowerocks]

I was wondering if you guys have any advice/thoughts on this matter?

I have a couple of bridge humbuckers that the adjustable pole pieces have now gone very rusty.

I'm guessing that this must have some slight adverse effect on the tone?

If I wanted to replace them with new screws how easy is this?
Is it just a case of getting new screws, unscrewing the old ones and then screwing the new ones in?

Or would taking the pole pieces in and out upset the wax in anyway?

What do you guys think or would you suggest just leaving as is?

 

[Despair]

Re: replacing pole piece screws on humbuckers

If you are happy with the way the pickup sounds, I'd be reluctant to mess with it.

Polepiece screws vary a bit in alloy, plus there's the annoyance of precisely matching screw dimensions (wrong thread pitch makes it just chew up the plastic) so finding an exact match can be annoying.

If they are corroded to the point of impeding adjustment and you feel they need adjustment, or you are concerned about it reaching that point, then replacement is in order.

If the screws haven't been clipped (or at least, don't have sharp ends where it was clipped that could chew up the pickup/coil), it really is as simple as unscrewing them and screwing in the replacement polepiece screw.

It might remove a bit of wax in the very center of the pickup, but this wont have any impact on how it sounds or how feedback-prone it is, unless the plastic is chewed up and the polepieces are rattling loose. If that was the case, just adjusting them would be problematic, though.

Because the alloys, head shape (as long as they fit in the head recess in the top of the pickup or you don't try to screw them down too far) and screw length can vary, you can actually use them to adjust the sound and feel of the pickup.

A short, less magnetic alloy screw like many 0.5" hex heads makes for lower inductance; a brighter, lower output but less bass/mid sound. Great for controlling bass under the wound strings.

Conversely, a standard-length 0.75" screw with a more strongly magnetic alloy with a bigger head like is used in many gibson or gretsch-style pickups use makes for higher inductance; more bass & lower mids and higher output.

Duncan has 0.5" hex and 0.75" fillisters that are pretty interchangable. Gibson-style heads I'm not sure about, and Gibson uses a different diameter & pitch screw for their polepiece screws.

 

[rawpowerocks]

Re: replacing pole piece screws on humbuckers

Thanks for your response.
The pickups are Seymour Duncan APH-1's.
At the moment I can move and adjust the screws like normal.
My concern was the fact nearly all of the plating has rusted off the pole pieces.
And was thinking this must be effecting the tone?
I was just asking if you guys think the physical aspect of there being rust does effect the tone or not?

If I was to replace them I would order some replacement screws straight from Seymour Duncan so I know they fit them properly.
I wouldn't want to risk ruining the pickup.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: replacing pole piece screws on humbuckers

do they sound the same? if so, they are fine.

but I am curious as to how the plating has rusted off. is it just sweat from playing? humidity from your region? etc.? I've read where some people will apply a bit of clean nail polish to the pole pieces to retard the corrosion. I've not done it, so I cannot speak from experience on that... perhaps someone else knows more about that aspect.

unless Duncan has changed policy in the past few months, they don't sell the pole pieces. and they aren't very 'open' when it comes to letting you know what will work best if you go buy your own. if you call in and talk to someone in cust serv and explain what you have going on, they have been known to just send out a few. it'd be nice if they'd take a cue from DiMarzio, where if you send them $5 and the model of the pickup, they'll send you what you need.

or if you are certain of the tread pitch of the ones you have, you can find an online outlet to buy some replacements, buy there seems to be no confirmation on the exact alloy SD uses. there are only a few main alloys to choose from and the poles are cheap, so maybe you can try them until you find what is closest to the original.... keeping them the same length is important if you want the same sound. shorter will be tighter sounding and longer will be looser sounding. so with all the variables, it'd make sense to see if SD will just send you new ones.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: replacing pole piece screws on humbuckers

If I was to replace them I would order some replacement screws straight from Seymour Duncan so I know they fit them properly.
I wouldn't want to risk ruining the pickup.

Its a bit like buying tires from Mercedes, because you don't want to ruin your car. Seymour Duncan don't sell spare parts nor produce them.