Why does Fender put screws in the back of the bridge pickup bobbin?

Why does Fender put screws in the back of the bridge pickup bobbin?

I just bought a set of American Standard Strat Pickups off of eBay and the bridge pickup has two screws screwed into the back of the bobbin. I asked the seller if he new what they were for but he did not. He refered me to the Fender support page that actually shows the screws in the bobbin. I'm sure it effects the tone but in what way?

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/010-7400_02C_SISD.pdf

To add to the ferric mass. It's a "magnet booster" deal you could say.

They do that to some Neck pups to, like one in between the D and A string poles.

Why does Fender put screws in the back of the bridge pickup bobbin?

I just bought a set of American Standard Strat Pickups off of eBay and the bridge pickup has two screws screwed into the back of the bobbin. I asked the seller if he new what they were for but he did not. He refered me to the Fender support page that actually shows the screws in the bobbin. I'm sure it effects the tone but in what way?

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/010-7400_02C_SISD.pdf

It does pretty much nothing -- the middle pickup in my Deluxe Nashville had those screws, and before I swapped in new pickups I removed the them, which made absolutely no difference I could hear. They have no structural function either -- can't imagine why Fender bothered with them at all. Maybe their pickup guy was just yankin' management's chain....

To add to the ferric mass. It's a "magnet booster" deal you could say.

They do that to some Neck pups to, like one in between the D and A string poles.

+1. When Fender decided to leave the baseplate off modern Tele bridge pickups they also determined that the pickup still needed some "fine tuning".

You can read Bill Lawrence's explanation of the effect of baseplates here..

http://www.tdpri.com/resources/tele-bridge-base-plate-materials/

I thought they might be to attach a base plate to the bridge pickup, but I never saw Fender offer a base plate.

More wire cost less than the baseplate, and you can call the PUP new improved and 'Hot' Alnico yadi.... And not have to warantee the ones that the plate fell off that did not have the screws. ;) Although I do not believe the intent of the screw was ever to hold on a plate, but rather dial the eddy field on certain poles on flat stagger pole PUPS ? Yes?

IMO you get around 8.5k or more in winds [depending on ga. wire] the baseplate effect is lessened/negated..

That said I love putting a baseplate on a Tex Mex Bridge PUP, make it usable IMO, to my ears anyway...

+1. When Fender decided to leave the baseplate off modern Tele bridge pickups they also determined that the pickup still needed some "fine tuning".

You can read Bill Lawrence's explanation of the effect of baseplates here..

http://www.tdpri.com/resources/tele-bridge-base-plate-materials/

Those little screws don't have anywhere near the ferrous mass of a steel baseplate. They have no discernible practical function whatsoever -- no audible effect, no structural function, and an utterly minuscule increase in coil inductance (which explains why there's no audible effect).

Those little screws don't have anywhere near the ferrous mass of a steel baseplate. They have no discernible practical function whatsoever -- no audible effect, no structural function, and an utterly minuscule increase in coil inductance (which explains why there's no audible effect).


And how many turns, I ask, of a screw pole does it take before that effect is discernible. :twisted:/Advoate

If they weren't there all the mojo would just fly right out of the thing. C'mon, everyone knows that...

And how many turns, I ask, of a screw pole does it take before that effect is discernible. :twisted:/Advoate

Well, if those little screws were up top and screwed into the pole pieces, they'd effectively vary the distance between pole piece and string -- but screwed into the plastic bobbin to add ferrous mass to the coil core, they do pretty much squat.

Those little screws don't have anywhere near the ferrous mass of a steel baseplate. They have no discernible practical function whatsoever -- no audible effect, no structural function, and an utterly minuscule increase in coil inductance (which explains why there's no audible effect).

Despite your opinion the folks at Fender must think the screws have an effect on the pickup.

Unless of course they are there because FMIC wanted to introduce a deliberately pointless step into their manufacturing process and thus reduce their profit margin.

Despite your opinion the folks at Fender must think the screws have an effect on the pickup.

Unless of course they are there because FMIC wanted to introduce a deliberately pointless step into their manufacturing process and thus reduce their profit margin.

I know it makes no business sense -- and I reiterate that it also makes no technical sense, that's why I theorized that their pickup guy simply fooled his (mostly non-technical) bosses. My ears may not be reliable, but you can't fool an LCR meter. On the other hand, it doesn't do any harm and probably adds no more than a dime (including labor) to the cost of making the pickup -- IOW, it's a trivial issue from stem to stern.

My guess is It adds just a tiny bit of ferric mass(like sjtalon said),kind of like a tele baseplate
so it adds a little warmth & takes the edge off

I've read about putting a base plate on Tex Mex pickups, has anyone put a base plate on an American Standard bridge pickup? If so what was the outcome. When I first got my American Standard I thought I'd change the pickups, now I'm not so sure. I played a 60th anniversary 2T SB with OVs in it before buying the American Standard, and would have bought the 60th but it sold before I could make up my mind. I liked the OVs, but now after playing the American Standard for almost a month, I'm not sure the pickups need changing. The base plate interests me though, I just wonder how much difference it would make having one? I know the plates are available at Mojo Tone.

Despite your opinion the folks at Fender must think the screws have an effect on the pickup.

Unless of course they are there because FMIC wanted to introduce a deliberately pointless step into their manufacturing process and thus reduce their profit margin.

I think I like this answer best. :wink: