Advice on a damaged humbucker

[Gardo]

I have a Mexican Strat that took a hit at Some time before I got it. The bridge bucker appears to either be bent . It works but probably not as well as it could. Any advice would be welcome

 

[String Tree]

I wish I could help.
I simply don't know.

 

[Peegoo]

Carefully unsolder the wires from the posts, and remove the screws that hold the bobbins on the base plate. Remove the bobbins. Disassemble the pickup and remove the magnet.

Use a small hammer to pound the base plate flat again. Do not beat on the plate with the hammer; instead, sandwich the plate between two small blocks of hardwood and whack the top block. Once it's flat, reassemble and resolder the connections.

 

[Lowerleftcoast]

^^^^ +1
Mark the bobbins and magnet so you can get it all back together without changing polarity and such.

EDIT: There is usually a spacer stick the same thickness as the magnet to hold up the outer side of the bobbin.

 

[wabashslim]

I wish I could help.
I simply don't know.

I'm baffled by this kind of response. Very common at Amazon - somebody asks a question about an item and a goodly number of folks come out of nowhere just to say "I don't know". But why??? It's not as if the responder was addressed personally & publicly to provide an answer.

Since I'm here already, to answer the OP I'll just say while I'm not familiar with Fender humbuckers it looks to me like shims are missing from under the coils along the sides - can't tell for sure. I wouldn't worry about it as long as the coils aren't loose. If you have the cover that'll hold things in place.

 

[Peegoo]

spacer stick the same thickness as the magnet to hold up the outer side of the bobbin.

If there are none, you can make some with any non-magnetic material. The original Gibson ones were wood.

 

[Gardo]

Carefully unsolder the wires from the posts, and remove the screws that hold the bobbins on the base plate. Remove the bobbins. Disassemble the pickup and remove the magnet.

Use a small hammer to pound the base plate flat again. Do not beat on the plate with the hammer; instead, sandwich the plate between two small blocks of hardwood and whack the top block. Once it's flat, reassemble and resolder the connections.

^^^^ +1
Mark the bobbins and magnet so you can get it all back together without changing polarity and such.

EDIT: There is usually a spacer stick the same thickness as the magnet to hold up the outer side of the bobbin.

Thanks. I’ll check it out , hopefully tomorrow

 

[Gardo]

I'm baffled by this kind of response. Very common at Amazon - somebody asks a question about an item and a goodly number of folks come out of nowhere just to say "I don't know". But why??? It's not as if the responder was addressed personally & publicly to provide an answer.

Since I'm here already, to answer the OP I'll just say while I'm not familiar with Fender humbuckers it looks to me like shims are missing from under the coils along the sides - can't tell for sure. I wouldn't worry about it as long as the coils aren't loose. If you have the cover that'll hold things in place.

Well at least saying “I don’t know” gives the thread a bump
I like the mention of spaces

 

[Gardo]

If there are none, you can make some with any non-magnetic material. The original Gibson ones were wood.

You read my mind, I was wondering if I could use wood

 

[String Tree]

I'm baffled by this kind of response. Very common at Amazon - somebody asks a question about an item and a goodly number of folks come out of nowhere just to say "I don't know". But why??? It's not as if the responder was addressed personally & publicly to provide an answer.

Since I'm here already, to answer the OP I'll just say while I'm not familiar with Fender humbuckers it looks to me like shims are missing from under the coils along the sides - can't tell for sure. I wouldn't worry about it as long as the coils aren't loose. If you have the cover that'll hold things in place.

I called it like I saw it.
CHeers.

 

[wabashslim]

Could also be those aren't the stock magnets. Somebody could have jammed in thicker ones. I mentioned in another thread about the Alembic Hod Rods from the 70's - before aftermarket pickups were common these big thick ceramic magnets were often installed for higher output. But they could make things rather harsh, giving rise to the common perception that "ceramics suck". Which is sometimes true when ceramics are installed in pickups designed for alnicos.

 

[BryMelvin]

The base plate isn't bent. GENTLY pry the drooping side of the coils up to the correct position. Fill underneath with a hot melt glue gun (low tem glue stick) repeat on other side. Live long and prosper.

 

[Lowerleftcoast]

I suppose if the spacer stick is in there, you could use a shim, like the thickness of a plastic milk bottle (or wood veneer), to raise the bobbins. That way you might be able to avoid de-soldering everything.

 

[Gaylord Amsterdam]

I will be the voice of descent here. And this has been my experience. When you have a functioning but damaged peice like your pickup its pretty easy to make it non functional by trying to straighten it out. The fact that it works (if it still bucks the hum) means that all wires are intact. Unless you are ready to buy a new one give it some deep thought before you work on it.

 

[dogmeat]

doesn't look like the plate is bent to me. I would loosen the screws and see if the coils will re-position. I'm thinkin they should. if for some reason you need more adjustment I would pull one coil and wallow the screw holes a bit. and as mentioned above... foolin around sometimes makes it worse

 

[Wallaby]

I suspect a different magnet has been swapped in, is there a possibility that has happened?

I'm used to humbucker construction where the keeper, the spacer, and the magnet are all 1/8" thick.

But I haven't seen one of these pickups in person before, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Gardo]

I will be the voice of descent here. And this has been my experience. When you have a functioning but damaged peice like your pickup its pretty easy to make it non functional by trying to straighten it out. The fact that it works (if it still bucks the hum) means that all wires are intact. Unless you are ready to buy a new one give it some deep thought before you work on it.

It’s been like this for some time and always bothered me. A new pickup is about $120 and I’m willing to take a chance on it.

 

[Gaylord Amsterdam]

It’s been like this for some time and always bothered me. A new pickup is about $120 and I’m willing to take a chance on it.

Now worries then, keep us posted on how goes.

 

[Gardo]

Now worries then, keep us posted on how goes.

I’m fairly slow at a job like this . I spend a lot of time looking then walking away until I have it figured out

 

[Gaylord Amsterdam]

I’m fairly slow at a job like this . I spend a lot of time looking then walking away until I have it figured out

I thought I was the only one who worked like that, take your time Brother, I understand