Advice on a damaged humbucker

[jvin248]

.

You could take it apart as previously suggested and that could flatten it out. The bobbin wires themselves are delicate and it's possible disturbing them will break them. If you do not have patience for fiddly things then just adjust the pickup height and tip for guitar tone by ear.

It's possible you have better tone with the bent pickup than after you straighten everything up, or buy a replacement. Raise bobbin screw poles and adjust pickup height and screw poles by ear to get the sound you want -- that's why pickups are made adjustible.

Eddie VanHalen's famous Frankenstrat bridge pickup was broken on one coil wire (down inside the coil) where it operated like a series capacitor due to enough windings being near enough each other. That pickup had been pulled from a smashed Gibson 335 but he liked the sound of the pickup. So he made all that money with one strong and one weak broken pickup bobbin. Certainly tweaked pickup bobbin angles won't destroy too much of your unique signal.

.

 

[Wallaby]

Something that strikes me from the photos is the pole screws, in the screw coil.

From the end-view photos, there appear to be slugs protruding underneath on both coils, rather than just underneath the slug coil.

But from the top there are pole screws in the screw coil. Or my eyesight is really terrible.

So I'm mystified by that, I would expect the pole screw threads to be visible underneath the screw coil in the end-view photos. @Gardo if you do proceed and disassemble the pickup and have a chance, it would be super-groovy if you could take a photo of the pieces and post it. Just if you have time, in the interest of science and stuff

I'm also thinking there isn't a keeper bar under the screw coil because its function is performed by whatever is under the screw coil instead, so there are probably spacers needed under the outer edges of both coils, rather than just under the slug coil. If you can procure of fabricate spacers of the same thickness as the magnet, you could probably just loosen the bobbin mounting screws and slip the spacers in, and then retighten, and have the coils at an even height.

 

[Wallaby]

This seems interesting and topical...

Fender Humbucker Pickups - Stratocaster Design

REAL MEASUREMENTS (new page in development) FENDER HUMBUCKERS Updated: 2023.03.01 – If you copy this page, please give me and my website credit. I made a big push in 2022/2023 to collect more and better information on this page. Not a trivial task. What’s upcoming: INDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS (an...

stratocasterdesign.com

 

[Gardo]

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.

That would probably do a good job.
I’ll have look around to see if we have one

 

[Gardo]

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.

I don’t see a spacer stick, it appears the bobbin is made with bosses at the screws but no spacer otherwise

 

[Gardo]

Something that strikes me from the photos is the pole screws, in the screw coil.

From the end-view photos, there appear to be slugs protruding underneath on both coils, rather than just underneath the slug coil.

But from the top there are pole screws in the screw coil. Or my eyesight is really terrible.

So I'm mystified by that, I would expect the pole screw threads to be visible underneath the screw coil in the end-view photos. @Gardo if you do proceed and disassemble the pickup and have a chance, it would be super-groovy if you could take a photo of the pieces and post it. Just if you have time, in the interest of science and stuff

I'm also thinking there isn't a keeper bar under the screw coil because its function is performed by whatever is under the screw coil instead, so there are probably spacers needed under the outer edges of both coils, rather than just under the slug coil. If you can procure of fabricate spacers of the same thickness as the magnet, you could probably just loosen the bobbin mounting screws and slip the spacers in, and then retighten, and have the coils at an even height.

I think you are correct. It does have screw pole pieces. If I open it up the picture will be posted

 

[Gardo]

This seems interesting and topical...

Fender Humbucker Pickups - Stratocaster Design

REAL MEASUREMENTS (new page in development) FENDER HUMBUCKERS Updated: 2023.03.01 – If you copy this page, please give me and my website credit. I made a big push in 2022/2023 to collect more and better information on this page. Not a trivial task. What’s upcoming: INDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS (an...

stratocasterdesign.com

Thanks . This will keep me busy for a little while. Good info

 

[Wallaby]

Very interesting, and good to know about.

I still have a feeling that something is not original with the magnet. It makes sense that the thickness of the magnet would be equal to the height of the bosses, to allow the coils to be level.

it appears the bobbin is made with bosses at the screws but no spacer otherwise

 

[Gardo]

Very interesting, and good to know about.

I still have a feeling that something is not original with the magnet. It makes sense that the thickness of the magnet would be equal to the height of the bosses, to allow the coils to be level.

I can’t say about the magnets. I originally bought this off the scratch and dent rack at GC with a hit in the forearm area .
If I open it up I’ll post a picture

 

[Gardo]

.

You could take it apart as previously suggested and that could flatten it out. The bobbin wires themselves are delicate and it's possible disturbing them will break them. If you do not have patience for fiddly things then just adjust the pickup height and tip for guitar tone by ear.

It's possible you have better tone with the bent pickup than after you straighten everything up, or buy a replacement. Raise bobbin screw poles and adjust pickup height and screw poles by ear to get the sound you want -- that's why pickups are made adjustible.

Eddie VanHalen's famous Frankenstrat bridge pickup was broken on one coil wire (down inside the coil) where it operated like a series capacitor due to enough windings being near enough each other. That pickup had been pulled from a smashed Gibson 335 but he liked the sound of the pickup. So he made all that money with one strong and one weak broken pickup bobbin. Certainly tweaked pickup bobbin angles won't destroy too much of your unique signal.

.

The original pickgaurd was drilled for 3 hole mounting the replacement is 2 hole . If I would redrill to 3 hole I could tilt to the optimal angle

 

[Gardo]

This seems interesting and topical...

Fender Humbucker Pickups - Stratocaster Design

REAL MEASUREMENTS (new page in development) FENDER HUMBUCKERS Updated: 2023.03.01 – If you copy this page, please give me and my website credit. I made a big push in 2022/2023 to collect more and better information on this page. Not a trivial task. What’s upcoming: INDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS (an...

stratocasterdesign.com

This article may have prevented me from ruining the pickup . Glad I read it
I’ll proceed to plan B

 

[Gardo]

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.

I went with the hot glue using a low heat mini gun. It worked out pretty well,at least good enough that I can live with it. I didn’t ruin the pickup either.
Thanks for the tip

 

[tomasz]

You can also just tape around both coils to hold them together in place

 

[Wallaby]

Good job @Gardo

 

[Solaris moon]

II guess I'm way too late to this party! I've rewound I don't know how many pickups but I was going to suggest loosening the screws enough to slide a few sheets thickness under the bobbins where the shims are to raise it without modification. All you would have to do is tighten the screws back down. All fixed! Just food for thought the next time this happens.

 

[Monoprice99]

As long as the pickup is functional, I wouldn't attempt to repair it. This 1st photo almost looks like the base it rests on is uneven thickness and that's just the un-flatware they used to make the pickup. The other end may not be uniformly thick for the other end, but it's closer then the worst end of the two. I would be concerned about the pickups for that thin wire & solder points. Do a DCR and maybe replace the H.

OCD probably broke a lot of parts that still worked ? I think what you will have at the end, provided you're successful, is the one side will close the wider gap (what you are trying to accomplish), while still ending upo with an uneven pair of top bobbin for flatware. The 1st photo seems like the the front single coil also looks lopsided. Both photos the front single coils appears to be compressed.

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.

 

[Gardo]

As long as the pickup is functional, I wouldn't attempt to repair it. This 1st photo almost looks like the base it rests on is uneven thickness and that's just the un-flatware they used to make the pickup. The other end may not be uniformly thick for the other end, but it's closer then the worst end of the two. I would be concerned about the pickups for that thin wire & solder points. Do a DCR and maybe replace the H.

OCD probably broke a lot of parts that still worked ? I think what you will have at the end, provided you're successful, is the one side will close the wider gap (what you are trying to accomplish), while still ending upo with an uneven pair of top bobbin for flatware. The 1st photo seems like the the front single coil also looks lopsided. Both photos the front single coils appears to be compressed.

I was able to draw the coils closer together.
The pickup works And l’m okay with the way it looks so I’m calling it done
Thanks for all of the input.

 

[Monoprice99]

I was able to draw the coils closer together.
The pickup works And l’m okay with the way it looks so I’m calling it done
Thanks for all of the input.

Squeezing it closer together seems to have improved the appearance by narrowing the gap and it still is functional. What others have suggested for shim-like solution might further improve this current solution. There is always the risk of the additional flexing of the assembled construction of the pickup might be risking damage that renders the pickup non-functional though.

Did the 2 single coils of the humbucker end up more level as well for the top bobbin. Can you provide photos of those profiles for each side for future references for this type of issue & your solution ? How does it sound, can you detect any abnormalities in the sound ? Just following thru on being more thorough for testing it.

I had a microphonic Telecaster neck pickup that required that I smear surfboard wax inside the cover because a chunk of the potting wax was missing under the cover. Before the cover was repacked it was squealing at higher volumes. After, the pickup is quiet like the other Telecaster that I have, sounds, with no feedback.

 

[Gardo]

Squeezing it closer together seems to have improved the appearance by narrowing the gap and it still is functional. What others have suggested for shim-like solution might further improve this current solution. There is always the risk of the additional flexing of the assembled construction of the pickup might be risking damage that renders the pickup non-functional though.

Did the 2 single coils of the humbucker end up more level as well for the top bobbin. Can you provide photos of those profiles for each side for future references for this type of issue & your solution ? How does it sound, can you detect any abnormalities in the sound ? Just following thru on being more thorough for testing it.

I had a microphonic Telecaster neck pickup that required that I smear surfboard wax inside the cover because a chunk of the potting wax was missing under the cover. Before the cover was repacked it was squealing at higher volumes. After, the pickup is quiet like the other Telecaster that I have, sounds, with no feedback.

The coils are better but not perfect. I considered advice from several people but decided not to disassemble (ruin) the pickup. I looked into shims but chose what I considered the least likely to cause further problems. I’m happy with it .

 

[Solaris moon]

The coils are better but not perfect. I considered advice from several people but decided not to disassemble (ruin) the pickup. I looked into shims but chose what I considered the least likely to cause further problems. I’m happy with it . View attachment 1080738

I guess that's all that matters in the end. Problem solved!