How flush the pickups sit in the body

[Blackmag+c]

I don't know where to put this as it is to do with pickups but it also has something to do with setup of the bass.

My question is how flush should the whole pickup units sit in the cavity (this is a p-bass). Should they stick out slightly from the cavity or be flush?

They are flush atm but don't look right. I have never had a p-bass so don't know.

[Dave Muscato]

They should not be flush at all. Not tall enough to be a thumb-rest, but definitely not flush. Here are some pics:

[Blackmag+c]

how would i stop them from currently being flush? They just sort of slip into the cavity..

[Blackmag+c]

as you can see the pickup isn't mounted to the pickguard.
do i need a new pickguard?

[Dave Muscato]

This may sound like a silly question, but have you tried using the pickup height adjustment screws to raise them up?

By the way, you may not need to raise them, if you're getting a sound you like now. Raising the pickups will give you more gain (and more magnetic pull on the strings), but it's really a matter of preference.

[202dy]

Pickups are generally "spring loaded" so that the mounting screws work against the "spring" so that the pickup is suspended in the cavity and immobile. The other reason is that the system is shock absorbing and tends to eliminate mechanical vibration. This is achieved by one of two methods. The first is simply to place a piece of foam under the pickup. The second employs springs. The screw is inserted through the pickup mounting ear and then into a spring. Then the assembly is screwed into the body. A variant uses surgical tubing rather than a spring.

Pickup height is measured in distance from the strings rather than from the top of the body to the top of the pickup. This makes sense because the proximity of the magnets determines the output of the instrument. If the pickup is not close enough to the strings the output is weak and tone suffers. If the pickup is too close the magnet pulls on the string dampening string movement and can cause unwanted overtones and a lack of sustain.

The spec for a Precision Bass is 1/8" and 3/32" bass and treble sides respectively measured from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string.

[Blackmag+c]

the pickups are led on foam atm.

[Pilgrim]

Just stuff new foam behind them. Easier than messing with those stupid springs. If you like springs, put them over the screw below the pickup and screw them in. actually, both foam and springs are probably good - no rattling.

[joelb79]

I would suggest if you cant locate the nice rubber foam to use a sponge and cut the piece you need. use more than needed as compressing against them is a good idea to reduce feedback.

[meev992]

I use springs, in addition to foam, so my pickups aren't going anywhere.

I'm OCD like that.

[Blackmag+c]

thanks all much appreciated

[ericmknight1906]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Pickups are generally "spring loaded" so that the mounting screws work against the "spring" so that the pickup is suspended in the cavity and immobile. The other reason is that the system is shock absorbing and tends to eliminate mechanical vibration. This is achieved by one of two methods. The first is simply to place a piece of foam under the pickup. The second employs springs. The screw is inserted through the pickup mounting ear and then into a spring. Then the assembly is screwed into the body. A variant uses surgical tubing rather than a spring.

Pickup height is measured in distance from the strings rather than from the top of the body to the top of the pickup. This makes sense because the proximity of the magnets determines the output of the instrument. If the pickup is not close enough to the strings the output is weak and tone suffers. If the pickup is too close the magnet pulls on the string dampening string movement and can cause unwanted overtones and a lack of sustain.

The spec for a Precision Bass is 1/8" and 3/32" bass and treble sides respectively measured from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string.

I'm glad that you mentioned this because I'm currently having tone problems with my ibanez srx705 5-string. for some reason I could pluck the g string by itself and get this awful echoy sound from all the strings. I finally had enough and decided to strip it down to locate the problem...I removed my pickups and noticed that there were no springs. additionally, the pickups plainly sat in the cavities which had no insulation of any type(just a wood cavity). could these descrepancies be the reason for the unwanted echo sound in the strings??

[meev992]

Originally Posted by ericmknight1906

the pickups plainly sat in the cavities which had no insulation of any type(just a wood cavity). could these descrepancies be the reason for the unwanted echo sound in the strings??

not sure, but Ibanez needs to step up their quality control

[manwiththedogs]

Originally Posted by joelb79

I would suggest if you cant locate the nice rubber foam to use a sponge and cut the piece you need. use more than needed as compressing against them is a good idea to reduce feedback.

Foam tape strips sold for home insulation work well...comes in a variety of thicknesses and can usually be found at stores like Home Depot or Lowes.

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Originally Posted by ericmknight1906

I'm glad that you mentioned this because I'm currently having tone problems with my ibanez srx705 5-string. for some reason I could pluck the g string by itself and get this awful echoy sound from all the strings. I finally had enough and decided to strip it down to locate the problem...I removed my pickups and noticed that there were no springs. additionally, the pickups plainly sat in the cavities which had no insulation of any type(just a wood cavity). could these descrepancies be the reason for the unwanted echo sound in the strings??

i had the same problem with mine for a looooooong time lol

and here I thought it was because I couldn't play right