Microphonic '57ri pbass?

[bass dan]

I not sure anything is wrong with my pickups or not. I recently plucked my A string and the sound seemed to swell. Kind of like the sound started low and then swelled in volume. These pickups have the raised pole peices on the A string. When I looked closer there was some metal peices on the poles. I'm not sure where the metal came from but there was little peices stuck to the poles.

Anyhow, I got the metal off and it seemed to clear up the swelling sound. The output on these pickups have always been pretty low, not sure if that is the way these are suppose to be or not. I really like the sound of my bass but I cant help feeling like something is just not right.

The tone knob seems to be acting as a volume pot. The bass has alot more output with the tone knob maxed as opposed to rolled off about 75% which is how I usually play it.

I guess a trip to the tech is in order. Just curious if anyone has had similar issues with the '57RI pickup or familiar with the symptoms.

[bass dan]

I guess not. Well I overreacted and bought a Lindy Fralin p-bass pickup. Slapped a new set of strings on the bass and cleared up the "problem". Oh well, I love a Lindy Fralin. Guess I'll swap it out and have the original in case I get bored with the Fralin.

[bass dan]

Got the Fralin put in, the original pickup checked out fine according to my tech. It was a lateral move at best. Got a little more gain out of the Fralin. They sound pretty much the same except the Fralin has a little clearer lows.

He told me the '57 read 11.2 on the gauge and the Fralin 11.9.....whatever that means.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by bass dan

He told me the '57 read 11.2 on the gauge and the Fralin 11.9.....whatever that means.

I real P bass pickup is 11.7k. So the stock pickup was under wound, which will make it sound thinner, and the Fralin is a little over wound, which would make it wound fatter.

[bass dan]

Thanks, I did'nt know that.