Pop on pickups when aggressive

saxnbass · #1 11-26-2006, 06:15 AM

Alright, when I play aggresively (rock) or slap, my strings hit the pole pieces of my pickup (I think that's what it is), cause I get this really loud POP. What can I do to stop this. BTW, it's a fretless MIM Jazz, if that makes any difference. I've tried lowering the pickup, but that's not helping much.

tplyons · #2 11-26-2006, 01:30 PM

To do this you'll want to keep the string from closing a circuit, electronically. Therefore you'll want to cover the pole pieces with something that doesn't conduct electricity, but rather an insulator: therefore electrical tape works darn well. Try a piece over your pole pieces.

saxnbass · #3 11-26-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

To do this you'll want to keep the string from closing a circuit, electronically. Therefore you'll want to cover the pole pieces with something that doesn't conduct electricity, but rather an insulator: therefore electrical tape works darn well. Try a piece over your pole pieces.

Alright, if that works, what's a more permanent solution?

Rick Brienzo · #4 11-26-2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

To do this you'll want to keep the string from closing a circuit, electronically. Therefore you'll want to cover the pole pieces with something that doesn't conduct electricity, but rather an insulator: therefore electrical tape works darn well. Try a piece over your pole pieces.

You could also try clear fingernail polish for a more permanent/better looking solution. But I would try to lower the pickups a little bit first.

tplyons · #5 11-26-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Alright, if that works, what's a more permanent solution?

More permanent? Clear nail polish.

vindy500 · #6 11-26-2006, 01:46 PM

maybe get some closed over pickup covers

Demon · #7 11-26-2006, 01:46 PM

Doesnt this affect tone somehow?

saxnbass · #8 11-26-2006, 01:58 PM

Does clear nail polish actually work? I tried a post it note (like the sticky part), didn't work well.

I was thinking about the closed pickup covers, but the pole pieces are varrying height and don't seem to be adjustable.

Please tell me how to do the clear nail polish way. How much? Where? Just the pole pieces or the whole cover? ect. Thanks

Rick Brienzo · #9 11-26-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Does clear nail polish actually work? I tried a post it note (like the sticky part), didn't work well.

I was thinking about the closed pickup covers, but the pole pieces are varrying height and don't seem to be adjustable.

Please tell me how to do the clear nail polish way. How much? Where? Just the pole pieces or the whole cover? ect. Thanks

I put it on an old MM Stingray I had. Just cover the pole pieces with a few coats to build it up and try not to get any on the plastic. You will still get a little pop but it will be diminished.

Have you tried to lower the pickups yet?

saxnbass · #10 11-26-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Alright, when I play aggresively (rock) or slap, my strings hit the pole pieces of my pickup (I think that's what it is), cause I get this really loud POP. What can I do to stop this. BTW, it's a fretless MIM Jazz, if that makes any difference. I've tried lowering the pickup, but that's not helping much.

To all who ask. It's cause my action is very low and I can't lower the pickup much more. It's not like the pickup is right up next to the strings either, there is quite a distance. Could it be that the string is hitting the fingerboard and that's what is causing the pop? I doubt it, but how could I check? I'm pretty sure it's the pole pieces though, cause it's only when I have the volume up on the neck pickup. If I use only the bridge pickup, no pop.

ToneRanger · #11 11-27-2006, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindy500

maybe get some closed over pickup covers

Another alternative:
Remove the pickup cover. On the top of the pickup (beside the pole pieces) tape some strips of plastic as spacers, thick enough that the pole pieces still sit on their holes, but just below the surface. This will prevent the strings making contact.

ToneRanger · #12 11-27-2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

To all who ask. It's cause my action is very low and I can't lower the pickup much more.

Remove the neck and place a shim in the very end of the neck pocket. This will tilt the neck back a little. You'll need to raise the bridge to compensate, but will have more height over the pickup.

vindy500 · #13 11-27-2006, 04:25 AM

new pickups time!

saxnbass · #14 11-27-2006, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindy500

new pickups time!

I want to get new pickups, but not EMGs, but right now don't have the money so I want to do something currently to correct the problem until then.

momo · #15 11-27-2006, 04:52 PM

The electrical tape thing worked WONDERS for me. Rodger Sadowsky said it works, and he is kind of a pickup guru, so I went with it.

PilbaraBass · #16 11-27-2006, 07:22 PM

I've had probs with PPP (pole piece popping) on two of my basses, and the electrical tape is the best thing I've found.

I did try clear nail polish, but it did not work nearly as well as electrical tape.

for the life of me, I don't know why they still make exposed pole-piece pickups.

maybe they look "cool"...but, I like to move my pickups right up under the strings (as much as practical, anyway) and exposed pole pieces are a drag...

muse · #17 11-28-2006, 08:02 AM

Ok, so I have to write this as noone else did.
For me it is obvious that the quality of your pickups is the
problem.It is not that you're hitting the strings on the pole pieces as you said you don't think so, you only suppose. If you did then it would probably be it.
BUT a not good pickup, overloads way too easily and this would also make the sound you hear.
Had this problem with my single coils, changed to model j's, gone. Now with the fralin single coils...(I really don't have to say how much better they are)