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Can my bass pups be saved?

Change p-ups or try to remedy this?

  • Total voters
    2
K.K.

K.K.

Guest
May 9, 2015
8
1
33
#1
Hi!!

I am from Singapore, extremely humid place and I have super sweaty palms.
I made it a point to wipe down my bass (including the poles) but it still happens - Rust
Screws and all are also rusting.

Here are some pics!

If I can find a way to clear the rust, I'll do it. otherwise I'll change the pups to something that doesn't expose the poles... maybe a bartolini?

Any suggestions guys?
IMG_0687.JPG
IMG_0688.JPG
IMG_0699.JPG
 
#2
Ospho or phosphoric acid will neutralize the rust (iron oxide) and help keep it from re-curring. Take the screws all out before applying, tho.
A dab can be applied to the pickup poles as well (with a Q-tip)- the poles will then be dark, near black instead of like white metal.
It may be better to replace the screws with stainless steel if they are available. They will have a lesser tendency to oxidize.
 
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#3
JustForSport said:
Ospho or phosphoric acid will neutralize the rust (iron oxide) and help keep it from re-curring. Take the screws all out before applying, tho.
A dab can be applied to the pickup poles as well (with a Q-tip)- the poles will then be dark, near black instead of like white metal.
It may be better to replace the screws with stainless steel if they are available. They will have a lesser tendency to oxidize.
Click to expand...
will it affect the sound? Cuz i really love the tone of this bass
 
#4
Once you get the rust from the pole pieces, you could try dabbing a little clear nail polish over the poles to "seal" them. I would only do this if the rust has been removed to prevent further corrosion. It flakes off over time and will not affect the sound. You can re-apply it over time as well. This is an old trick people also use to prevent pole pieces from buzzing when touched.
 
#7
No, it won't affect the sound or tone, but will help preserve your pickups in that environment. If a little phosphoric acid wicks alongside the poles, that's ok, as it will seal the sides of the poles as well. Just don't 'dowse' them, only use a well-wetted Q-tip to apply to the poles.
 
#8
My American Jazz bass is nearing 15 years old and It's got the same problem, rust developing on the bridge and pickups. I spent a few years in Houston with the bass but have otherwise lived in dryer climates. It hasn't changed it's tone as far as I can tell, so I don't know if it's really necessary to clean it off. However, I can understand doing so for the looks.

Rust is just oxidized iron, and there is oxygen in the air and in water, and iron in the pickup magnets. Those magnets are still presumably creating a magnetic field. A magnetic field plus a coil is all you need to pick up the string vibrations. I don't think rust is going to "damage" the magnet enough to do much of anything to the strength/shape of the field unless it has been rusted over and then cleaned off like hundreds or more times. That's only because you're removing a very small amount of material each time.
 
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#9
Rust is only a concern when it works its way deep down into the pickup and damages the actual coil windings. A little on the tops of the poles is no big deal at all.
 
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