Help! Jazz Bass pup adjustment issues...

[JJ Flores]

Looking for some suggestions.... I noticed that the pups in my jazz bass where not able to be raised when loosening the adjustment screws. I figured the foam was shot (flattened/compressed) and I wanted to swap out the stock pups anyway so I figured I’d take care of both... Put the new pups in with new foam and the same thing happened. I can lower the pups but can’t raise them to get them dialed in height wise. I also see that the screws are exposed a bit above the pup covers so the pups are lowering on their own (usually when I was playing). Added extra foam and no change, added screws just to see, and no change. To add more detail, the only way the pup raises is if all four screws are loosened all the way. The pup pops up at that point. I am stumped as the what might be going on. Any insight/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[dwizum]

If the screws aren't perfectly aligned with the mounting holes in the pickup, they can catch in the pickup holes and prevent the pickup from sliding freely up and down the screws (as it needs to in order for the foam to push it up against the screw heads). Sometimes if you gently rock each screw side to side you can tell which one the pickup is catching on, since the pickup will suddenly spring up into position when you rock the stuck screw. The ideal fix is to plug the screw's hole in the body and redrill it with correct alignment.