Hi, I has this Nordstrand big man pickup with protruding pole pieces. I am wondering if anyone tried tapping/clamping/push to the pole pieces down to flush with the PU cover?
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Pickup protruding pole pieces
- Thread starter Chris Chong
- Start date
It's meant to compensate for the radius curvature of the fretboard, if there is much curve at all. (Since I prefer rounder fretboards, 7.25" or 9.5", having that extra protrusion is a good thing.) A number of those here who are well-versed in pickup construction have said pushing them deeper into the pickup could compromise the coils within. Given how expensive pickups can be, I don't even think of it.
Two questions;
Two questions;
- How flat or round is your fretboard?
- Are you having problems getting a good sonic balance from string to string?
not sure if the pickups slip out of the covers, but if they do you could just put a thin shim under the cover (like a wooden starbucks stir-stick) such that the middle poles don't protrude as much from the cover
don't push the poles down, you'll likely break the pickup coil wire
don't push the poles down, you'll likely break the pickup coil wire
They usually do not have pickups like this. Only some Lollars. I would call them. I think this is an issue unless it is a custom build
It’s a radius to help even string to string output/ balance. Those should not be pushed in. Not all pickups do a radius but this one does. Think of them as the actual top of the pickup. Leave as is or replace with a flat top pickup.
Ok poked around and I don’t see any other big man with a radius. Definitely email them. One thing that will push up a pole piece is cranking it down into the cavity and the poles on the bottom side get pushed up. Even though those do look like a proper radius I’m not sure on this pickup.
Ok poked around and I don’t see any other big man with a radius. Definitely email them. One thing that will push up a pole piece is cranking it down into the cavity and the poles on the bottom side get pushed up. Even though those do look like a proper radius I’m not sure on this pickup.
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You can push those pole pieces down as long as they aren’t the end poles(aka left most and right most pole, where the coils wrap)
I personally have done it many times to install flush no-poles covers.
They are initially held in place by adhesive; the first push will take some bit of strength, or some type of non-marring tool to concentrate your force.
After it’s loosened, you’ll find it doesn’t take much to push it down, or up from the rear.
See post #6 from Carey @ Nordstrand.
I personally have done it many times to install flush no-poles covers.
They are initially held in place by adhesive; the first push will take some bit of strength, or some type of non-marring tool to concentrate your force.
After it’s loosened, you’ll find it doesn’t take much to push it down, or up from the rear.
See post #6 from Carey @ Nordstrand.
this is great info. But unfortunately bigman consist of split coils, which means B and E are both end poles, A and G are end poles as well.You can push those pole pieces down as long as they aren’t the end poles(aka left most and right most pole, where the coils wrap)
I personally have done it many times to install flush no-poles covers.
They are initially held in place by adhesive; the first push will take some bit of strength, or some type of non-marring tool to concentrate your force.
After it’s loosened, you’ll find it doesn’t take much to push it down, or up from the rear.
See post #6 from Carey @ Nordstrand.
The B and G strings are 2mm further away from the pole piece compare to the middle A string.
- Apr 18, 2008
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What is it about the protruding poles that bugs you? The look? You could lower the Bigman flat to the floor to get the poles well out of the way if you're contacting them with strings, if that's an issue
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Looks to me they are part of design and maybe fit requirement
They also offer other pickups flat poles with cover
Has Nordstrad chimed in?
They also offer other pickups flat poles with cover
Has Nordstrad chimed in?
The Big SplitMan 5 on the site appears to have staggered poles. My guess is it depends on what's asked for at time of order. We don't know if the OP's pickups are original to the bass, aftermarket, bought used.
