Protruding P-Bass Pickup Pole Pieces

Easy fix:
Guitar Parts Factory - Bass Pickup Covers

 

Having pole pieces closer to the strings increases the output of the pickup.

 

Solid covers would put the pickups that much further away.

Some covers are thicker plastic than others as I discovered when I got my fralin P pickup; the fralin cover let the poles stick out too much, but when I stuck the pickup under the stock USA fender cover it was nice and flush.

You could also stuff thin shims under the cover beside the poles, just enough to get them level with the cover.

 

My Lollars came with higher poles. I like their pup covers better than the Fender one so I used shims. The poles are now flush. Fwiw, while the AmStd poles have only been protruding since 2012 with the pup changeover, the AVRI (or "Original"/former 62RI) pup always had poles that protruded, but with a more extreme bevel than whatever it is they call what's in the post 2012 AmStd.

 

This is nothing new. They have varied over the years, sometimes being uneven as well. There is no shortage of choice in replacements out there, for sure.

 

Why I switched to Geezers, reason # 17

 

Say that five times fast.

 

My first G&L LB-100 had the same issue. I fixed it by putting shims (cut from a business card) under the cover. Didn't even have to remove the pickup, just unscrew and pull the covers.

 

I've done this as well. Very easy fix.

 

Never looked back after the Geezer.

 

Nope. It only takes about ten minutes or so and your done. Fantastic pickup.

 

I was getting ready to order a set of M&V pickups for my P bass. They come standard with raised pole pieces but you can order them with flush pole pieces. Like the OP my fingers drag over the raised pole pieces on my stock CS fender MIA pick ups. If order flush pole pieces am I giving up any tone, punch or volume? I would rather have flush pole pieces, but don't want to sacrifice the sound.

 

That's right. Easy install. And excellent tone

 

There are some rare cases where you might need to solder, but as they say in the instructions, "every effort is made to make EMG pickups a solderless installation."