Double Bass Realist Pickup Delamination-Repair

[BrassedOn]

I’ve got a Realist double bass pickup from about 2001. Like the Copperhead, under the bass bridge foot. And it seems like the copper layers are delaminating a bit on the bass edge, which caused a rattle, really picked up when amplified. I just used a little fingernail pressure to push the layers back together and that worked for a couple months. But I think I’m hearing a bit of rattle starting to come back.

Have you had and repaired this issue?
What adhesive would you use to reglue?
IDK what as used originally, or if CA or whatever would damage it, or would be flexible enough. Any advice?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I’m not sure what they used for the Realist, but I know that this kind of copper sheet metal is available with a conductive and a non-conductive adhesive.
I think the adhesive either got old or the surface got dirty so it won’t stick as good as before.
The first thing I would try is warm the pickup a bit up with a hair dryer (after taking it from the bass of course and not over 70 degree Celsius, the piezo doesn’t like too much heat) and clamp that part together. Let it stay that way for a day or overnight. The heat makes the adhesive more sticky and when it cooled down it may stick mich better than before.

If that does not help, use an elastic glue like a contact glue. CA usually breaks if deformed after drying.

And if it is so old that the adhesive no longer works, it might be time for a new pickup…

 

[BrassedOn]

I’m not sure what they used for the Realist, but I know that this kind of copper sheet metal is available with a conductive and a non-conductive adhesive.
I think the adhesive either got old or the surface got dirty so it won’t stick as good as before.
The first thing I would try is warm the pickup a bit up with a hair dryer (after taking it from the bass of course and not over 70 degree Celsius, the piezo doesn’t like too much heat) and clamp that part together. Let it stay that way for a day or overnight. The heat makes the adhesive more sticky and when it cooled down it may stick mich better than before.

If that does not help, use an elastic glue like a contact glue. CA usually breaks if deformed after drying.

And if it is so old that the adhesive no longer works, it might be time for a new pickup…

yeah, I certainly have gotten my $ per note out of this.
Thanks for the heat tip, that makes sense. and on the CA, that’s pretty much my thought, too brittle.

thanks

 

[Ric Vice]

I purchased my first Realist about the same time you did, that one only lasted 4 1/2 years I bought a second one and it didn't last much longer than 5 years. So by my calculations you conservatively got @20 years out of
a single Realist Copper Foil then you're batting way above average for that particular pickup. We're I you, once it no longer works, consider the Realist Life Line, if you like the sound of your current Realist. Don't be alarmed
if you have a little dent under the E foot of you're bridge as the early Realists did that on some basses. Just my take of course