Double Bass underwood pickup

[chrismmc]

I recently purchased an Underwood Pickup,it works fine,but the wings and not cut very straight,and there are gaps on the outerpatrs-this is especially bad on the "G" side.where if I were to sand it down until it was level,a very large shim would be requires to hold it in place-so large that I am worried that it may cause problems.The "E" side is not too bad,and can easily be fixed...What should I do?If I leave it,will it cause problems?Should I risk it?Will the thickness of a shim affect the operation of the pickup?

 

[Marcus Johnson]

You might try using saxophone reeds, trimmed to fit, as shims. They are slightly tapered; maybe you could find a combination of reeds that would work. Most saxophonists toss out the majority of reeds in a box, just ask for the rejects.

 

[chrismmc]

Thanks!But will the thickness of the shim affect the sound?

 

[anonymous0726]

Thanks!But will the thickness of the shim affect the sound?

The material used might change the sound a bit, but a better fit with a shim is going likely sound nicer than a bad fit.

 

[tornadobass]

When I had a problem like that, I had a violin shop glue in a slice of maple and file it flush with the other side of the slot. That's worked well, since the material is the same (except for the glue, of course).

 

[Kevinlee]

I had a violin shop glue in a slice of maple and file it flush with the other side of the slot

I just did this last night. I cut a chunk of maple of an old bridge (about 1/8" thick) and sanded it down to the proper size, then glued it on the part of the bridge closer to the body. It works fine.

When I use an underwood I leave the g side pu hanging. It tends to sound bigger and more open. Most of the guys I know who use underwoods do this as well.

Kevinlee

 

[erik II]

I had to do this on my old bass. I think I cut the pieces from an old sound post... I don't remember exactly. But it worked fine.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

As with the Bass Max, if the gap is big enough, you can also experiment with other materials (electrical tape, foam, etc) which are softer and which "darken" the sound of the pickup a bit. It's kind of a shot in the dark, but for years I found the best sound I'd ever gotten out of my Bass Max this way.

 

[Paul Warburton]

You might try using saxophone reeds, trimmed to fit, as shims. They are slightly tapered; maybe you could find a combination of reeds that would work. Most saxophonists toss out the majority of reeds in a box, just ask for the rejects.