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Any tips for an imbalanced output set of P90s on early 50s LPs?

Patek

Active member
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
415
Late 1953 LP wrap

i have shimmed the bridge pickup up to the correct / equal height to the neck pickup, as indeed it was way lower in height as is usually apparent. I expected this to resolve the output issue yet no, the neck pickup really blooms with fullness and volume and switching to bridge is low output and weak in comparison. Really bizarre !

It’s been shimmed to the max, so aside or turning the volume down on the neck pickup and killing it, or using a boost pedal of sorts when using the bridge pickup, are there any tips to physically solve the output issue?

any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
 

hogy

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
715
Late 1953 LP wrap

i have shimmed the bridge pickup up to the correct / equal height to the neck pickup, as indeed it was way lower in height as is usually apparent. I expected this to resolve the output issue yet no, the neck pickup really blooms with fullness and volume and switching to bridge is low output and weak in comparison. Really bizarre !

It’s been shimmed to the max, so aside or turning the volume down on the neck pickup and killing it, or using a boost pedal of sorts when using the bridge pickup, are there any tips to physically solve the output issue?

any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks


First off, what DC resistance reading are you getting from that pickup? It could be a broken coil. Does the tone control act like a volume?

Second, are the magnets installed correctly? There are two bar magnets, they need to be installed repelling each other, otherwise output will be very weak.
 

Axis39

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
83
What do you mean same height?

On my P-90 equipped guitars, the bridge pickup is much closer to the strings than the neck pickup.

The arc of the vibration is much great out over the neck pickup. So, it agitates the magnetic field greater and therefore the pickup can be further away.
 

Hamerfan

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
The most probable explantion (aside broken coil, wrong magnet orientation and pot issues) are demagnetized mags. Let them give a remagnatization treatment and the pickup roars again.
 
Last edited:

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
I have a `59 Special that suffered from this. I would buy a couple of A-4 magnets from ThroBak as they're basically the same as the old ones. The old magnets have a tendency to loose their strength over time(not all, but a good amount I've seen over the years). Send the old/original magnets off to someone to be re-charged. Try those when you get them back or just stick them in the case pocket in-case you sell the guitar. Make sure they get a full charge/saturation. Your neck magnets could be stronger than your bridge ones. you could try swapping the bridge P-90 magnets for the neck magnets and see if that helps. I have a gauss meter and that tells me the strength of any magnet. You may want to ask any guitar repair guys in your area if they have a Gauss meter as that would save you having to take the magnets out.
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
The bridge definitely needs to be higher than the neck pickup for them to balance. If you can't raise the bridge p/u more or can't lower the neck, roll the volume down on the neck to balance, then dial in the amp for that.
 
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