EMG Select SEHG pickup problem

[Paul S]

I recently bought an Overwater med scale bass that was on sale here for a while. It is an absolutely beautiful thing, utter simplicity and superbly made.

A small issue with it, however. Well, a couple but this one for now. The G string volume is significantly lower than the other strings. I have adjusted the pickup so it is raised at that side but it is still impossible to balance the volume of the strings. Taking the pickup out reveals it to be an EMG Select SEHG - a sealed unit so I can't raise the pole.

Is there anything I can do or is it new pickup time?

Thanks!

Paul

[Andyjr1515]

Hi, Paul

Compliments of the season!

Crazy thought (well - you know with me it wouldn't be anything else!), but if there is enough wire to do it, you could turn it round 180 degrees and see what happens? If the E drops below acceptable, then you know it's new pickup time anyway, but there's an outside chance that it will either balance or - if the G is still too low - prove to be something else at play.

Just a thought...

Andy

[Paul S]

And back atcha, Andy

Nothing to be lost by trying, that's for sure. I can certainly add a bit of wire temporarily and see. Thank you!

[HowieBass]

Another BCer had a similar problem recently (though probably not the same type of pickup) and it turned out the pickup was at fault - presumably the poles had lost some of their magnetic strength on that side of the unit. He put a new pup in and everything was good again.

[hubrad]

The G rang a bell, so I went a-looking.. sure enough, that's a Guitar pickup! Probably nowt wrong with it, but better balanced on a 6-stringer.

http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/EMG-Select-Designed-by-EMG-SEHG-Humbucker/

I know some brands like Shadow and Select(EMG passive cheapies) used to do a bass humbucker size, so I'd be inclined to try such a one or rout for a new pickup completely.
Just went further.. THIS is what you want! http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/hb-models.html

[Paul S]

Thanks for that. I am guessing that is what I will end up doing but there's certainly no harm in turning it around first.

[Paul S]

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1420038300' post='2645067']
The G rang a bell, so I went a-looking.. sure enough, that's a Guitar pickup! Probably nowt wrong with it, but better balanced on a 6-stringer.

[url="http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/EMG-Select-Designed-by-EMG-SEHG-Humbucker/"]http://www.giggear.c...SEHG-Humbucker/[/url]

I know some brands like Shadow and Select(EMG passive cheapies) used to do a bass humbucker size, so I'd be inclined to try such a one or rout for a new pickup completely.
Just went further.. THIS is what you want! [url="http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/hb-models.html"]http://www.emgpickup.../hb-models.html[/url]
[/quote]

How strange! They fitted a 6 string pickup. Following that link it looks like the HB model is a direct fit and just the ticket, more P bass and less nasally! I think there is room in the cavity for the extra bits/battery etc as it is passive at the moment. Thanks for that!

[discreet]

Er... Could it be a dead G string? Just a thought.

Edited December 31, 2014 by discreet

[Paul S]

That hadn't occurred to me - I'll check. Thanks.

I notice the EMG HB comes with all new gubbins - pots, pcb, battery clip etc. That would solve the other issue which is dodgy tone pot - all the adjustment is in the last 1/10 of the turn.

[MoonBassAlpha]

Sounds like the pot issue is just a taper problem, linear not audio. I just swapped a tone pot out and it does this. It was a b-type, I think I should have got an a- type.

[Paul S]

OK, had a fiddle this morning and can confirm the G string is fine. Also managed to pull through enough wire to turn the pup around and suddenly I have a low volume E string. So it looks like a new pup is in order.

From that link the EMG-HB sounds perfect - an exact fit in the rout/pickup ring, more than enough space in the cavity for a battery and a different voicing which would actually be more up my street. Thomann happen to list the EMG-HB cheaper than anywhere and it so happens I am just about to get a whole bunch of stuff from there so that's that.

Thanks all for the input, I think this will end up being a better bass as a result.