kodiakblair Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Would something as simple as placing a metal strip across the pole pieces give me the string coverage needed ? I'm thinking of fitting Entwistle JBXN fellas to the Zephyr 5.The eyesore would be hidden by rosewood covers Cheers KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I'd imagine it'll depend on the strength & shape of the magnetic field to start with, the magnetic properties of the added metal strip (what it's made of, it's shape, it's position in the field) and of most importance - the string spacing you want it to work with vs the magnetic properties of the modded pickup. I'd say the pickup type will be a big influence - e.g. the Entwistle pickups you're looking at are "Neos" or Rare earth magnet based - that almost always means the pickup poles are not charged magnets, rather like a typical ceramic magnet there is a bar or bars of magnetic material on the underside of the pickup poles - thereby magnetizing them. In short you won't know till you start modding, but I'm guessing a thin ceramic magnet slightly over the width of the strings would probably get fairly even output over the 5 strings - but it would change the voicing of the pickup significantly. A piece of Iron (Steel really) or another ferromagnetic alloy (e.g. [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnico"]AlNiCo[/url]) as long as it's not charged with it's own noticable magnetic field will probably do a lot less to change the voicing of the pickup - but I'd say you're more likely to have output issues across the strings - especially if you have a pickup that has staggered pole pieces that doesn't match the radius of the 5 string fretboard. Many pickups allow some adjustability thank fully - otherwise I guess you could just run it through a compressor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Thanks for replying. Went ahead with the job last Saturday, I scrapped the Entwistle idea and went for a couple of 6.5 jazz pickups,knew I was going to butcher them to fit. As it turned out once I'd removed the covers the bobbins needed cut too,then packed into the new RW covers. A 2 band EQ got fitted at the same time. The neck pickup is working beautifully but there's a distinct drop on the bridge one.I'm hoping the bobbin has moved inside the cover or maybe the height needs raised.The covers' screws may have caught the wadding. It's been slightly awkward this one as the bass is a Peavey Zephyr or C5,the only pickups I know of that nearly fit are EMG soapbars costing more than the bass is worth So it got singles nestled in rosewood instead As things stand it's a marked improvement from when I got it,snapped Vol and humming like crazy.Still have a "Tonewood" cavity cover to cut so I'll check the pickup tomorrow,there's hoping it's an easy fix [attachment=224257:Zephyr Rosewood.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Wow - I just saw the title and thought it was interesting - as it had no replies I assumed it was a new thread! Still better late than never. Glad you've got good results, those pickup covers look great with the matching fingerboard! Certainly an improvement over matt black covers! FWIW pickup height & biasing (in the case of an active blend circuit) is always a compromise on a two pickup bass. The bridge may need to come up - but the neck may need to come down - if the pickups are to play nice together. Of course if you go down the Billy Sheehan or "Rick-O-Sound" route, with a seperate output for each pickup, it's another story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 Sadly my hopes for either a turned pickup or pushed down one were dashed Raising slightly helped but it's competing with that fantastic sound coming from the neck I A/B/C'd it against a Grind & International. The International suffered the same drop with bridge pickup solo'd, no difference between the two on the Grind. If as I suspect it's the same pickups in both Zephyr and Grind the International will get the Zephyr ones,the rout is the same size Now that I've tried to the idea of using a 4 string pickup with some success I'll try a different one. Wish me luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Have you thought about using a pickup with a blade magnet that runs the whole length of the pickup, instead on individual pole pieces? I think Bartolini make some and there may be others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Hi Pete. That's what I'll try next. When I checked the bridge output against some others it was about the same. Very scientific test this,hit a string and watched how far the bar went Will keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydog Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) You might consider fitting a stronger magnet in the bridge PU? If it will fit. Or a preamp for that PU? LD Edited August 1, 2016 by luckydog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 Spoke to a lad that builds pedals. He suggested swapping the blend pot,he could be on to something. 10 o'clock is bridge,12 o'clock massive jump as the neck comes in. That can't be right. It's got me baffled. There's no drop across the strings so the pole pieces are lining up,Peavey used the same pickup in both 4 and 5 strings models. The pickups were a set so by rights should both have the same magnets. The preamp is working. There's a Blade pickup on it's way so I'll be trying that. Probably no this weekend but the one after before it'll get done. Thanks for the input folks it's appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Nearly solved the problem A Warman Jazzbar pickup arrived yesterday. Popped it out the cover and trimmed it down to fit. [attachment=225014:Zephyr pickups (2).jpg] And here it's in it's new home. [attachment=225015:Zephyr pickups (1).jpg] Very snug fit Soldered it last night and am happy to say there's equal output between neck and bridge. The volume drop has now moved to centre dent A new balance pot arrived this morning so will be going in tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Nice - Just when you say "Trimmed it down to fit" I assume you mean the case & not the pickup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 Knew I should have taken a before/after photo The Warman had some packing inside it's cover so it was snug before sealing. There was some between the coils and at both ends. It was a very light paper like shops wrapped jewellery with. The trimming was just the glue. The original single coil had excess plastic each end of the reel removed,none of the wires were disturbed. Tell you what the Warman is a great pickup,very happy with it. Still no progress on the centre dent volume drop Wiring is Neck red to centre lug on balance, bare to ground on tone pot Bridge is Red/White to centre lug on balance, black/bare to ground. That's the standard wiring as per Warman site. There's a green which is hot but I don't see where it'd go to stop the drop. If it was lousy solder joints output would be affected either way but now it only happens when both pickups are on full. I've also ordered a Linear b500k pot instead of a M/N 500k. Think it'll make much of a difference ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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