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honkylips
New
Username: honkylips

Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 7:47 pm:   Edit Post

I finally broke down and treated myself to a Tribute. UPS dropped it off last Friday. I am, of course, in love with the guitar. Question I have is in regards to pickup height on the two humbuckers. Is it normal that the lowest setting for both humbuckers is still very high? I have lowered them as low as I dare with the hex wrench, but still notice some slight markings on the middle position humbucker from the low E string. If this is normal, I can live with it, because the sound is fantastic. Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem and found a cure. By the way, I will post some pictures when I get some time. Thanks.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3714
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 8:13 pm:   Edit Post

Craig; I don't know anything about guitar pickups; but congrats on the Tribute! Hopefully one of the other guitar owners will chime in on the pickup height adjustment.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1245
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 8:25 pm:   Edit Post

Craig:

Congrats on joining the six string fold. The Tribute is a great instrument. As for the pickups, how are you adjusting them? Each has four screws, two on top of the pickup, at opposite corners, and two below the pickup, at the other two opposite corners. To lower the pickups you must first adjust the two screws that are underneath the pickups. These set the actual height. Then use the two on top to lock the pickup down. There should certainly be enough room to lower them so that they don't hit the strings when you play.

BIll, the guitar one
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 369
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 11:57 pm:   Edit Post

Congratulations Craig! Glad you're enjoying your Tribute. I wish I could add something more helpful with respect to your pickup height issue. On my Skylark, the pickups were both set at a comfortable height. I have been able to adjust them both higher and lower without any strings touching. I realize the Skylark is a different animal from the Tribute - there are a couple of Tribute owners that drop in from time to time who might be able to shed more light on your set up.

I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of your guitar. Good luck.

Peace
Tom
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 877
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 12:22 am:   Edit Post

Also kind of hoping that those scratches you mention aren't stress marks in case you would have tried to lower the pickup without first lowering the hidden screws - check out the FAQ/Must Read section here, or the Taking Care of Your Instrument section on the main site.
honkylips
Junior
Username: honkylips

Post Number: 12
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:23 am:   Edit Post

I hate to sound like a complete moron, but how do I access the hidden screws? I only see the two 3/32 hex screws (one on each end of the pickups). a very slight counter-clockwise twist of the hex screw does make the pickup go higher. Unfortunately, I can't go any further clockwise (tightening) to get the middle humbucker just a hair lower. As far as the pickup showing stress marks, they do not. I am getting just very slight linear indentations on the middle humbucker that is in the area underneath the low E and A strings (which is similar in appearance to the fretboard on fretless bass after being played with roundwound strings). I presume this isn't really from the strings buzzing against the pickup cover while playing, but rather from my palm constantly resting on those strings while playing on the higher strings. Any advice would be helpful.

By the way, I also own an Essence 5-string bass. The pickups on the Essence clearly are different from those on the Tribute. Thus, the adjustment procedure is not the same. I certainly appreciate any input you all can give me.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1251
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post

Craig:

Right you are, the Tribute mounts are differnet from the usual Alembic mounting system. As for my post above, let me invoke the spirit of the great Emily Litella, "Never mind".

Bill, tgo
honkylips
Junior
Username: honkylips

Post Number: 13
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

Thanks anyway, Bill. Anyone else know the solution to this problem?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3275
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 7:46 pm:   Edit Post

The pickups covers on the Tribute are ABS plastic and will wear much better than the pickups on your Essence which are made from cast polyurethane.

If you have the pickup mounted as low as it will go, about the only thing you can do is to route the cavity yet deeper and re-install the threaded inserts.
honkylips
Junior
Username: honkylips

Post Number: 14
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 1:16 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica! After spending some more time with the guitar, I'm now quite happy with the pickup height. I find that there is a bit more "room" above the single coil and by making a very slight adjustment in where I anchor my right hand, life is good. Thanks again, I'm loving the guitar!

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