Question about the Valco string through pickup

Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

Hi all. I'm new to the forum, and new to lap steel. In fact, I bought my first one just this past Sunday, a 1957 National Chicagoan. After a short time playing it, I noticed that the string volumes were all over the place. The sixth and 3rd strings being particularly quiet. This is most noticeable when picking the strings individually. If I strum a full chord it does seem to ring all the notes. I put new strings on it last night, and was having the same imbalance, so I took the top plate off the pickup and adjusted the pole pieces. Once I was reasonably satisfied I put the top plate back on...same output imbalance as before.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Dave

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

That pickup is reasonably sensitive to adjusting the poles, so it should have had a noticeable effect. What kind of strings are you using?

Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

Hi Noah. When I had the top cover off I was able to get the string to string balance reasonably close, though of course the overall output was reduced. It's only after replacing the top cover that the imbalance returned. Also, when I took the cover off I removed the vertical magnets as well, but I put them back in the same position and orientation they came from.

The new strings are D'Addario Chromes, 13-56. Currently tuned to open 'E'.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

The pickup is actually two single coil pickups in one body; one half for the top three strings and one half for the bottom three strings.

It is possible for one half to be dead. That was the way my Supro lap was when I got it, and I had many of the symptoms you have described. I can't get too specific as I don't recall precisely.

I had the pickup repaired/rewound by Sentell Pickups in Sacramento, CA, and now all strings are relatively equal in volume. Sentell Pickups has a website.

You could try flipping one of the magnets. Maybe the orientation was not correct when you got the steel.
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Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

Paul, thanks for the idea. I found a thread on another forum about flipping the magnets and swapping them to try to cure imbalances. I didn't know the Valco was a split coil design, but that would explain the lack of single coil hum. My quiet strings are on separate coils (the lowest pitched string on each coil), so I might still be looking at a rewind/replacement, but at least it's something to try. I'll pour myself a glass of bourbon when I get home from work and give it a try. I'll mark the magnets and run through the permutations and see what happens.

Tom Pettingill · From: California, USA (deceased)

Check to make sure that you do in fact have 2 magnets. In later years many of those only used one magnet and a dummy wood block for the other side.
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Dennis Smith · From: Covington, Georgia, USA

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum. I have a 1955 Oahu Diana with the string thru pickup. When I first got it I plugged into my boogie Mark IV clean channel and was blown away by the power and sound of the guitar. Good luck getting it working. I always liked the way that model looked. Here's a photo of my steel.

Jim Newberry · From: Seattle, Upper Left America

Another comment Dave... The top plate is really part of the pickup and you shouldn't have to remove it to adjust the pole heights. Just use a small blade screwdriver through the holes in the top plate. The holes should line up with the pole pieces, unless the plate has been flipped. I've got a couple of the string-thrus (a '52 Chicagoan and a '42ish New Yorker). They're fun guitars. Good luck sorting it out.
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Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

That was (kinda) easy! I ended up just needing to flip the treble side magnet over and then re-balance the output. There was a bit of backing and forthing as the cover plate really changes the magnetic field the strings sit in. @Jim Newberry, the only reason I took the plate off is because I couldn't find my jewellers screwdrivers so I didn't have one both thin enough, and long enough to fit through the hole, and reach the pole piece.

Thanks to everyone who replied. You've made a noob feel welcome. Now my new old baby sounds awesome! Just need to get a proper steel to replace the 5/8" socket I've been using!

Rob Fenton · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hey Dave,

Where in Toronto are you? Shoot me an email.
I have a couple of small Dunlop bullet bars I don't use that I can give you.

Rob

Stephen Abruzzo · From: Philly, PA

Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

Dave Gesell · From: Toronto, Ontario

David Reilly · From: California, USA

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