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Topic: Help with Blanton Pickup Problem |
Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 2:32 pm |
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The other night I went to practice and discovered that the treble side of the pickup on my Blanton was sticking up. It was sticking up so far that it was pressing against the strings. (Ok, actually I just noticed the thing sounded out of tune, so I retuned it, stuck the bar on it and discovered it was still out of tune, and then after sitting there dumbfounded for a while noticed that the pickup was out of whack.)
The pickup seems to have come unattached from whatever adjusting mechanism is in there. My problem is that it looks like the whole changer has to be taken apart to get to where the pickup attaches.
Have any of you Blanton owners out there seen anything like this before? Do I really have to take the whole changer apart to fix this properly?
I have it rigged for the time being, but I will need to get this fixed properly.
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Duane Reese
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 3:05 pm
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Well, I haven't ever seen how they mount down underneath the pickup because I've never torn into it down there, but I don't think you should have to take the changer apart. Instead of doing that, perhaps you can take off the strings and then take out the screws that hold the pivot knife on, remove it and see what you can see... If you have to take the whole top part off (that holds the pickup, switches, knife) you'd probably want to take that knife off anyway so the rollers don't hang it up; I think the screws on the bottom take that off top part off.
The thing that'd be bad if you have to do that is the fact that the fretboard goes out onto it. You may wind up having to use a .011 string and a hair dryer for part of that, as this video illistrates, or take the neck fasteners off and gingerly remove them at the same time so you don't bend the fretboard.
Two things I'd consider if you have to take it to that point would be to get you pickup rewound if needed (since string spacing is that narrow, replacement would be a difficult prospect) and before you do anything, get a hold of Justin Griffith ( justin25taylor@yahoo.com ) and see if he knows a better way - he knows just about everything about Blantons. Maybe he'll chime on here anyway.
Justin! Heeeelp!  |
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Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
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Posted 27 Nov 2006 4:57 pm
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I wish that I had taken pictures of mine while it was apart for the re-build,but I didn't.As I recall,the changer will have to be removed.I didn't have to remove the fret board though.I do know that it's a tricky job.My advice would be to hire a pro,unless you'r like me,poor and bullheaded. good luck. PJ
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2006 7:16 am
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| Max, A friend of mine,Don Biersted,lives here in town and worked in Blantons shop for years. He still plays a Blanton and could answer your question. I'll try to get a hold of him. I don't know how to reach Blanton these days. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Nov 2006 9:24 am
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Thanks for the replies.
Duane - Luckily(?) that end of the fretboard is already loose, if it comes to that. I will try to get ahold of Justin.
Papa Joe - I am poor and bullheaded, but I'm not ready to tear this whole thing down myself.
Roger - If you can get me a contact number on Mr. Biersted that would be great. I have a call in to Jerry Blanton, but I don't know if he even messes with fixing these any more. This would be the opportune time to have it gone over by an expert, if it has to come apart.
Stu - Thanks for the link to the pic.
As I said, I have it rigged, (my son helped me come up with a shimming solution) but I woiuld like to get it fixed right. I really like this instrument, and have been enjoying learning the psg for the last year. |
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Randy Gilliam
From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2006 9:08 pm
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| If you need Jerry Blantons Number let me know. I talked to him last Sat. Randy Gilliam 210 862 8331 |
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Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 12:54 pm
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| Thanks, Randy...I talked to Jerry last week and he gave me some clues on how to fix it. It is still pretty daunting for a novice, though, if I have to take the changer off. We'll see. |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2006 4:30 pm
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Max,
Shoot me an email and I will fix you up.
Justin
Justin25taylor@yahoo.com
Edited to say I will be coming thru Boerne tomorrow sometime and could help you with it then.
Might try to call my cell 512-695-5849.
Justin[This message was edited by Justin Griffith on 13 December 2006 at 10:09 AM.] |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Dec 2006 1:42 pm
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Max,
Enjoyed talking to you on the phone the other day. Did you fix it?
Justin |
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Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Dec 2006 7:42 am
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Well, Justin, I was putting it off until the long weekend, and then every time I got near the guitar all I wanted to do was play it, so I have put it off until the next long weekend (coming up). Hopefully I will get in the tinkering mood Saturday. I'm really just trying to wear out the strings so that I can replace them this time when I take the thing appart.
Max |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Dec 2006 12:09 pm
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Remember pal I am just a phone call away. I dont mind driving down to help you out. No charge of course. Us Blanton dudes gotta stick together. Maybe you could teach me to play while I am there
Jusitn |
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Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2007 9:47 am
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Justin,
One more question...that piece of the neck that the pickup adjuster is under, (the one that I have to take off to fix the pickup) what is that piece made of? Aluminum? I ask because it is tarnished and I want to shine it up when I have it off. What do I polish it with?
Max |
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Mike Ester
From:
New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2007 4:07 pm
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| Since Justin hasn't answered yet, I'll run with the ball. You can use Simichrome or Mother's Aluminum Polish. My favorite of the two is Simichrome, but I also use Mother's. |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2007 4:24 pm
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| Mike is on it. MAAS or semichrome. Sometimes I get lazy and use my Blitzcloth. |
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Max W. Thompson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2007 4:48 pm
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Woo Hoo! I fixed it! I'd like to thank all the folks who offered suggestions and advice.
I just had to dig a little deeper than I had the first two times I started looking at this problem. (And I had to get in the mood to tear it apart again.)
Now to start playing around with the copedant...
Max |
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Justin Griffith
From:
Taylor, Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2007 7:57 am
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| Max W. Thompson wrote: |
Now to start playing around with the copedant...
Max |
That is the easy part! |
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