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Topic: How can you tell when pickup needs to be |
Rob Anderlik
From: Chicago, IL
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Posted 12 Jan 2017 5:09 am
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How do you know if a pickup in a vintage lap steel needs to be "zapped?" I'm just getting back into playing lap steel and recently purchased a 1951 Oahu Diana.
I like the sound it gets but I am noticing that I get slightly different tones out of different strings with the lower strings being a bit more muffled than the 1st and 2nd strings
Does anyone have any direct experience with zapping a pickup who can describe to before and after? |
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Brad Bechtel
From: San Francisco, CA
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Posted 12 Jan 2017 8:59 am
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What type of strings are you using? Your description sounds like what I got when I tried to use bronze wound strings rather than nickel wound strings. _________________ Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Rob Anderlik
From: Chicago, IL
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Posted 12 Jan 2017 11:59 am
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I've got nickel strings on the guitar |
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Michael Brebes
From: Northridge CA
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Posted 13 Jan 2017 7:47 am
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I can't find any pictures of the guitar with the pickup cover removed. If you could post a picture of the guitar with the cover plate removed we might be able to give you some adjustment options. _________________ Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Charlie Vegas
From: Tampa Bay, FLA, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2017 10:54 am
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I think it would be a Supro string thru pup. You need a set of Rick Aiello NiBro magnets.
Did you adjust the height of the poles?
Pay no attention to the arrows as it's not my photo.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fG70Qnu6CGU/T8zMuaTwQII/AAAAAAAAD6A/gdVe_SGrq20/s320/valco-pickup-mounting-lap-steel.jpg) |
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Jamie Mitchell
From: Nashville, TN
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Posted 15 Jan 2017 3:35 pm Re: How can you tell when pickup needs to be
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Rob Anderlik wrote: |
How do you know if a pickup in a vintage lap steel needs to be "zapped?" I'm just getting back into playing lap steel and recently purchased a 1951 Oahu Diana.
I like the sound it gets but I am noticing that I get slightly different tones out of different strings with the lower strings being a bit more muffled than the 1st and 2nd strings
Does anyone have any direct experience with zapping a pickup who can describe to before and after? |
those string-through pickups are super sensitive to pole piece height adjustment, and some of them move around a bunch. i'd check that first.
j |
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Rob Anderlik
From: Chicago, IL
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Posted 17 Jan 2017 12:01 pm
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Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it! Just to clarify, I was just interested to know if there were any telltale signs that would indicate that the magnets in a pickup need to be replaced or recharged. The pick up in the guitar that I have seems to work just fine |
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