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Post subject: Stacked HB pup for Bronco?
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 7:09 am
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Hello.

I've got a customer asking about replacing the original SC pup with a stacked HB in his late 70s Bronco. I have limited experience with pup replacement and could use your assistance on how to advise him. He says "the electronics are making excess noise". Probably should clarify with him exactly why he thinks he wants a HB. Less noise? Looking for a HB tone?

Any suggestions on what to ask him or suggestions on a replacement pup (assuming this is even possible) is appreciated! Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Stacked HB pup for Bronco?
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 8:04 am
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MarkinCO wrote:
Hello.

I've got a customer asking about replacing the original SC pup with a stacked HB in his late 70s Bronco. I have limited experience with pup replacement and could use your assistance on how to advise him. He says "the electronics are making excess noise". Probably should clarify with him exactly why he thinks he wants a HB. Less noise? Looking for a HB tone?

Any suggestions on what to ask him or suggestions on a replacement pup (assuming this is even possible) is appreciated! Thanks!


Some will argue that shielding the body is the remedy. I disagree as the pickup itself is the biggest receptor for "electronic noise" where ironically, it doesn't get shielded. Consequently, the results may very well be nil. Some will argue "star grounding" is the answer. This is pure 'placebo'. Star grounding is only required in a circuit where there are two independent power sources of different voltages. In a guitar, the voltage from the one source is negligible and therefore, irrelevant.

You could always wire a dummy coil into the circuit. This would augment his OEM pickup into a humbucker. Or, you could get a high output, single coil sized, bassy guitar pickup such as (but not limited to) a DiMarzio BC-2. Either of these suggestions are non-invasive and completely reversible. Also with either suggestion, I'd recommend switching to 500K pots. Here too, non-invasive and reversible.

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Post subject: Re: Stacked HB pup for Bronco?
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 1:02 pm
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Martian's options are all electronically sound. However I am one of the people who would suggest you try copper tape shielding the back of the pickguard, the pickup cavity, the control cavity and then ground all the shielding first. This does frequently have a benefit. i have used a lot of single coil basses and never have had one wind up as noisy after shielding as before shielding.

Also make sure to use a high quality cable as poorly shielded ones contribute to RFI.

The next option might be the added dummy coil. It is electronically sound but that is not as "reversible" as you might think at first.

I like the single coil pickup tone a lot. If noise and not tonal consideration is the owner's motivation for a pickup change he might not be happy at all with the outcome.

Here's why I'd suggest trying copper shielding to ground first. These instruments while not exactly in huge demand as collector items right now are still quite scarce and surprisingly valuable already. One in original factory configuration is already worth far more than a modified one. "Original" includes original factory solder joints, and yes vintage collectors inspect them carefully!

So if this instrument is otherwise original, I'd highly recommend you change NOTHING else in 10 years you might regret it. A copper tape shielding job is usually truly reversible because it doesn't disturb existing solder joints or electronics. The copper tape will peel completely off like it was never there. The ground wire from the shielding can be lightly soldered to the side of a pot and later removed escaping any detection that the shielding job was ever there. Plus it will only cost about $13 for shielding supplies.

All it takes is one player in a major band to favor a Fender vintage Bronco Bass and they would soar almost overnight. Sort of like the Mustang guitar did due to Nirvana's emergence. You couldn't hardly give them away before that, which is precisely why Kurt Cobain had one in the first place.

While you may think some mods are "reversible" the actual truth is that any mod causing original solder joints to be broken is frankly not actually reversible after all. The best thing to do would be to remove the pickguard and pickup as one unit without breaking any connections, buy a reproduction pickguard and use the repro guard for the modifications safeguarding the original configuration.

The pickup Martian recommended would work better with 500K pots than 250K pots, but I'd buy a new reproduction pickguard, tone cap and jack too and swap out everything leaving the original electronics down to every last original solder joint intact.

Another VERY sound alternative is to get a used split coil Mexican Fender Standard P-Bass which is about the same money as upgrades would cost including the labor. I'm sure that is a far better idea than changing a vintage Fender around, even a Bronco.

A Fender Bronco Bass has more potential for value growth right now percentage-wise than any other 60's or 70's Fender Bass around where I live. I saw one for $600 recently here.
If they get "hot" as models sometimes do a factory original one would quickly about double in value. On top of that they are mighty scarce in original factory configuration. I like them in collector class shape.


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Post subject: Re: Stacked HB pup for Bronco?
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 3:49 pm
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Thanks for both responses.

I should have specified this is a Bronco guitar. I assume all of your suggestions would still apply. ???


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Post subject: Re: Stacked HB pup for Bronco?
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 8:11 pm
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MarkinCO wrote:
Thanks for both responses.

I should have specified this is a Bronco guitar. I assume all of your suggestions would still apply. ???


I stand by everything I've said. Additionally, seeing that it is in fact, a guitar, there are SO many stacked or rails type humbuckers out there to choose from, your options are wide open.

One of the points brotherdave made, specifically the one about not upsetting the original solder joints, would indeed be a major concern to a real purist. Your customer should be made aware of this. Consider too, even changing out the entire pickguard and electronics assembly for another requires the bridge's OEM ground wire to be removed from underneath the bridge. This would be necessary to clear the OEM pickguard and electronics assembly from the guitar. Thus, the bridge would have to be removed to access the wire and by necessity, upsetting the bridge's original position as well as the ground wire's. Of course, a new wire would have to then be installed for the new pickguard and electronics assembly. The only other alternative is to unsolder the ground wire from the pot. See where this is going? What it all comes down to is, your customer either has to live with what he's got in the interest of the guitar's total OEM 'purity' or upon his authorization, he'll allow you do what you have to do to satisfy his requirements.

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