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Post subject: String alignment over P-bass pickup
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:34 pm
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So yesterday I walk into a local shop and see a cool used Mexi P-bass. I've been looking for a solid bass to back up my American P bass. So the thing plays beautifully, sounds great, has a good price too... but then I take a close look and I notice the strings are poorly aligned over the pickups. Not just barely off-center, I'm talking like each string is directly above a pole piece instead of between the 2 pole pieces as designed.

What causes this? Does it really matter? The bass sounded really freaking good.. but I don't want to buy a defective instrument.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: String alignment over P-bass pickup
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:39 am
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Be interesting to see a picture. If it plays well and sounds good, buy it.


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Post subject: Re: String alignment over P-bass pickup
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:28 pm
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Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
When strings are not aligned I look at the neck mounting on that particular Fender bass. Often a neck has shifted in the pocket to cause the mis-alignment. This is an easy fix. Just loosen the neck screws and shift the neck so that the strings are centered over the pickup.
Tighten the neck screws and re-tune the bass.

The next cause is if the bridge was replaced and mounted wrong. This requires bridge removal and re-mounting, preferably by a competent repairman. This is a much bigger deal.

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Last edited by BCbassman on Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: String alignment over P-bass pickup
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:22 pm
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The alignment thing isn't really that big a deal unless the first or fourth string are edging out of the field. I'm thinking someone moved something. But it isn't a biggie.


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Post subject: Re: String alignment over P-bass pickup
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:57 am
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What kind of bridge was it? If it was the threaded saddle type, it could be as simple as moving the strings a few notches. If not, take a good look at the bridge to see if it was mounted correctly. I had a MIM standard whose bridge was mounted crooked. If the bass plays and sounds good, point this out to the shop. You can probably get a better deal on it then take it home, plug the holes and re mount it.


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