Bass Ex-4

[Bass-Guy]

Hello fellow musicians,

I am assembling this kit at school for a grade. With much of the prep work done I am about ready to assemble. However I have run into some issues along the way. The pick-up pockets were not quite deep enough and I fixed my problems using a small end-mill in a Drummel. My more concerning problem is the screws and springs that attach the pick-ups to the body. As the picture shows the pick-ups are roughly 1"(25.4 mm), the springs 7/8"(22-23 mm) and the screws are maybe 1 1/4 - 1 3/8(30-35 mm). When the springs are fully compressed there is only 1/4"(6-7 mm) of threads available for holding the pick-ups in. Should I get smaller springs or longer screws? I don't think it makes much sense to send screws that aren't the right length.

[Simon Barden]

Hi and welcome.

Interesting problem you have. I'm surprised they've supplied springs, as I'd normally have expected a couple of strips of hardish foam rubber with one self-adhesive edge that sits under the pickups for that type of installation.

With longer screws, you may be in danger of them going through the rear of the bass. If you've got some decent small side-cutters, I''d have a go at cutting down the length of the springs, at least cut them in half and see how you go. Final spring length will depend on the pickup height you need.

But I'd really be on the lookout for some adhesive-backed foam rubber sheet to use. You want something fairly hard and not too compressible. Maybe 3mm or 4mm thick, and then use a number of layers to get to the right height. First try and work out what depth you have between the bottom of the pickups and the cavity. Using neoprene foam, you can normally compress it by up to 1/3 and you'll need it under some compression to provide the springiness. You'd probably be best doing a similar thing if you just cut the springs to length. If you have a 10mm gap, cut the springs to 15mm to allow for some compression and stiffness.

[wazkelly]

Same pickups on my ex5 and many other pbg bass kits.

You may not have needed to dig out the pickup cavity depth as the string action tends to sit fairly high above the deck and if pup's are too low there goes your output level.

Simon is on the money with using high density foam in conjunction with the springs which on their own are pretty useless.

Hope this helps in some way.

Cheers, Waz

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