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Messages - veebass

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16
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 24, 2018, 12:31:17 PM »
Quote from: Christine on June 24, 2018, 01:46:07 AM
I don't doubt the bass, I know you're no fool, I just wondered if the tuners had been swapped out. If they are identical then maybe they are just a hybrid or even a manufacturing anomaly

Aside, I don't understand Gibson's approach to aftersales service on basses, you would think they would help you out with a genuine faulty product even if it was out of warranty even if they charged you RRP for the part; after all they seem to sell guitar pups

I know you are not suggesting that.  :)
I am really unsure about the tuners.

17
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 23, 2018, 03:06:43 PM »
Quote from: Christine on June 23, 2018, 07:38:48 AM
I've never seen Grovers that haven't been stamped, have they been changed for lightweights?


Nor have I but they appear genuine and original. In fact they are identical to the Grovers on my ES 335 Bass except they are not stamped Grover on the base plate.
I have all the Gibson paperwork for the purchase of the bass new from a Gibson dealer and the serials all match up.
So the bass is genuine,

18
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 22, 2018, 11:38:37 AM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 22, 2018, 09:27:44 AM
Or Grovers for when the software company goes out of business.

Speaking of Grovers, the Grovers on the Midtown that is the  subject of this thread does not have "Grover" stamped on the base plate.


19
Gibson Basses / Re: Pelham Blue '86 Thunderbird II
« on: June 21, 2018, 02:15:47 PM »
Yes I saw that beauty on Facebook too.
I hadn't actually seen Pelham Blue until my Midtown Sig arrived last week.
It is a stunning colour.

20
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 20, 2018, 09:46:05 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 20, 2018, 09:37:54 PM
Maybe Gibson sold bass pickups separately sometime in the pre-Henry era, but I can't remember a time when they did. The TBird probably sells far more than the models that used the mudbucker-size TB+ and they never sold those separately.

Gibson isn't alone. Some companies don't want to be in the parts business like Fender. At least Gibson sells some pickups and controls for their guitars. Try buying anything like that from MusicMan. They'll exchange part for defective part under warranty but that's it.


I certainly see more SG Basses around than Gibson TBirds, but you are no doubt right.
I know you can't buy TBird pups either. That was part of my point.
Yes I know about EBMM. R!ckenbacker are useless too and can be extremely unpleasant to boot.
But really is that any reason for Gibson to not support their products?
Imagine a car manufacturer not selling parts for a car that is still in production.

Anyway I have a spare so I don't care now.

21
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 20, 2018, 09:06:06 PM »
BTW here is the interchange between yours truly and Gibson. I suppose at least they responded. Their bass product support is non existent but they did respond after 5 days. Why would this truly useless company not sell replacement pickups for their biggest selling bass, which is still in production? They have the pickups and a way to do the transaction. But instead they simply say- you are on your own and that their warranty is not transferrable, although I was NOT asking for it as a warranty issue.

Me
Quote
I have acquired a 2014 Gibson Midtown Signature BASS. Unfortunately, the neck pickup is very badly microphonic. I cannot locate a functioning Gibson importer or distributer in Australia. I assume it will not be covered by warranty as the original owner, who I bought the bass from, did not fill in the card, which is still with the bass. Can I buy a replacement neck pickup from Gibson, please? What is the cost including shipping to Australia, please?

XXXX from Gibson
Quote
Hello,

Second-hand purchases are not covered by the warranty – Gibson does not sell bass pickups unfortunately.

Best regards,

XXXX

 

XXXX, CSR

Customer Service
Gibson Brands, Inc.

1-800-4GIBSON

22
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 20, 2018, 08:32:59 PM »
Replacement Gibson neck TB+ from a 2014 SG Bass received.
About 9.5K about right for the neck pickup?

23
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 16, 2018, 06:51:55 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 16, 2018, 04:41:50 PM
If it's done properly, supposedly epoxy potting will eliminate microphonics. Maybe Gibson didn't do a good job of it, if this is a common problem.

That is what I suspect- I have spoken to one other guy who had the same symptoms and were gone after wax potting.

Here is the crazy thing, though.
I took the neck pickup cover off yesterday to have a look. I noticed the cover had not been screwed down very tightly and I was actually getting a bit of mechanical vibration that was audible when played acoustically. When I put the cover back on I screwed it down tight. The acoustic vibration sound is gone now as far as I can hear. The pickup issues when amplified seemed less as well- it still will feedback at high volume and gain, but not as readily. The amplified background rattle is gone and the distorted echo seems to be reduced.
Is it possible that the mechanical vibration of the pickup is at least partially to blame for microphonics symptoms?
One thing unabated though is the annoying earth hum. My LP OSB does it too. Don't Gibson bother to earth their basses properly anymore? My Epi Vintage Pro TBird is silent beween notes and it cost nowhere near what the Gibson's did.

I have actually tracked down a genuine SG bass neck pickup for a reasonable price in the process. I think I will pick it up in case.


24
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 15, 2018, 12:20:53 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 15, 2018, 07:07:53 AM
The pickup is already epoxy potted, unless things have changed in the past few years.

It does look good with the black bass. If they offered it with a chrome cover, I would think they would sell more.

Not sure but I have chatted to a few fellows over on Talkbass that fixed similar problems in Midtowns by wax potting the pickup.

25
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 14, 2018, 12:31:07 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 14, 2018, 11:45:02 AM
You still ought to try increasing the distance between the pickup and the strings. 5-6 mm may be too close for that pickup.



I had a better look it is probably 7 to 8 mm.

How would you do that? By putting some foam between the top of the pickup and the cover? The pickup doesn't rattle against the inside of the cover- so I guess there is very little that it could be pushed down.

I am thinking about getting the pickup wax potted- given the way the cover works ie screwed to the body and not soldered to the pickup, how would you account for any little gaps between the cover and the pickup causing a problem- felt cut to size?

The advice on the cheap replacements was exactly what I needed to find out BTW, thanks.

26
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 14, 2018, 12:27:18 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on June 14, 2018, 11:46:44 AM
You won't be able to use the TB+ from your TBird. Same pickup construction but different dimensions. The coils in the Midtown/SG Bass version are more widely separated.

Thanks

27
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 14, 2018, 11:32:55 AM »
Thanks guys. Since posting I have heard of a few other Midtown developing microphonic neck pickups over time that were fixed by wax potting. Funny I hadn't heard of it as an issue with the really common SG Bass.

My preference at this stage would be to keep the bass stock. I despair of finding a replacement Gibson pickup. Gibson support in Australia is nil, even if the company does sell these pickups. What a circus that company is. I can't find a major component for a four year old bass. Pathetic! Same component is in one of their biggest selling basses.

So, I think I will have it wax potted and hopefully the seller will pay for that. Hopefully that will be the end of it. Famous last words.

As a reserve, I do have a pair of functioning but dark sounding 2008 TB+s I took out of my TBird when I Chinabuckered it. (Best move ever IMHO.)

I could extract one from it's cover and use it. I believe Mark has done that operation in the past.

28
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 14, 2018, 11:21:51 AM »
Quote from: patman on June 14, 2018, 09:56:07 AM
could it be too close to the strings?

Don't think so- the cover plate is screwed down tight and that effectively sets the height. It would be 5 or 6 mm from the strings by the look of it.

29
Gibson Basses / Re: Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 14, 2018, 11:13:22 AM »
Quote from: 4stringer77 on June 14, 2018, 06:15:31 AM
I didn't know Artec made a mudbucker rated at 29K. Says it's a sidewinder too. If that's legit, it would sound like a vintage Gibson mudbucker. There's also the DiMarzio model one as an option. I don't think Gibson sells TB+ neck pickups separately. Not sure how the allparts compares. Personally, I'd try to return it and pick up that LPB-1 at Wild Horse in Sydney instead. Good luck either way.

I have two Les Paul Basses- looking for something a little different and this bass is SO pretty.

30
Gibson Basses / Gibson Midtown Pickup Advice
« on: June 13, 2018, 08:44:59 PM »
I just received this glorious Midtown Sig (private purchase second hand).



The bass is in really beautiful condition (neck excellent), only issue is that the neck pickup sounds absolutely cr@p. In addition to the note we get a big, distorted echo and a wonderful feedback squeal at volume. Bridge pickup is clear as a bell. Sounds like the neck pickup is microphonic to me. Not quite the NBD I had hoped for.

I have reported it to the seller and at least at this stage he is willing to talk to me about repairing it or taking it back (on the other side of Australia). I would like to keep it if possible.
There is a guy who does wax potting locally, but he says sometimes it doesn't fix the problem. I have a look at the wiring and I will get him to remove the pickup and reinstall it or a replacement (looks a bit awkward in there).

First question.
What is a good replacement pickup at a reasonable price?
Are these ones OK?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allparts-Chrome-Humbucker-Neck-Pickup-for-Gibson-Epiphone-EB-Bass-PU-0416-010/223003028199?epid=1901847354&hash=item33ec042ae7:g:WJYAAOSw6WdXiSp5

Or rhis one?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Chrome-Alnico-5-Sidewinder-Style-Neck-Pickup-for-Gibson-EB-Bass-Etc-PU-EBA-C/223007714870?hash=item33ec4bae36:g:rS8AAOSw-ldZZCi3

Other suggestions?
Where can I get a genuine Gibson pickup?

Does anyone here have an SG Bass neck pickup for sale?


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