How do I mount a mudbucker?

Basvarken · October 04, 2009, 03:00:31 PM

I bought an Artec mudbucker a while ago.
And it came with nothing but the actual pickup (the sidewinder humbucker with four pole screws in the middle)
And the wider chrome cover.

But there's no base plate, no springs, no screws, etc.

I've seen pics of a bass where the sidewinder just lies in a cavity and the chrome cover keeps it in place by means of the four little holes in the center.
But I've also seen pics of a base plate and springs etc.

I'd like to know before I start routing...

Can any of you mudbucker experts help me out please?

godofthunder · October 04, 2009, 03:11:16 PM

The 60's mudbuckers mounted on the surface of the bass, underneath was routed out just for the coil. Adjustment of the pick up was done with the pole pieces only, the pickup unit stayed flush to the bass. Hope that helps Scott

Basvarken · October 04, 2009, 03:26:14 PM

Thanx Scott

EvilLordJuju · October 04, 2009, 04:50:49 PM

The bassplated humbuckers came in with the split headstocks (and black surrounds). These, of course, are height adjusted, rether than attached, by the four corner screws; it is the bassplate itself that is screwed to the body of the bass.

uwe · October 05, 2009, 04:00:30 AM

The adjustability of the later mudbuckers via those four screws is marginal though. Substantial adjustment is still done via the four pole screwa even on the later models. And that works utterly sufficiently.

Dave W · October 05, 2009, 08:57:24 AM

I agree. The surround does little other than look nice. Pickup volume and balance is still done by the polepiece screws.

Highlander · October 05, 2009, 05:48:58 PM

I just made the hole fit the MB, then shimmed to pin in place, temporarily... gonna be a bit more permanant when I refit, post my veneer and mods work...

The question no-one's asked, Rob, is "in what...?"

or did I miss that elsewhere...?

Basvarken · October 06, 2009, 12:14:18 AM

Quote from: Kenny Five-O on October 05, 2009, 05:48:58 PM

The question no-one's asked, Rob, is "in what...?"

In a new project I'm working on. Or rather: haven't even started yet

exiledarchangel · October 06, 2009, 02:02:47 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on October 06, 2009, 12:14:18 AM
In a new project I'm working on. Or rather: haven't even started yet

Nice! You can't go wrong with a mudbucker!

Highlander · October 06, 2009, 04:50:52 PM

... unless your one of those F*nd*r or Ricky fans...

Pilgrim · October 06, 2009, 07:57:17 PM

Quote from: Kenny Five-O on October 06, 2009, 04:50:52 PM
... unless your one of those F*nd*r or Ricky fans...

Didn't we see a photo of a P-bass with a mudbucker a while back?

EvilLordJuju · October 07, 2009, 11:32:10 AM

Quote from: uwe on October 05, 2009, 04:00:30 AM
The adjustability of the later mudbuckers via those four screws is marginal though

In practise maybe. Perhaps raising it up isn't as smooth an action as it could be, but theoretically these four screws should give you all the height you need. The pickup can go right up, so the bottom edge of the chrome cover is above the plastic surround - obviously way too high - you don't want a gap. So you screw it down as far as it needs to go. If you fit one from scratch you will see what I mean.

Thanks to Ken just sending me a bassplate, I have spent the last 5 minutes attaching a mudbucker to an EB3L, and the screws do give you a considerable amount of height adjustment.

uwe · October 07, 2009, 02:04:01 PM

As Cliff Burton, Mel Schacher and billy Sheehan have amply proven, the pityful mudbucker-less state of those two lesser "Californian. Brands" can be compensated for with a little routing ...

godofthunder · October 07, 2009, 02:54:41 PM

Don't forget Tony Stevens of Foghat !

Highlander · October 07, 2009, 05:42:31 PM

There's not many Foghat's left...