Guest MoJo Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 This is my SBMM SUB Ray 5. I know that it probably makes very little difference, if any, to how this bass sounds or the balance between strings, but from an aesthetic point of view, it really grinds my gears if the strings don’t sit perfectly in line with the pole pieces on the pickups. I’ve read that there is a form of OCD that relates to symmetry and order so maybe I have a mild form of that condition. Anyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Funnily, that doesn't bother me at all. I get very picky about all kinds of stuff... but not that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I hear you bud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Ugh. That kind of misalignment tends to be one of the first things I notice in basses. I'm sure it makes no difference to the sound, but I'm happier when I can't see the pickup poles under the cover, so I don't know about it! 😉 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 That's how I prefer to deal with it Ms B 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 6 minutes ago, ead said: That's how I prefer to deal with it Ms B Me too. I have been known to change the pickup covers (if possible) for a plain cover without pole piece holes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Huh! It sure bothers me big time, but not as much as the outside strings looking out of alignment with the fingerboard edges! Now that is surely criminal! I mean, come on. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 2 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Huh! It sure bothers me big time, but not as much as the outside strings looking out of alignment with the fingerboard edges! Now that is surely criminal! I mean, come on. Arrrgghhh, yeah. I hate that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 50 minutes ago, MoJo said: This is my SBMM SUB Ray 5. I know that it probably makes very little difference, if any, to how this bass sounds or the balance between strings, but from an aesthetic point of view, it really grinds my gears if the strings don’t sit perfectly in line with the pole pieces on the pickups. I’ve read that there is a form of OCD that relates to symmetry and order so maybe I have a mild form of that condition. Anyone else Just move your head to the right a bit. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 What does the bass sound like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 27 minutes ago, chris_b said: What does the bass sound like? Sounds very similar to a Stingray to my ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 25 minutes ago, MoJo said: Sounds very similar to a Stingray to my ears I wouldn't worry then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) Yep I'm with you. Have you tried loosening the neck bolts a bit and nudging the neck towards the left a tad? I find this usually does the trick. Just a smidge should make the D string line up dead centre. Tighten back up. The others should fall in symmetrically then. Remember to judge the others by their strings centre line afterwards though of course! Edited January 30, 2020 by miles'tone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Another thought.. Before moving the neck a smidge (they can be knocked out of whack during transit/shipping), try squeezing the bridge saddles tight together so that the string spacing is uniform. It's possible there's been a bit of movement there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) 9 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I’m not sure what the bridges are like on the SUB’s, but if they’re anything like a standard MM, then there shouldn’t be much play if the saddle posts are doing their job. Might be worth a try though. They're free floating like on a Fender if you know what I mean, mounted on a large MM shaped backplate. I just checked my own Fender after I posted the above and my saddles were out too! Squeezed them back together with a click and they're all 19mm again. God knows how long they'd been like that for.. Edited January 30, 2020 by miles'tone I shouldn't attempt spelling before morning coffee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 I had the same ‘eeewwww’ reaction to the Peavey Zodiac DE that I owned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Last one.. Mojo's Zodiac pic just reminded me that as your's is a 5 string, check that the D string is aligned up the middle of the dots on the fingerboard. If they're not then that's a great tell regarding needing to bump the neck. That Peavey looks good at the dots so the misalignment at the pickups is just the way it was made I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Doesn't annoy me as much as the middle string of a 5er not aligning properly with the dots on the fretboard... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 7 minutes ago, Bigwan said: Doesn't annoy me as much as the middle string of a 5er not aligning properly with the dots on the fretboard... That too. I’m glad that I’m not alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 42 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I’m not sure what the bridges are like on the SUB’s, but if they’re anything like a standard MM, then there shouldn’t be much play if the saddle posts are doing their job. Might be worth a try though. You’re right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 23 minutes ago, miles'tone said: Last one.. Mojo's Zodiac pic just reminded me that as your's is a 5 string, check that the D string is aligned up the middle of the dots on the fingerboard. If they're not then that's a great tell regarding needing to bump the neck. Looks like I’ll be slackening off the strings and the neck screws tonight and trying to shift the neck over a tadge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikNik Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) I've seen worse. Incidentally, I had a similar issue with a RIC Horseshoe replacement I fitted to one of my Grecos. I used the original pup surround holes but when I looked at the magnets they were out of alignment so I had to fill and re-drill new holes. The E one seems to still be out of alignment but nowhere near as bad as it used to be. The main issue I have is the pole-piece height. The A and (especially) the D are discernibly louder than the G, and the E is the weakest of the lot. I can't tap the magnets through so going to have to buy magnet discs to bump up the E and G. Edited January 30, 2020 by NikNik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 10 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said: Just move your head to the right a bit. I just headbutted my colleague. Thanks m8 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 I’ve seen far worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.G.E.N.T.E. Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 1 hour ago, MoJo said: You’re right Is your intonation correct? Never had one of those basses but the sadles look very close to the end of the screws. I guess you could correct this misalignment if the sadles were closer to the base of the bridge. But this only makes sense if intonation is not OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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