[HAM] Adjusting pickup rods

[Alan Lenhoff]

I’ve noticed recently that one tone on my B2 is
somewhat louder than surrounding notes.  Normally,
this wouldn’t really both me. But it’s tone #80, the
third harmonic on the two highest C notes. So, when
I’m playing with 3rd harmonic percussion, hitting
either of those notes produces a thunk that’s louder
than those of its neighbors, which is semi-annoying. 

I’ve generally believed that you can create nothing
but trouble by playing with the pickup rods if you
aren’t an experienced tech. But this rod looks like it
would be easy to reach, and my understanding is that
the problem that’s usually created with the rods is
that someone pushes them in too far and damages a
tonewheel. So, I’m thinking that since I’m going in
the other direction, I ought to be safe. (I’d probably
wrap a piece of electrical tape around the rod at its
current setting, to prevent me from accidentally
pushing it inward as I work on it.)

So, I’ve got these choices. Feel free to vote for your
favorite:

1)Back the rod out slowly and carefully until you’re
happy with the volume. (“It’s so easy, an idiot could
do it.”)

2)Live with the sound like it is now. (“You’ll be
sorry if you fiddle with the sacred pickup rods! 
Enjoy the imperfection of the vintage tone.”)

3)Get some advice on how to lower the volume in
another way. (Is there, for example, a way to add a
resistor to lower the volume – and reduce the risk
that I’ll screw up something that is hard/impossible
to reverse?)

Thanks,

Alan




       
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