Is it possible to modify a Gibson BJB pickup for adjustable pole pieces?

[JazzNote]

I love the sound of the Gibson BJB pickup on my latest acquisition, but would prefer the output of the strings to be a bit more balanced. Did anyone ever attempt or succeed to modify such a PU to house adjustable pole pieces?
TIA

[Rodney Gene]

I love the sound of the Gibson BJB pickup on my latest acquisition, but would prefer the output of the strings to be a bit more balanced. Did anyone ever attempt or succeed to modify such a PU to house adjustable pole pieces?
TIA

The bottom plate of the pickup would need to be replaced with a threaded plate, the top cover drilled or replaced and one of the coil bobbins would need to have the bar removed and replaced with screws or a new bobbin altogether (if both coils use a bar) It's a complete rebuild. Your best option IMO, and I am only speaking from a purely preservative stand point, is to replace it with an alternative.

[JazzNote]

The bottom plate of the pickup would need to be replaced with a threaded plate, the top cover drilled or replaced and one of the coil bobbins would need to have the bar removed and replaced with screws or a new bobbin altogether (if both coils use a bar) It's a complete rebuild. Your best option IMO, and I am only speaking from a purely preservative stand point, is to replace it with an alternative.

Thanks Rodney, for now I just want to figure out the possibilities for a modification. Preserving the original is not my intent.

[jzucker]

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

[DawgBone]

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

I find this foreign. I hate doing pickup swaps because I know it will mean at least an hour spent with my amp set to gig volumes, carefully adjusting the pickup height and pole pieces. I take great care in doing that, and then usually make small tweaks post-gig after the first show or two just to give it that final dialed in tuning. I am not a big "pedals" guy so that leaves me more focus on tubes, pickups, speakers, and height/polepiece settings.

On my recent 335 I actually didn't mess with the polepieces at first, as I was pretty happy with it, but eventually found they had the polepieces under B and E string set to high so I lowered them slightly. Once you are ballparked, something as small as a quarter or half turn can make the difference in volume balance across the strings. As a result, nothing irritates me quite as much as a tech who completely re-adjusts them to his own preferences when the guitar goes onto his bench. Just my experiences...

[sgosnell]

Installing polepieces in a pickup that has none is not a simple operation. I would expect it to cost at least as much as a new pickup, if you can even find anyone willing to do it. Just buy a new pickup with polepieces, or live with what you have.

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

Jack, perhaps that's one of the reasons you've gone through so many guitars. Adjusting the pickup can change the sound, for the better or the worse. Pickup height probably makes more difference than the polepieces, but they still have an effect.

[Stringswinger]

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

I will bet that some of your techs have done it for you. And possibly not even mentioned it. Adjusting pole pieces (or at least checking string to string balance to see if an adjustment is warranted) is a part of a quality set up. I do my own setups and have adjusted the pole pieces on a lot of guitars.

@ Jazznote: Don't mess up your BJB pup, get a different pup. If you alter that pup to have adjustable pole pieces, it will have a different sound.

[JazzNote]

@ Jazznote: Don't mess up your BJB pup, get a different pup. If you alter that pup to have adjustable pole pieces, it will have a different sound.

My favorite option would be to get another BJB as found on a Gibson Lee Ritenour. I succeeded to get one a few years back, but this is used on one of my most played guitars and these pickups are very difficult to get.

And yes, if it's sound changes in the process, it does not make much sense to modify a PU which i like BECAUSE of its sound.

[bluejaybill]

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

Wow, I have had the exact opposite experience. On all of my Gibson type guitars.

A good example is my Campellone, which has perfect string to string balance acoustically. I started with. Lollar JS, couldn't get it balanced. Then to another JS, couldn't get that balanced.

Then finally to an Armstrong 12 pole, finally achieved perfect balance by adjusting in pairs.

I just received a new (to me) ES335 and had to adjust all of them.

[garybaldy]

i've almost never adjusted the pole pieces on any guitar i've owned.

In the 60 years (nearly) of owning electric guitars I have only adjusted a neckmount mini HB that was added to my Loar 700. That was about a year ago - I cranked down the high E and B string screws. It didn't make a huge difference.

[garybaldy]

I love the sound of the Gibson BJB pickup on my latest acquisition, but would prefer the output of the strings to be a bit more balanced. Did anyone ever attempt or succeed to modify such a PU to house adjustable pole pieces?
TIA

Does yours look anything like this one? I'm trying to establish if it is a BJB. I don't think the wires are original. Thanks

[JazzNote]

[QUOTE=garybaldy;1451540]Does yours look anything like this one? I'm trying to establish if it is a BJB. I don't think the wires are original. Thanks/QUOTE]

I find it interesting that all my BJB's have holes in the bottom plate, as if intended for adjustable pole pieces.

From a 1998 LeGrand:


From a 1098 Citation:


From a 2013 LeGrand:

[garybaldy]

[QUOTE=JazzNote;1451607]

Does yours look anything like this one? I'm trying to establish if it is a BJB. I don't think the wires are original. Thanks/QUOTE]

I find it interesting that all my BJB's have holes in the bottom plate, as if intended for adjustable pole pieces.

From a 1998 LeGrand:


From a 1098 Citation:


From a 2013 LeGrand:

Thank you. Some similarities but, I think, mostly differences!

[JazzNote]

Thank you. Some similarities but, I think, mostly differences!

They all were (are) glued to the pickguard and reinforced with a support made of wood on the Citation PG, also with wood on the 2013 LeGrand (see attached pics) and on the 1998 LeGrand with grey PVC which is still glued to the PU.

[garybaldy]

They all were (are) glued to the pickguard and reinforced with a support made of wood on the Citation PG, also with wood on the 2013 LeGrand (see attached pics) and on the 1998 LeGrand with grey PVC which is still glued to the PU.

I wish I could find out what I have. I can tell from mine that the bracket had been removed and flipped. It separated quite easily and when the glue was scrapped off it married better with the end of the pickup when flipped the other way. The tapped holes in the bracket could either be original or a mod. The pickup was in the case of a left handed 30s Gibson I bought last year.

[JazzNote]

Wow, I have had the exact opposite experience. On all of my Gibson type guitars.

A good example is my Campellone, which has perfect string to string balance acoustically. I started with. Lollar JS, couldn't get it balanced. Then to another JS, couldn't get that balanced.

Then finally to an Armstrong 12 pole, finally achieved perfect balance by adjusting in pairs.

I just received a new (to me) ES335 and had to adjust all of them.

I find string balance is also depending on all other parts in the chain. Everything has an impact on the transmitted frequencies, from volume and tone pot to tone capacitor, cable length and type as well as of course the amp.

E.g. it's possible to go for exactly the same visible amplitude on each string (if you are carefully minding the dynamics of the attack ;-)) when playing directly into a DAW and still, what's coming out of the amp could appear not pleasing.

But certainly the 12 pole is the most flexible for adjusting to individual needs.

[bluejaybill]

I find string balance is also depending on all other parts in the chain. Everything has an impact on the transmitted frequencies, from volume and tone pot to tone capacitor, cable length and type as well as of course the amp.

E.g. it's possible to go for exactly the same visible amplitude on each string (if you are carefully minding the dynamics of the attack ;-)) when playing directly into a DAW and still, what's coming out of the amp could appear not pleasing.

But certainly the 12 pole is the most flexible for adjusting to individual needs.

Maybe, but I find if I get the string balance right it's usually good on most of my amps, although some may have more bass and highs than others. The pots and caps stay the same so are accounted for. A longer cable length would increase capacitance and tend to cut the overall highs.

One thing to be careful of is to not adjust the pickup when the strings are dead! It will be off when you change the strings. Ask me how I know!

[Woody Sound]

Perhaps approach a reputable pickup builder to do it, OR, make one.