NGD: S2 Starla - Pickups Sunken into body - height question

[ericatunc]

All,

I received my second PRS yesterdeay, an Antique White Starta S2. My first is a 25th 245.

When the guitar arrived from Sweetwater, the bass side of the neck pickup was down below the body of the guitar, really cockeyed. I raised the pickup height to match the other side of the neck pickup. I played the guitar for several hours last night, and while I didn't measure the neck pickup height, it seemed lower to me this morning.

Has anyone else experienced this? I did read only 1 review on TGP that someone else had this problem.

Today I raised the pickup height to the reccomended measurements on the PRS website, as follows:

The pickups on your new instrument are fully adjustable by turning the height adjustment screws at each end of the pickup. With the high and low E strings (E and G strings for the Electric Bass) depressed at the last fret the measurement should about 2.5/32 (5/64”) on the treble side and about 3/32” on the bass side of both pickups. You may season to taste if you wish.

This doesn't seem right, I had to raise both quite a bit. For other Starla owners, do you know what pickup height you're using?

I'm not sure what to do at this point. I really hate to send it back for more work and hope it could be something that I can remedy myself at home.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[John Beef]

I used to have problems with the treble pickup in my CU22 doing the same thing, except it would fall off the screw. What cured it for me was setting the pickup height where I wanted it, then removing the entire thing in the ring from the body and putting some of my wife's clear fingernail polish on the ends of the threads, locking them in place. They haven't moved since. You might also try a little bit of plumber's tape around the threads.

 

[shinksma]

Are you having a problem where you adjust the pickup height(s) and it appears to be different the next day? If so, I would look into whether the spring on the pickup height adjustment / mounting screws isn't getting jammed on something, then getting "unstuck", causing the pup to shift.

Or maybe the pup height / mounting screw has completely detached from the pup mounting flange, and you are just spinning in free air, and the pup settles to a height somewhat arbitrarily.

I suggest you loosen off / remove the strings, and unscrew the pickguard, which will allow you to remove the whole subassembly. You might find something strange going on, or something just loosened off.

Recommended pickup heights are "notional suggestions" - you can raise or lower them as you see fit, within the range they will move.

Although John Beef's suggestion will work, I've never had pickup height adjustment screws change all on their own, but maybe I didn't have them right at the end of the screw thread (which sounds like John's situation).