Pickup Installation Problem

[exalted]

I bought my wife a Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass on Ebay. The pictures looked nice, and the price was right. Seller stated it was in like-new condition, and I guess it is...but there's a pretty weird problem with the pickups.

The bass has a P-Bass pickup, and the two parts are angled outward so the pickup forms a very pronounced "A" shape. I tried screwing in the inner screws, but they are extremely tight, and I definitely don't want to strip the screws.

What do you all think?

 

[blue313]

Looks stock.  But you could always pull the pickups and deepen/redrill the mounting holes.

 

[-CB-]

BE CAREFUL with deepening things.  Aerodynes are thinner bodies. 

From the picture, I'd say leave it, because it seems to match the neck radius, which should be close to the string radius...

 

[tfarny]

If the inner strings are balanced as to volume, I'd assume it's meant to be like that and not mess with it. I like the aerodyne looks, how does it play and sound?

 

[weldfish]

You can always shim the low sides to get a more even look, but if it sounds OK, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[exalted]

If the inner strings are balanced as to volume, I'd assume it's meant to be like that and not mess with it. I like the aerodyne looks, how does it play and sound?

I can't really play it, but my wife loves it. It has a lot more presence than her Schecter. She's had an ESP, a MIM Fender, her Schecter, and now this, and I think she likes this above the others...guess that's not saying TOO much, but still. For 475 shipped, I felt it was a steal.

And thanks for the pic, Blue, and thanks everyone else for the advise. Her main complaint is that her finger sometimes hits one of the pickups, but she wants to raise the action, anyway, so we'll see if that resolves it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Many P-Basses as well as the few Aerodynes I have seen have been similar to that.  If your ears tell you it's good ignore your eyes.

 

[exalted]

If your ears tell you it's good ignore your eyes.

Well, it's her eyes I have to convince...always a challenge.  :redflag:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Show her that pic.