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Removing pickups

Nat 30 June 2014

I just bought a Deagan Commander recently, the version with the pickups installed (a 594, in other words), but I'm thinking about removing them. I have another set of vibes I've been using on gigs until now and I've never needed pickups, always using mics, and the ones on this instrument just sound kind of bad - there's a really loud thud when you strike a note. It's also a hassle removing the notes from the frame and replacing them with having to plug and unplug so many connectors - I know you're supposed to leave them on but the frame is too heavy to carry around that way, I find. I've also noticed that the notes with the pickups attached don't sound as bright, nor do they ring as long, as when I put the notes from my other Deagan (without pickups) onto the Commander frame, so I assume they must be damping the notes slightly. I want to remove the pickups, but is there a way to do it without damaging them? I could just use a scraper or chisel but I'm pretty sure the pickups would break. It'd be nice to be able to put them back in case I decide I need them in the future, or perhaps if I ever come to sell the vibe... thoughts?

Comments

Vince H Mon, 06/30/2014 - 18:21

Are these K&K style pickups (on the outside of the bar with collector on outside bar rails) or built-in like the Deagan electravibe (on inside of the bar with collector inside of damper bar)?

If K&K, removal is simple. I can describe that but will wait for you response.

As for the thud you hear, it is a characteristic of all pickups because they are capturing the physical events when the mallet hits the bar rather than the delayed events attenuated by the resonator. The worst thud I've heard is on the Deagan electravibe, where the pickups are placed next to the damper pad rather than the outer end of the bar, away from the damper. You can reduce the volume of the thud by mallet choice and by the amplifier choice. An EQ pedal, even a low-cost one such as a Danelectro, can help you shape the tone of the bar to reduce the thud. Switching to a vanderplas silicone pad or a liquid damper bladder will also reduce the thud.

The pickups should NOT be damping the bars unless they were applied incorrectly. They go right over the nodal points and there is minimal vibration there. It is more likely that your bar posts are bent and damping the bars. Try exploring the bent-bar-posts option when determining the cause of the damping. Maybe eliminate all other possibilities before deciding that the cause of damping is the pickups.

Nat Tue, 07/01/2014 - 13:05

Thanks for the long reply, Vince.

I think they were factory fitted by Deagan, but they're like the K&K pickups in that there's a rail on each of the outsides of the outer keybed with mini-jack sockets that the pickups plug into. On each note there's a large blob of what might be epoxy resin on the node furthest from the damper, with the wire emerging from the blob.

I've spent the afternoon fiddling and adjusting. The cord holding the notes together was extremely thick (to the point that I had to pull hard to remove it from each note), so I've replaced it with a thinner cord that I use on my other vibe, and that has had an effect, but the notes don't ring on nearly as long as the other ones from my other Deagan (I have an Aurora too) on the Commander frame, nor do they sound quite as bright. The notes weren't being pinched by the bar posts but one or two were bent slightly, so I've adjusted them. But I think I'm going to remove the pickups, if it's possible to do without damaging them.

Vince H Tue, 07/01/2014 - 13:20

This one is worth a call to Gilberto at Century. I have those same types of blobs on my old Electravibe. I don't know what the heck is buried in there! I'm not sure it is a piezo disc (as with K&K.) You may do more damage removing them, but I know that Gilberto has removed/replaced what's in there for others. I hope you'll report back on what you learn. He may be able to tell you the cause of the short sustain, too.
Vince

deagan expressway Wed, 09/17/2014 - 13:33

I wonder if there might be a problem w the pre amp. For what it's worth i have a 594 and i absolutely LOVE the p/u's on it (though i mainly play it acoustic because it is one seriously loud mutha and usually has no problem hanging in there in louder situations).

No volume probs or lack of sustain w mine. My last vibe (a much inferior JENCO) had a K&K system on it and tho it was OK....i much prefer the imbedded "crystals" over the K&K piezos. I don't hear ANY "thwack" or "thud" w the Deagan like i did w the K&K system.

Wish I had some better advice but i think it's definitely worth checking w Gilberto if haven't done so already.

Good luck.

mogreen Thu, 05/19/2016 - 04:52

I know it's been a while since the original post, but I thought this info might be useful for someone in the future.

The Deagan Commander II pickups are glued to the bar with Silver Epoxy - like a cold solder - and cannot be removed without damaging them. Furthermore the shield of the attached cable is likewise glued in a small hole drilled into the bar. The conductor is soldered to the top of the pickup and the entire assembly is sealed in a blob of epoxy. The only way to remove the pickups is by scraping them off with a chisel and sanding off whatever material remaining on the bar.
Living in Denmark, where no-one has experience with repairing these kinds of instruments, I have changed faulty ceramic chrystal pickups myself. I purchased the materials from Gilberto Serna at Century Mallet Instruments Service.

In case it's helpful, I will be happy to assist with instructions and helpful hints. I do have some pictures of the process as well.

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