how necessary is an F-spaced humbucker on a strat?

For lower output pickups, it might make a difference with some strings being louder than others, but I've never noticed it. My OCD notices when they don't line up, though.
 
I try to avoid any irregularly sized humbuckers whenever possible. The polepieces don't bother me visually or audibly.
 
The strings will be imbalanced in volume in your clean signal if you use a non-f-spaced humbucker. Usually you'll notice that the low and high e are a tiny bit less loud than the other strings if you're playing sparkly clean. I don't think I'd say it's a huge problem for a couple reasons:

- If you play with compression, overdrive, or distortion the effect is largely moot . . . and I don't know any guitarists who avoid all three regularly.
- Often you can play with the screw polepiece height to make up for the difference

FWIW - I find the string volume difference between flat pole and staggered pole single coils to be bigger than f-spaced and gibson spaced 'buckers, and most people seem fine with staggered poles . . . so this probably doesn't bother many people.
 
Audibly, I honestly don't figure there's a noticeable difference to the human ear.
But.. Somebody decided there was a market for it and it's sold as being absolutely important.
And...
Aesthetically, I'm sure to some it is.

I have no issue either way. I do however not dig the mounting screw situation on some of them... but that's my ocd
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top