Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

[JazzSinger]

I have a CoolRails in the neck and Vintage Rails in the mid position of a Steinberger style guitar.

My problem is both E strings are softer than the rest. This is especially annoying when using a Maestro Fuzz-Tone (gate effect).

The curvature of the pickup rail polepieces has a smaller radius than that of the strings, so the string gaps at the ends is bigger. I suppose I could "fix" this by lowering the pickups, but they are competing with a JB humbucker in the bridge, so I would have to lower that, too, losing some of the brightness.

Questions:
1. Are all SD "Rails"-style pickups made to the same radius?
2. Do other manufacturers (DiMarzio?) perhaps use a wider radius?

The Steinberger string spacing is too narrow for pups with adjustable-height pole pieces; I've already been there.

It would be nice if SD would include more detail in their product dimension info.

 

[baritone]

Re: Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

Try raising the pickups up and see if it evens out a little. If not, try tilting each pickup in different directions. For example, move the treble side of the neck pickup closer, and bring the bass side of the middle pickup closer to the strings, and see if that helps. Also, I am not sure of the bridge on your guitar, but can you adjust the saddle heights?

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

Also, having the pickup "too high" creates too much magnetic pull on the strings. You might try lowering the pickups a little to see if it improves. Most pickups have a "sweet spot" in the pickup height adjustment, IME.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

Try adjusting the string height. You can do that individually with a Steinberger. Since rails pickups are level across, your E strings may be too high. Since Steinbergers are zero fret, they can have really low actions. It's not always noticeable with a Steinberger. I played for two years with out noticing my Spirit GU needed a truss rod adjustment.

 

[pstarove]

Re: Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

I had a similar problem with Hotrails. Later by chance I bought myself a Shadow SH-661 pickup that is basically a German-made Hotrails neck copy (reading approx.10K), and it had straight pole pieces without any curvature. So it sounded more even on the outer strings.
http://www.shadow-electronics.com/viewpro.html?id=79

 

[JazzSinger]

Re: Both E-strings softer on "Rails" pickups

baritone says: Try raising the pickups up and see if it evens out a little.

No, that's going in the wrong direction. Eventually the middle strings touch and the outer ones are even further away as a proportion of the distance and will result in an even higher difference.

baritone says: If not, try tilting each pickup in different directions.

Nope. Try visualize it: it's the curve that's the problem. That can't fix it.

LesStrat says: You might try lowering the pickups a little

Yes, that's what I thought, too. I am not excessively close, but this is probably the only way with the current pickups.

BRHGM says: Try adjusting the string height. You can do that individually with a Steinberger.

True, but the curvature of the pickup radius is tighter than that of the fingerboard. If I do that, the strings will end up at dramatically different heights.

BRHGM says: Since rails pickups are level across

Precisely the problem. They are not. At least, not the Cool Rails and Vintage Rails, (single-coil form factor) I have here.

pstarove says: a Shadow SH-661 pickup that is basically a German-made Hotrails neck copy (reading approx.10K), and it had straight pole pieces without any curvature.

Ah! Now that sounds more like it! This is probably the only real solution. Thanks for the tip!

Generally I have become increasingly disappointed with SD. On the one hand, they probably give more info than average pickup manufacturers, but I wish they would just finish the job. Perhaps a direct letter to SD might make them aware of the problem.

Thanks to everyone for the help! Much appreciated!