Cutting pole piece screws.

[Artie]

It was just recently that I "discovered" the FAQ about the pole piece screws shifting the magnetic field down below the strings. So, it seems to me, that once you adjust the screws to the heighth you want, you'ld cut off the excessive part that drops below the bottom plate.

Can anyone think of a good reason for not doing this? (Before I do something dumb!) :laugh2:

SD tech support . . . feel free to chime in.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Artie....Years ago Dan Torres had an article talking about "edy currents" robbing us of tone because of a magnetic field that would develop under and around the bottom of the bobbin screws...I went and cut all the screws flush on my Gibson SG's stock pickups...Did I notice any difference in tone? Nope...

The other day 3 Cent Hero sent me some regular bobbin screws that I just installed in place of a row of allen screws in my Scremon Demon...The pickup sounds fuller and warmer and I didn't cut the extra lengths of the screws off....I think it might be a waste of time and effort,but maybe some others will prove me wrong?

John

 

[Artie]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Thats good info, John. I was wondering if anyone's actually done something like this. What I might do, is get a replacement set first, cut them off, and then see if I can tell a difference. If not, I'll have the originals to fall back on.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Thats good info, John. I was wondering if anyone's actually done something like this. What I might do, is get a replacement set first, cut them off, and then see if I can tell a difference. If not, I'll have the originals to fall back on.

I still have that original article in my archives...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Hey Artie, go ahead and cut them. I've got a ton of junk pickups, and if you need some uncut poles, I'll send you a set.

 

[Artie]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Thanks JB. If I need, I'll take you up on that.

I suspect, as John has said, that I probably won't be able to tell the difference. However, I'm going to do this somewhat scientifically. I'm going to take the guitar into the "lab", and see if I can actually measure the difference along with what I can, or cannot, hear.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Some folks on the Les Paul forum swear by cutting the screws. I haven't compared a set pickups screw length and swapped for shorter screws to hear for a difference, but on a general observation it seems the shorter the screws are,the more treble is present or pronounced. If that theory holds true I'd think you'd want shorter screws in the neck to bring out the highs, in a Les Paul guitar anyways.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

so the shoter the screws the more treble?

 

[Artie]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

so the shoter the screws the more treble?

Not yet . . . its sorta like herpes. I wouldn't do anything drastic 'til the lab results get back. :laugh2:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Not yet . . . its sorta like herpes. I wouldn't do anything drastic 'til the lab results get back. :laugh2:

Artie...More time playing your guitar brother and less experimenting?
:smack: :wink: :laugh2:

John

 

[Artie]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Must mod . . . must mod . . . must mod . . . :laugh2:

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

I remember an interview with Neil Schon of Journey back in the 80's and he mentioned that he cut the bottom of the screws off on his PAF's to get more attack.
This would make sense as more of the magnetic field is concentrated in the coil.

 

[jjj]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Hello from the future. ArtieTwo what did you end up doing?

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

I recall years ago reading a suggestion from Seymour Duncan about cutting off the excess polepiece part that extends under the bottom plate. I think that's where the idea originally came from. The only problem is that you have to make damn sure that the polepiece heights are set to the optimum before doing this.

Al

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

In my experience, cutting the screws will make the pu just a bit louder and brighter.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

I cut off all poles flush with the baseplate. It does tighten up the bass and midrange response.

 

[stecova]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

Hello

I have cut in half the pole pieces screws on a SH2N because the screws where too long to fit in the pickup cavity of an Ibanez RG1527.
And now I have practically no sound in parralel mode ! It works fine in classic humbucker mode (serie wiring)

I wonder if cutting the pole screws can had a impact on the output level of the pickup ?

Thanks

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

I bought hex poles that are 5/8 inches instead of 3/4 like the fillisters they were to replace on my Pegasus. Just that 1/8 made the sound tighter on the low strings. Over all just a touch steely. I haven’t tried doing it to the unwound strings yet but I do want them brighter. I think the Pegasus relies on the long fillisters to give it the rounded sound it has. I hope the replacements will give me a Goldilocks middle ground since they are still 1/8 or so below the baseplate.

 

[Artie]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

It's hard to remember from 15 years ago, but I don't recall ever actually cutting my screws off.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Cutting pole piece screws.

I wonder if cutting the pole screws can had a impact on the output level of the pickup?

No, cutting them flush with the baseplate should not affect the pickup's output. In your case, something is likely wrong with either the pickup's internal wiring or (more likely) the way you have the guitar wired.

Have you taken individual measurements of the 2 coils to make sure they are both working correctly?

Can you post pics of the wiring?