HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

[cyberpunk409]

hey guys,

i'm hoping someone can help... i just bought an Alnico II Pro HUMBUCKER for the bridge position of my 2006 Epiphone Les Paul. The bass E string starts off perfectly aligned with it's respective pole piece, but by the time it gets to the treble E, its waaaaay off, here's a pic:

The bridge measures 52mm across, so that would suggest trembucker spacing, but i thought LP's were meant to have regular HUMBUCKERS in them. I should mention that i swapped out the stock bridge for a GOTOH bridge, but i didn't think that would've made a difference.

It looks like if i was somehow able to shift the bridge pickup itself towards the treble E side, the pole pieces would line up so that both E pole pieces would at least JUST cover the E strings, any suggestions on how to shift the whole pickup downwards/towards floor when holding it in playing position?

or any other suggestions? cheers...

p.s. oops, forgot to mention that the treble E snapped about 2 hrs before taking the photo, but you can IMAGINE where it was...

 

[burnt999]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

How did the stock poles line up ? How about strings on the neck, are they centered ? Without cutting some stuff up, I`d almost be thinking about filing new grooves in the saddles. Not really correct but it might be something to think about.I`d have to go back and check all the original stuff first and determine if it was right from the factory. The string location should tell it all. If the neck is cool with the spacing, the pickup is off. You can probably slot stuff but that`s kinda funky but would work to some degree. Hopefully you would`nt have to route the body. Go look at some others if you can, maybe we`re missing something ! Good luck !

 

[cyberpunk409]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

i honestly couldn't tell you how the stock ones lined up... i had stock in for about 4 months, SH-14 for 5 months, JB for 2 months and now the APH-1... and i never noticed this problem until now.

the neck (SD '59 Humbucker) lines up perfectly, but you'd expect this because the strings are closer together at that point since they continue to get closer all the way to the nut.

funny thing is i can fit a thick pick inbetween the pickup and the mounting ring on the treble side, but cant even fit a thin pick in that spot on the bass side. so that would indicate something wouldn't it? but looking at the mounting ring (from the picture) both height adjustment screws (the ones holding the pickup in place) are evenly centred.

so where's the problem....? anyone else?

 

[Artie]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

. . . forgot to mention that the treble E snapped about 2 hrs before taking the photo . . .

You went two hours without replacing the E string! :laugh2:

 

[cyberpunk409]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Dude... some 4 days later and it still ain't replaced

 

[larry_emder]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Looks like you are going to have to bite the bullet and buy a trembucker pickup. Maybe they changed the string spacing in the newer models

But first, i'd try the pickup as it is. I've used pickups with string spacings that didnt match the guitar, and havent noticed much difference.

 

[strangegrey]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Even though, if you research the string spacing on the nashville bridge at stewmac or elsewhere....and discover that the string spacing is something like 2 1/32" across...

For some strange reason I've seen guys claim that F-spaced or Trembucker spaced pickups fit better in todays Les Pauls.

There's a used TB-5 Custom trembucker at a guitar shop near me for cheap, I'm VERY tempted to get it and slap it in my Les Paul....given this info.

 

[ErikH]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

I've got a regular spaced Duncan in my Epi LP and the polepieces line up just fine. They may have changed specs the last few years (mine is a 2004 model). Edit: Stock bridge.

 

[electricsleep]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Greetings all new here,A few weeks back I put a standard spaced Dimarzio Super D in my Elite Les Paul.Same deal pole pieces don't line up when you get as far as the high e its a good 1/8 inch off from where it ideally should be.I've since heard that they've used wider string spacing on tunomatics for years now.i don't know if thats true but I have a f-spaced Duncan JB when I hold that up to the bridge it lines up perfectly. I don't think it affects output at all seems to work fine.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Mine's a 2005 and the spacing is fine. That's with a stock bridge though... I wonder if the spacing with your Gotoh is slightly different somehow.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

As a side note, if you keep the pickup (which I think you should because it's no big deal) you can make a pickup sit more to the left or right by bending the legs a little, so they're like this: _/ instead of like this: _l

If you can get that pickup centered, the pole misalignment will be insignificant. On a Gibson spaced bridge (even a wider one) The trembucker will put the outer E's toward the outside of the strings, which is fine, but if it's still not centered, then the low E in this case could still wind up between the two poles, so you've just shifted the problem elsewhere.

That being said, remember a magnetic field is far larger than it's generator, so most spacing misalignments are audibly negligible at best. Go put your E string on and see if it sounds alright as it is.

 

[cyberpunk409]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

the pickup sounded alright before i snapped the E string, but that was BEFORE i noticed the misalignment so i didnt pay much attention to how the high E and B strings sounded (i.e. their output) compared to others that are more aligned. This pickup sounded very balanced without harsh highs, which is the first Duncan i've used that i can say that about. Maybe the lack of high-harshness is due to the misalignment, who knows.

but i'd still like to know how this pickup sounds when aligned correctly, it may be even BETTER!

I havent replaced the e string because im eagerly waiting on a new set of locking grovers, i'll put new strings in then anyways. While im at it, i'll take the pickup out and try bending the legs like one of you suggested. How does one go about doing that? just brut force or is there a way?

ALSO... do trembuckers and their same model humbuckers sound IDENTICAL? or is there a difference??? if so, explain...

 

[cyberpunk409]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

ok, so i took out the humbucker today to bend the screws so the poles would line up. turns out i cant do that because the humbucker metal leg thingy is already touching the side of the pickup cavity in the guitar itself, i.e. wood is blocking any further movement of the pickup.

how does one overcome this?

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

I just put a TB-5 in my Epi les paul (its like a 2000 or a 99 I believe) and it lines up great, the high and low E's are slightly to the inside of the poles but still over them, all the other strings line up pretty fine.:banana:

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Dude if they're not aligned, swap the A2P in for a TB version of it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

The strings don't line up perfectly on my GIBSON!. But they are pretty close...

The key thing is distance to the pole. It doesn't have to be directly over it. that's why they adjust!. But I'd check the spacing on that gotoh vs a regular LP bridge... I think gotoh must be TB spaced.

 

[ErikH]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

But I'd check the spacing on that gotoh vs a regular LP bridge... I think gotoh must be TB spaced.

I can just about guarantee this is it. My Epi LP Std Plus has the stock bridge on it and the poles line up perfectly. It's got a C5 in the bridge (CC with magnet swap).

 

[Martian]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

I have the same bridge on my Dot. It's not the OEM one but I didn't want the OEM one with the wire as it is a total POS.

I have a DiMarzio "F" spaced Virtual Hot PAF in the bridge position. That's what our bridge requires. In other words, in terms of a Duncan, yes, you need the trembucker spacing.

 

[Aceman]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Vitual Hot in the Dot - Tasty choice. How does that sound?

 

[Martian]

Re: HELP!! SD Humbucker + Epi LP = pole pieces that don't line up with strings...

Vitual Hot in the Dot - Tasty choice. How does that sound?

Outstanding! It can growl or it can wail, depending on how you pick it.

As a rule, I don't like DiMarzios because to me, they tend to be bass/mid heavy. They got the this one right though.