how to adjust pole pieces

[johnny5]

i have messed with a bunch of pickups but never done anything with adjusting the pole pieces. am i correct by thinking they are just for fine tuning each height above the strings?

could any one chareterize the differece in tone between a pole piece all the way down in the pickup to one thats raised up a bit?

also people have been talking about changing the pole piece screws. does really do anything?

just trying to find some info on this subject and can't seem to find any sites that are helpful.

thanks

 

[jeremy]

Re: how to adjust pole pieces

the poles are for fine tuning the volume of each string so they balance well

assuming that the height between the string and either the top of the pup or the pole piece (which ever is less) is the same, with the pole pieces flush to the top of the flatwork youll get a fatter sound than if you have the poles raised above the flatwork.

with the poles raised high youll get a little better string definition. as far as i know its due to the magnets distance to the strings

 

[johnny5]

Re: how to adjust pole pieces

the poles are for fine tuning the volume of each string so they balance well

assuming that the height between the string and either the top of the pup or the pole piece (which ever is less) is the same, with the pole pieces flush to the top of the flatwork youll get a fatter sound than if you have the poles raised above the flatwork.

with the poles raised high youll get a little better string definition. as far as i know its due to the magnets distance to the strings

what do you mean by flat work? the flat top of the PUP? like the cover?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how to adjust pole pieces

Jeremy's talking about the top of the bobbin if the pickup is uncovered or the top of the nickel cover if the pickup is covered.

I start by adjusting the pole pieces for the two E Strings so the top of the screw is about even with the flatwork. But I then adjust the remaining 4 polepieces to match the arch of the fingerboard.

Start with the neck pickup and then adjust the bridge pickup to match.

Then hold the strings down at the highest fret and adjust the overall pickup ht. to about 1/8" away from the underside of the strings. That's a starting point...experiment a little.

After you get the overall ht. where you want it, then play a while and listen to whether one string rings to loud or quiet when you strum one note at a time through some chords.

If a string is to loud it'll usually be the B string or somethimes the G string.

If that's the case, screw the polepiece under the offending string down into the pickup a little until it sounds right to you.

Lew

 

[johnny5]

Re: how to adjust pole pieces

lew,
thanks alot. thats great advice. being i am talking about a set of phat cats i bought from you, it seems quite appropriete.

still struggling with the C5, but want to try some of the tricks i have seen here, like barrying all the pole peices flat so the pup might fatten up a bit and loose some of that raged top end.

thanks!