astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
seriously, where do I even start? I've messed with them so much I don't know what's right anymore. are there any tested and proven methods?
humbucker polepiece height
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
ItsaBass
New member
Re: humbucker polepiece height
Adjust them in relation to each other to balance volume between strings. Adjust them all together to change over-all volume of the pickup.
Wound strings will need to have higher pole piece screws to balance in volume with the plain strings. Thicker strings of the same type will need to have lower pole piece screws to balance with the thinner strings of the same type. (By "type," I mean wound or plain.)
No need to pull your hair out. You just do it by ear.
Using the height of the entire pickup to set volume can be done as well, but it also changes the tone significantly. Lower pickup = less bass/mud, and vice versa. So if you don't want a change in tone, it is best to use the pole piece screws to adjust the volume.
Adjust them in relation to each other to balance volume between strings. Adjust them all together to change over-all volume of the pickup.
Wound strings will need to have higher pole piece screws to balance in volume with the plain strings. Thicker strings of the same type will need to have lower pole piece screws to balance with the thinner strings of the same type. (By "type," I mean wound or plain.)
No need to pull your hair out. You just do it by ear.
Using the height of the entire pickup to set volume can be done as well, but it also changes the tone significantly. Lower pickup = less bass/mud, and vice versa. So if you don't want a change in tone, it is best to use the pole piece screws to adjust the volume.
Boppy
New member
Re: humbucker polepiece height
I forgot where I found this...
Set all poles when looking at the screw head from the side that only the rounded part rises above the flat part of the pup.
•Low E: No change
•A: Raise 1 full turn
•D: Raise 1-1/2 full turns
•G: Raise 1/2 turn
•B: Lower 1 full turn
•High E: Raise 1/2 turn
I forgot where I found this...
Set all poles when looking at the screw head from the side that only the rounded part rises above the flat part of the pup.
•Low E: No change
•A: Raise 1 full turn
•D: Raise 1-1/2 full turns
•G: Raise 1/2 turn
•B: Lower 1 full turn
•High E: Raise 1/2 turn
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: humbucker polepiece height
I tried it by radius but wasn't pleased with the results.
I tried it by radius but wasn't pleased with the results.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: humbucker polepiece height
Doing it visually by radius should not work well, except on the three lowest strings, so there is no surprise there.
Look at an old Strat's pole piece stagger. They were made for strings sets that had a wound G, so the G is the highest. But with plain strings, the G will usually be the lowest. Other than that fact, the Strat stagger should show you the basic pattern that is good to start with. Take a Strat stagger, but put the G in the lowest position instead of the highest. Remember the rule of thumb: plain strings are louder than wound strings and thicker strings are louder than thinner strings. So you get two sets of three polepiece screws. The set of three for the plain strings is lower than the set of three for the wound strings. And within each set of three, the polepiece screws for the thicker strings are lower than the ones for the thinner strings.
Doing it visually by radius should not work well, except on the three lowest strings, so there is no surprise there.
Look at an old Strat's pole piece stagger. They were made for strings sets that had a wound G, so the G is the highest. But with plain strings, the G will usually be the lowest. Other than that fact, the Strat stagger should show you the basic pattern that is good to start with. Take a Strat stagger, but put the G in the lowest position instead of the highest. Remember the rule of thumb: plain strings are louder than wound strings and thicker strings are louder than thinner strings. So you get two sets of three polepiece screws. The set of three for the plain strings is lower than the set of three for the wound strings. And within each set of three, the polepiece screws for the thicker strings are lower than the ones for the thinner strings.
Last edited:
BlueSnMettle
Michaelewski
Re: humbucker polepiece height
It's all ear. Different for everybody all the time. Just take
your time and work with it. Might take a little while, but it's
worth it when your guit is sounding good to you. That's what
it's about.
Peace,
Darrin
It's all ear. Different for everybody all the time. Just take
your time and work with it. Might take a little while, but it's
worth it when your guit is sounding good to you. That's what
it's about.
Peace,
Darrin
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
V
Varg
Guest
Re: humbucker polepiece height
You played in front of a shedload of people the other night - how many of them do you think wondered about your pole piece height?
I wouldnt worry about it too much.
You played in front of a shedload of people the other night - how many of them do you think wondered about your pole piece height?
I wouldnt worry about it too much.
Re: humbucker polepiece height
I think there was only one, but she was only worried about it for after the show.
You played in front of a shedload of people the other night - how many of them do you think wondered about your pole piece height?
.
I think there was only one, but she was only worried about it for after the show.
Last edited:
V
Varg
Guest
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: humbucker polepiece height
Solid point.
You played in front of a shedload of people the other night - how many of them do you think wondered about your pole piece height?
I wouldnt worry about it too much.
Solid point.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: humbucker polepiece height
+1 for a slightly flattened version of the polepiece stagger of a vintage Stratocaster.
If one string seems louder or quiter than the ones to either side of it, make an adjustment. Otherwise, leave well alone.
I spent part of this afternoon setting the height of the neck/Rhythm pickup in a Fender AVRI '52 Telecaster. Level polepieces, steeply radiused fingerboard. End to end adjustment is all that it offers. I'm happy with the sound that the newly installed NoCaster pickup makes.
EDIT - Hey, Glenn. Don't you have access to a copy of one of the Dan Erlewine books on guitar set-up? There will be a section on this topic in the book.
+1 for a slightly flattened version of the polepiece stagger of a vintage Stratocaster.
If one string seems louder or quiter than the ones to either side of it, make an adjustment. Otherwise, leave well alone.
I spent part of this afternoon setting the height of the neck/Rhythm pickup in a Fender AVRI '52 Telecaster. Level polepieces, steeply radiused fingerboard. End to end adjustment is all that it offers. I'm happy with the sound that the newly installed NoCaster pickup makes.
EDIT - Hey, Glenn. Don't you have access to a copy of one of the Dan Erlewine books on guitar set-up? There will be a section on this topic in the book.
Last edited:
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: humbucker polepiece height
I've read the books, I'm just trying different stuff.
I've read the books, I'm just trying different stuff.
cliffenstein
Active member
Re: humbucker polepiece height
Woah...I know this an old thread, but I just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to you all for the information contained here. I did the recommended pole piece turns above but with the G & B switch and holy cow...what a difference!
Woah...I know this an old thread, but I just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to you all for the information contained here. I did the recommended pole piece turns above but with the G & B switch and holy cow...what a difference!
