Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

[Diego]

I've found myself digging the sound of raised polepieces in my 339 and my Les Paul a lot. A lot more bite and clarity. I like that extra snap.

I'm not afraid to really twist the knobs and bits of every pedal, amp and guitar I've got and adjust by ear, not eyes. But should I be aware of anything before I yank the polepieces out of my pickups by mistake or something?

Anything you might add is welcome.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

I think that you would have a problem with the screws hitting the strings before you would have to worry about them coming out of the pickup. Even if they have been cut short.

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[Clint 55]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

I like cranking the screws out on the neck and sometimes a little on the bridge. It does give a cool biting sound.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

I like cranking the screws out on the neck and sometimes a little on the bridge. It does give a cool biting sound.

Yeah, but not so far as to leave the coil.

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[ItsaBass]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

They won't come out of the pickups unless you are trying to get them to come out. Adjust away.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

Yeah, but not so far as to leave the coil.

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The screw should not leave the keeper bar imo.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

As far as tone goes, I think it's a balancing act. Experiment with lowering the pup and raising pieces, and the other way around. Definitely good tones to be found through experimentation

 

[I NEED HELP123]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

As Nagisa says, it's a balancing act. If your pickups are too low, it may sound dull. If they are too high, it could sound muddy and mushy.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

If your pickups are too low, it may sound dull.

I've found that lowering the pickups lowers the output, but makes them more open and dynamic, but past a certain point they start to sound weak and thin.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

If your pickups are too low, it may sound dull

Weak and thin, yes, absolutely

Dull? I don't think the definition of the term fits the tonal outcome of p'ups being set too low.

/Peter

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

Languages including English just don't have good adjectives to describe sound. We borrow words meant to describe sights and physical sensations to describe sounds - so "dull" may well mean a very different thing one person to the next.

I think most can agree that lowering pickups reduces the magnetic pull, makes the overall volume weaker and reduces the overall sound coming through - which can be called thin. As sounds are reduced, some may hear it as being less full.

The pole pieces are interesting as say high pole pieces with a lowered pickup can keep the output lower but pick up on some of the mid/high range. At least that's what I think is going on

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Is there such a thing as too high polepieces in a humbucker?

Gary Richrath of REO used his pickups set deep into the body with the polepieces raised up close to the strings. He also used a wah as both a wah and a tone filter. Sounded awesome.

Check out his playing and tone before REO turned into a pop band. Killer stuff here ---> REO Speedwagon 157 Riverside Avenue (LIVE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCA1fVnonx4