Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

[Zarg]

Hello everyone, quick question!

I made the "mistake" of getting a regular spaced PU when I needed F-Spacing, which I did not know about.

Now, it didn't really make any noticeable difference to have no F-Spacing even though I needed it, is that the same the other way around? will it be just fine to have a guitar that "needs" regular spacing and have f spacing?

The next Guitar I want to equip with has a tune o matic, which iirc is regular spacing. The humbucker I want to get (DiMa Dominion) is only available in F-Spacing to me.

Or do you think there's better options for me? I'm playing mostly metal but also some slight crunch tones and a bit of clean. I want a medium output humbucker (at least not super super hot,my fav. bridge pickup reads about 8,4k ohms), with a punchy and articulate sound with not as much distortion as some other metal people use to keep it sounding tight, which is important to me.

Cutting through in my band is obviously a plus too. It's going in a ESP Eclipse type guitar, made of mahogany, both neck and body. Custom? 59? what would you put in it? so far I'm really enjoying the DiMa Dominion in my Jackson

cheers and thank you all!

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

In general, it depends. A lot of metric tunomatics can handle f-spacing fine. Generally, you encounter a spacing problem when you end up with too narrow a pole spacing and too wide a bridge spacing. Generally speaking, it doesn't matter until it really matters. (Its generally an unusually wide bridge unusually close to the bridge pickup that's a problem.)

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

I always try to get F-Sp/TBs for all imports.(edit:br pos)

Even Gibson's spacing is wider "lately"(?) from what I understand,but my only Gibby's a '74...

AFA teh p/up goes,maybe Perpetual Burn?

 

[Zarg]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

In general, it depends. A lot of metric tunomatics can handle f-spacing fine. Generally, you encounter a spacing problem when you end up with too narrow a pole spacing and too wide a bridge spacing. Generally speaking, it doesn't matter until it really matters. (Its generally an unusually wide bridge unusually close to the bridge pickup that's a problem.)

I always try to get F-Sp/TBs for all imports.

Even Gibson's spacing is wider "lately"(?) from what I understand,but my only Gibby's a '74...

AFA teh p/up goes,maybe Perpetual Burn?

thank you both! I guess I'll just get the F-Spaced one now and just see what happens, if it gets out of control I guess I can try to return it.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

I can't hear any differences between F spaced and regular HBs in my guitars, really, and I tried several pickups in both spacing (DMZ SD, SD 59b, Custom)

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

That's the thing. Many people can't. On some guitars, the high E is not aligned, and quieter. Some people have OCD, and it bothers them. You'll probably be fine.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickups and spacings question/ Pickup recommendation

You probably won't be able to tell any difference in the sound. But if you are OCD, like Mincer said, then the looks may bother you. I tend to be OCD but neither the sound nor the looks really bother me...it's a small difference in spacing that nobody will see. Doesn't seem to matter whether it's SH spaced pup and Trem spaced bridge or TB spaced pup and regular (Gibson) spaced bridge.

However, if you do a lot of string bending it is actually better to have regular (SH) spaced pups with a Trem spaced bridge. That brings the strings more in line with the poles during bends.