Pole piece "factory" settings

[Erithus]

Hello all, I hope this is not too silly a question.

First of all, I was wondering whether all pickup models come with their pole pieces consistently setup in a certain way or is the pattern relatively random?

If the pattern is indeed specific, does each model have its own pattern (e.g. do all JBs come as ///\\\ and 59s come as \\//\\) or is there a common pattern for all pickup models. Finally, is there a database somewhere that would provide these factory settings?

The reason I am asking is because I have bought a used 59n and I would like to set it up as close to how it came out of the factory. Internet image search yielded a variety of images with different pole piece arrangements.

Thank you for your time!

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

This is actually a really good question that I was wondering myself just yesterday when I was re-setting the pickup height on my Full Shred. It has double rows of hex which were all discombobulated, so I simply leveled them all out so they ever so slightly stick up above the bobbin.
These were never adjusted prior because the wax hadnt been broken around the pole when I adjusted them. Most times you can spot one thats been adjusted because itll likely turn easier because its already had its wax broken. I hope Im explaining that right, but Im sure you follow me.
Id venture to guess that the production run pickups due to their high production volume are more apt to have random heights than a CS or Shop Floor Custom.

Theres a bunch of guys who are way more knowledgable than me who will be along to explain and answer this better than I ever could, so Im really here to find out as well. Once again good question for sure.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I have bought a used 59n and I would like to set it up as close to how it came out of the factory

The slots of the screws are set perpendicular to the strings, flush with either the bobbin or the cover.

The positioning of the slots of the filister screws you mentioned is just for cosmetic purposes, and as it's been incorporated in all books of luthier guru Dan Erlewine dating the late '80s, IIRC, many somehow interpret it as some kind of standard.

/Peter

 

[blind1]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I believe that technically you should measure the radius of your fretboard and then adjust the polepieces on your pickups accordingly, so the polepieces mimic the shape of the fretboard.

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

You can set your screws however your ear likes it. I set my high e and low e to the same height and usually just so you can see a small amount of light reflecting off the side of the screw where it flattens out (right before it domes on top). With covers I put the screws down just a little farther then when that flat side stops shining (also covers already put a radius in if you set all strings like that, so I do those ones more by ear). Then I stagger the rest like a much less exaggerated SSL1 stagger. Then I play chords and 2 note dissonants with high gain, if a string stands out more then I want I lower that screw a little, and if a string is not pronounced to my liking I raise that screw a little. Then I fine tune in a clean channel.

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I usually radius the poles to match the fretboard radius.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

Factory setting are not some magical point - far from it.
Given there is a tolerance in pickup winding, plus a large variation in guitars, you should always be adjusting according to your ears, not some specs.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I'm not sure if they are set a certain way from the Duncan factory, but it doesn't matter, because they should be adjusted to suit you once the pickup is installed.

To set them, first set the pickup height to a level that gives you a tone you like. Then adjust the individual pole pieces for string-to-string volume balance.

String radius is a factor, but it's combined with the fact that the pickup picks up certain strings more than others. Thus setting the screws exactly to the string radius results in an imbalance IME. In general, the group of wound strings is louder than the group of plain strings – and the thicker a string is, the more magnetic it is. Thus the loudest string is the plain G, and the quietest string is the wound D. Thus the D gets the highest screw and the G gets the lowest.

I've never been able to learn why, but for some reason, the A string doesn't follow this pattern to my ear. You'd think that out of the wound strings, D would be the highest, followed by A, then E. But in practice, I usually need to set the A screw lower than the low E screw.

On my humbuckers and P-90's, usually the three wound string screws come up (D the most), the G screw goes down, and the high E screw comes up – to start.

Here is a pretty typical screw setup for my guitars (note that the bridge pickup appears super close to the strings, but it's an optical illusion). From lowest to highest: G, B, high E, A, low E, D.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I am pretty sure every humbucker I have taken out of the box new had the screws totally flat (for looks?). I always 'tuned' them to the guitar they were going in, so I never really cared what they were like stock.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I definitely adjust mine not only for volume but for warmth. If my higher strings sound brittle or thin, the poles being raised helps fatten them up. I usually have the e and b the highest.
I will need to re-assess the g string as mentioned above since the bridge holds the g and d highest up anyways. They are already further from the poles, right?

 

[akio]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

I'd have imagined any sort of "standard" would simply be level flush with the bobbin, wherever the slot ends up is irrelevant.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Pole piece "factory" settings

A number of older NOS Duncan's I have came with the pole pieces 90 degrees to the string like Peter stated: a la

------

But I can't recall if it is in the original Seth Lover Humbucker patent drawings or in a 50's Gibson QA manual, but at some point Gibson used to orient the screws in a V pattern, a la

\/\/\/

Duncan Bonnamassas come this way, and I have a Duncan gold 59N still with the plastic cover from the factory and the screws are set to the \/\/\/ pattern under the plastic.

A (now former) Duncan employee once stated on here that the screw head does have some impact on directing the magnetic field above the pickup. Whether that effect is audible could be like a tone wood debate.