Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

[Tony_H]

Hi there, just curious:
I read that Eric Johnson pushed the staggered polepieces in his Strat pickups down for a more even tonal response.
Not that I want to do it - I'd order a flat version of the pup if anything, but I'm curious: has anyone done it? Can you do it on a SD pup such as the SSL-1 without risking damage?
Actually, I did this to my Schaller single-coils: there was too much magnetic pull on the G and D strings, so I tried to push them in. The poles just slid down the plastic bobbins. In fact, both pups were non-RW/RP, so I RW/RP'ed one of them - the poles were easy to push out and slide in with the other pole facing upward.
I'm asking if this can be done because apparently the SD bobbins are a different design from the Schaller ones, and I'm curious.
Thanks
Tony

 

[fusion101]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

bump bump mother-bump

 

[yes-fan]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

what does bump mean?

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

BUMP to the top of the forum thread is listed in.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

Eric admits that he breaks alot of pickups with that trick. Don't do it. The wire is wound directly around the polepieces in a Strat single coil and you'll probably break the wire if you try to move the polepiece. Lew

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

Hmm. This is one of those things I've wondered about but never thought to post the question. Is it the same on a humbucker, or can you slide the slug poles up and down? I never thought to post the question, cause I usually just adjust the overall height to the tone of the amp, then leave it. It kinda looks weird on humbuckers to stagger the poles. All my strat pickups are already staggered.

 

[beandip]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

John Mooney did it, and I've done it once, but it was only like 1/32 of an inch, so not enough to completely distroy a pickup, but a good chance of it.

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

Eric admits that he breaks alot of pickups with that trick. Don't do it. The wire is wound directly around the polepieces in a Strat single coil and you'll probably break the wire if you try to move the polepiece. Lew

BINGO! That's exactly what I was afraid of. I mean, with the Schallers, the wire is wound on the bobbin and not directly onto the polepiece, so this is easy. I simply put the pup on a table, put a guitar pick on top of the pole and pushed with my finger. Easy enough. But that's just the Schaller pups.

Thanks --- I wouldn't do it on the brand-spanking-new SSL-1 I just bought, I was just curious.
Tony

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

BINGO! That's exactly what I was afraid of. I mean, with the Schallers, the wire is wound on the bobbin and not directly onto the polepiece, so this is easy. I simply put the pup on a table, put a guitar pick on top of the pole and pushed with my finger. Easy enough. But that's just the Schaller pups.

Thanks --- I wouldn't do it on the brand-spanking-new SSL-1 I just bought, I was just curious.
Tony

I've done it a few times with various singles, you have to twist them to get them loosened up, back and forth rotational turning, taking your time with it, alligator nosed vice grips work well gripping from the side of the magnet with a bit of cloth. Some will loosen up, and others will take a while ... the outer two normally just have to be pushed in with a press or the like.
I wouldn't say it's without it's risks, but it can be done ... easy to order them flat though.

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Pushing polepieces in: no-no?

I wouldn't say it's without it's risks, but it can be done ... easy to order them flat though.

I agree 100%.