Staggered poles vs. rails

[Sage]

The point of having staggered pole pieces on a Strat pickup is to compensate for the output of each individual string. But a major advantage of a "rails" pickup is that the rails are continuous, and thus avoid the issue of bending the string away from its corresponding pole piece. Unfortunately, rails have a single curve that isn't calibrated to individual string output.

Which do you think is more important?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Staggered poles vs. rails

The point of having staggered pole pieces on a Strat pickup is to compensate for the output of each individual string. But a major advantage of a "rails" pickup is that the rails are continuous, and thus avoid the issue of bending the string away from its corresponding pole piece. Unfortunately, rails have a single curve that isn't calibrated to individual string output.

Which do you think is more important?

Aren't the rail type pickups actually humbuckers or side by side humbuckers compared to single coils? Not apples and apples is it? Maybe Dimarzio does a rail to replace the single poles?

Either way...There's a strong magnetic field generated in either case.I've been a single coil user since the 70s with both flat and staggered poles and I don't find I lose tone upon even very strong bends....Alot of guys get really caught up in this sought of thing....:laugh2:

I'm not mocking your post in anyway and it's actually some great food for thought.

 

[Sage]

Re: Staggered poles vs. rails

Aren't the rail type pickups actually humbuckers or side by side humbuckers compared to single coils?

I'm thinking more of a comparison between, say, the DuckBuckers and the Vintage Rails. They're basically the same pickup, except the DuckBuckers are adjustable pole pieces, and the Vintage Rails are... well, rails.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Staggered poles vs. rails

The drawback to rails pickups is that they don't sound like vintage Fender pickups. I just put Joe Barden pickups in one of my G&L guitars that's like a Strat. It now doesn't sound like a Strat...not a classic 50's or 60's Strat anyway.

The string to string response is fine...none are unbalanced volume wise or to loud or to weak or anything like that. And the guitar is strong and powereful sounding. And it's humbucking too. And it sounds awesome.

But it doesn't sound like a Strat! :smack: :eek13:

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Staggered poles vs. rails

The drawback to rails pickups is that they don't sound like vintage Fender pickups. I just put Joe Barden pickups in one of my G&L guitars that's like a Strat. It now doesn't sound like a Strat...not a classic 50's or 60's Strat anyway.

The string to string response is fine...none are unbalanced volume wise or to loud or to weak or anything like that. And the guitar is strong and powereful sounding. And it's humbucking too. And it sounds awesome.

But it doesn't sound like a Strat! :smack: :eek13:

Lew

That's always the compromise! It's gotta still sound like a strat...:laugh2:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Staggered poles vs. rails

I'm thinking more of a comparison between, say, the DuckBuckers and the Vintage Rails. They're basically the same pickup, except the DuckBuckers are adjustable pole pieces, and the Vintage Rails are... well, rails.

Oh ok.....I'm pretty much a pole piece single coil kinda guy with my strats...I mean I prefer a beefier bridge position pickup,but love the A5 Surfers or the SSL1s in the middle and neck spots..