Recently attempted to replace import Strat pick ups with USA. Didn't even consider that the string spacing might be different so now the neck pole pieces don't line up on the E6th and E1st. I can't be the first one this has happened to. So, do I buy a new neck pick up with narrower pole spacing or buy a 2 3/16" bridge ? :dunno:
String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
- Thread starter BillB
- Start date
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
I had a similar problem when I put SD 59s in my Korean Les Paul copy. (Agile AL 2800) It was the bridge pup and only the high E string was a bit below the last pole piece. I simply adjusted the pickup a bit higher on that end. If you'rs are way off and you can actually hear the difference on the strings that don't line up? You may be able to adjust just pole pieces up a bit or You'll have to swap out either pups or Bridge. I don't see any other way around it.
I had a similar problem when I put SD 59s in my Korean Les Paul copy. (Agile AL 2800) It was the bridge pup and only the high E string was a bit below the last pole piece. I simply adjusted the pickup a bit higher on that end. If you'rs are way off and you can actually hear the difference on the strings that don't line up? You may be able to adjust just pole pieces up a bit or You'll have to swap out either pups or Bridge. I don't see any other way around it.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
The Neck poles on strat single coils practically never line up "correctly" in the sense of directly under the strings, they´re almost always "outside" the strings. You´re probably fine, but if you want post a pic and we can say for sure
1. single coils don´t (generally) have adjustable poles
2. there is only one standard single coil spacing, there is no "tremcoil" or "non-f spaced) version. If they don´t line up now, swappinf PUs won´t help.
But again, strat players have been accepting this for over 50 years with fine results
BillB said:
The Neck poles on strat single coils practically never line up "correctly" in the sense of directly under the strings, they´re almost always "outside" the strings. You´re probably fine, but if you want post a pic and we can say for sure
CurtO said:
1. single coils don´t (generally) have adjustable poles
2. there is only one standard single coil spacing, there is no "tremcoil" or "non-f spaced) version. If they don´t line up now, swappinf PUs won´t help.
But again, strat players have been accepting this for over 50 years with fine results
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tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
listen with your ears, not your eyes ... if it sounds good, it is good ... adjust til it sounds good, then stop worrying
i learned this when i forgot to order my C5 trem spaced ... it is horribly misaligned ... and it sounds great ... so i am no longer worried
t4d
listen with your ears, not your eyes ... if it sounds good, it is good ... adjust til it sounds good, then stop worrying
i learned this when i forgot to order my C5 trem spaced ... it is horribly misaligned ... and it sounds great ... so i am no longer worried
t4d
kylewrt1986
New member
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
There are different pole spacings, I swear...theres 50mm E to E and 52.5mm E to E that i'm aware of...50mm is sometimes called 'asian' spacing i believe...my APS1s are 50mm and my SSL5 is 52.5 mm, but the SSL5 is at the bridge so the angle kinda compensates for the bigger pole spacing
- in reply to Zerberus "there is only one standard single coil spacing, there is no "tremcoil" or "non-f spaced) version. If they don´t line up now, swappinf PUs won´t help"
(sorry forgot to do the quoty thing)
There are different pole spacings, I swear...theres 50mm E to E and 52.5mm E to E that i'm aware of...50mm is sometimes called 'asian' spacing i believe...my APS1s are 50mm and my SSL5 is 52.5 mm, but the SSL5 is at the bridge so the angle kinda compensates for the bigger pole spacing
- in reply to Zerberus "there is only one standard single coil spacing, there is no "tremcoil" or "non-f spaced) version. If they don´t line up now, swappinf PUs won´t help"
(sorry forgot to do the quoty thing)
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Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
Well, if you consider cheapass stock doohickeys like those mounted in lowest end imports pickups, then yes, there are 2 pole spacings.
I personally don´t count those, but was speaking of Fender, D*******, Duncan, Kinman, Barden, and all the other vintage or aftermarket models. In other words, pickups that actually earn the description
That your APS and your SSL are spaced differently is intriguing, though.... I only know of one spacing for strats, have never seen a strat w/ 2 different spacings of the same pickup, nor does Duncan "officially" offer them in anything but Fender spacing.... Is it possible that one is an OEM pickup (or god forbid a fake)...?
kylewrt1986 said:
Well, if you consider cheapass stock doohickeys like those mounted in lowest end imports pickups, then yes, there are 2 pole spacings.
I personally don´t count those, but was speaking of Fender, D*******, Duncan, Kinman, Barden, and all the other vintage or aftermarket models. In other words, pickups that actually earn the description
That your APS and your SSL are spaced differently is intriguing, though.... I only know of one spacing for strats, have never seen a strat w/ 2 different spacings of the same pickup, nor does Duncan "officially" offer them in anything but Fender spacing.... Is it possible that one is an OEM pickup (or god forbid a fake)...?
kylewrt1986
New member
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
I was worrying about that after i posted actually, as all the pickups I bought were second hand, but they were sold to me as SD's, and the one's in question (with the smaller pole spacing) do sound gorgeous, I mean i'm no pro and I could definatly tell the difference between them what I had before, and it was Kent Armstrongs in before so it wasn't even cheap rubbish then. Possibly SD just had smaller pole spacings for them a few years ago? I do hope they're real, but if not i'm not losing too much sleep, best fakes i've ever heard lol. OH or, jus thought, is it possible the APSs are out of a lite ash fender? Coz they're asian imports too...then I guess technically they are OEM pickups (they were shipped without boxes so it's probable they were from busted lite ash fenders)
Zerberus said:Well, if you consider cheapass stock doohickeys like those mounted in lowest end imports pickups, then yes, there are 2 pole spacings.
I personally don´t count those, but was speaking of Fender, D*******, Duncan, Kinman, Barden, and all the other vintage or aftermarket models. In other words, pickups that actually earn the description
That your APS and your SSL are spaced differently is intriguing, though.... I only know of one spacing for strats, have never seen a strat w/ 2 different spacings of the same pickup, nor does Duncan "officially" offer them in anything but Fender spacing.... Is it possible that one is an OEM pickup (or god forbid a fake)...?
I was worrying about that after i posted actually, as all the pickups I bought were second hand, but they were sold to me as SD's, and the one's in question (with the smaller pole spacing) do sound gorgeous, I mean i'm no pro and I could definatly tell the difference between them what I had before, and it was Kent Armstrongs in before so it wasn't even cheap rubbish then. Possibly SD just had smaller pole spacings for them a few years ago? I do hope they're real, but if not i'm not losing too much sleep, best fakes i've ever heard lol. OH or, jus thought, is it possible the APSs are out of a lite ash fender? Coz they're asian imports too...then I guess technically they are OEM pickups (they were shipped without boxes so it's probable they were from busted lite ash fenders)
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: String Spacing vs. Pole Spacing
Yeah, after seeing Artie´s post I´m considering asking Evan directly on the weekend if I do go up to Frankfurt after all, my Classic Stacks (not the New Stack Plus), Antiquities, SSL-1s and Fenders all have exactly the same spacing.. and I know Seymour is a vintage fetischist to some extent (in no way meant to be insulting, au contraire)
Yeah, after seeing Artie´s post I´m considering asking Evan directly on the weekend if I do go up to Frankfurt after all, my Classic Stacks (not the New Stack Plus), Antiquities, SSL-1s and Fenders all have exactly the same spacing.. and I know Seymour is a vintage fetischist to some extent (in no way meant to be insulting, au contraire)
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