Putting aside the question of which type of pickup sounds better, does anybody know the history of when Trembuckers / F-spaced pickups started being produced? I am wondering in particular if my JB using guitar heroes of the early (Warren DeMartini, Steve Stevens) and late (Vito Bratta) 1980's were using JBs with standard or F spacing? I can't seem to find any vintage JB trembuckers online but plenty of standard humbucker - did F-spacing simply not exist yet? Thanks for the help!
Trembucker / F-spaced history
- Thread starter sammy777
- Start date
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Trembucker / F-spaced history
The Trembucker was first introduced ~1987 with the original Parallel Axis, but Trembucker spacing wasn't available on regular production pickups until slightly later.
The popularity of trem-spaced pickups clearly grew as things headed into the '90s, but essentially all of those great tones you know from the '80s were standard-spaced pickups, often paired with a Floyd Rose bridge, as was very popular at the time.
Even if you find an early paper-label Trembucker version of the JB, it will be from the 1989/90 period or newer.
The Trembucker was first introduced ~1987 with the original Parallel Axis, but Trembucker spacing wasn't available on regular production pickups until slightly later.
The popularity of trem-spaced pickups clearly grew as things headed into the '90s, but essentially all of those great tones you know from the '80s were standard-spaced pickups, often paired with a Floyd Rose bridge, as was very popular at the time.
Even if you find an early paper-label Trembucker version of the JB, it will be from the 1989/90 period or newer.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Trembucker / F-spaced history
^ Yup.
T/F spacing came along after all the classic "Super Fender" tones. Standard spaced humbuckers were the only thing
at those times.
It's mainly a visual issue IME. People get really uptight about it, but it's unnecessary. I will choose the right spacing when I have a choice, but I won't ever let F/T spacing or lack if it sell me or unsell me on a good deal.
When buying DiMarzios, I sometimes order F spacing, even for the neck. It depends on the string spacing over the neck pickup. DiMarzio's F spacing is 2 inches, which is about 1/16" narrower than Duncan's and Gibson's. It is the visually correct spacing for the neck pickup in more cases than you'd think. However, their standard spacing is narrow at 48 mm, when 49.2 mm is the norm.
^ Yup.
T/F spacing came along after all the classic "Super Fender" tones. Standard spaced humbuckers were the only thing
at those times.
It's mainly a visual issue IME. People get really uptight about it, but it's unnecessary. I will choose the right spacing when I have a choice, but I won't ever let F/T spacing or lack if it sell me or unsell me on a good deal.
When buying DiMarzios, I sometimes order F spacing, even for the neck. It depends on the string spacing over the neck pickup. DiMarzio's F spacing is 2 inches, which is about 1/16" narrower than Duncan's and Gibson's. It is the visually correct spacing for the neck pickup in more cases than you'd think. However, their standard spacing is narrow at 48 mm, when 49.2 mm is the norm.
Last edited:
Re: Trembucker / F-spaced history
Exactly the info I was searching for, thank you so much!!!
Exactly the info I was searching for, thank you so much!!!
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Trembucker / F-spaced history
I noticed long ago that another difference between them is the bobbin size. DiMarzio uses the same size bobbins/plates for their F-Spaced as they do for their Standard spaced. The difference is where the pole piece holes are. For Duncan, the entire bobbin/plate is wider than the standard spaced.
For DiMarzio there's minimal part difference between the two formats (bobbins, any metal spacer the pole pieces use). Majority of their pickups don't have the screw poles going through the base plate.
For Duncan, it's everything because the whole pickup is wider.
And +1 for DiMarzio F-Spaced in the neck. Have done that as well.
I noticed long ago that another difference between them is the bobbin size. DiMarzio uses the same size bobbins/plates for their F-Spaced as they do for their Standard spaced. The difference is where the pole piece holes are. For Duncan, the entire bobbin/plate is wider than the standard spaced.
For DiMarzio there's minimal part difference between the two formats (bobbins, any metal spacer the pole pieces use). Majority of their pickups don't have the screw poles going through the base plate.
For Duncan, it's everything because the whole pickup is wider.
And +1 for DiMarzio F-Spaced in the neck. Have done that as well.
Similar threads
- Locked
