Wrong pickup spacing

[RatBastard]

Hey guys, what's up? So last week I ordered a Seymour Duncan JB, and in my haste I ordered a pickup with standard spacing vs F spacing. I went on their forum and explained my situation and the consensus was that with a pickup as hot as the JB it shouldn't really matter. I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on my situation. Will the inconsistency mess with the output or the EQ in anyway?

 

[Joe Bfstplk]

Hey guys, what's up? So last week I ordered a Seymour Duncan JB, and in my haste I ordered a pickup with standard spacing vs F spacing. I went on their forum and explained my situation and the consensus was that with a pickup as hot as the JB it shouldn't really matter. I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on my situation. Will the inconsistency mess with the output or the EQ in anyway?

If it doesn't take too much time/effort to exchange it, I'd exchange it.

That said, it might pay to see how far off the string spacing actually is first by lining it up next to the bridge pickup spot, about where it is supposed to be located, and see if the strings are sorta-kinda similarly spaced or if they are way off....

 

[Ocnor]

I use a standard spaced Duncan JB In one of my F spaced guitars and it doesn't seem to make any difference output or tone wise.

 

[secondwindow]

Hey guys, what's up? So last week I ordered a Seymour Duncan JB, and in my haste I ordered a pickup with standard spacing vs F spacing. I went on their forum and explained my situation and the consensus was that with a pickup as hot as the JB it shouldn't really matter. I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on my situation. Will the inconsistency mess with the output or the EQ in anyway?

Is your bridge actually F-spaced? If so ... If it were me, I'd swap for the F-spaced pickup. Otherwise, I'd always wonder if the spacing was affecting the sound.

 

[RatBastard]

It is. I even measured. It's 53mm.

 

[Justincase]

Some say it matters some say it doesn't... apparently EVH wasn't too worried about it cuz his frankenstrat was F-spaced but he slapped a Les Paul pickup in it. Personally I want the pole pieces where they are supposed to be... mainly for aesthetics

 

[Andy Eagle]

Some say it matters some say it doesn't... apparently EVH wasn't too worried about it cuz his frankenstrat was F-spaced but he slapped a Les Paul pickup in it. Personally I want the pole pieces where they are supposed to be... mainly for aesthetics

That is why he put it on at an angle.

 

[Andy Eagle]

It is ok on a modern 10.8 mm strat but it can be an issue on a vintage spaced 11.3mm bridge. If it exactly splits the difference it can be ok (just about). Swap it if you can though.

 

[RatBastard]

I plan to put it in a Fender Duo Sonic reissue. I think it's from 2018 or 2019.

 

[Justincase]

That is why he put it on at an angle.

You are correct...just won't have both coils lined up correctly. It would look like this. I always figured he did it for tone.

 

[Ocnor]

Here is a pic of my 1980s Fender HM Strat with a standard spaced Duncan JB. As you can see the strings are at the edges of the pole pieces. When I bend the strings they move closer to the center of the poles. So I may actually be gaining tone and sustain when string bending.

 

[Rex]

Here is a pic of my 1980s Fender HM Strat with a standard spaced Duncan JB. As you can see the strings are at the edges of the pole pieces. When I bend the strings they move closer to the center of the poles. So I may actually be gaining tone and sustain when string bending.

Does the tone or sustain change when you bend?

 

[Ocnor]

Does the tone or sustain change when you bend?

If it does, it's so slight that I can't tell the difference. Then again I'm old and deaf from cranking 100 watt heads into 4x12 cabs.

 

[mr_fender]

Unless it's way off or a pickup with a really weak magnetic field, I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference. The magnetic field lines extend outward from the pole pieces radially in a somewhat stretched spherical shape. Here's a simulated view in the direction of the strings.

 

[Rex]

If it does, it's so slight that I can't tell the difference.

Then you're golden. Run with what you've got.

 

[Rex]

Unless it's way off or a pickup with a really weak magnetic field, I wouldn't expect it to make a huge difference. The magnetic field lines extend outward from the pole pieces radially in a somewhat stretched spherical shape. Here's a simulated view in the direction of the strings.

This.

 

[Rock Chalk]

The difference in sound would be negligible, but there’s no way in hell my ocd would let it stay that way…lol.

 

[Jambi]

It matters. Downpick your low E, then up. The difference is glaring. If you have a correctly spaced pickup, you won’t hear a difference. This is actually how I first learned of pole spacing the hard way.

 

[mr_fender]

That's more likely just the pick hitting the string differently due to hand placement and the rake angle of the pick. If you angle the pick while you play, you'll hear the same difference between up and down picking on an acoustic guitar.

 

[Ocnor]

That's more likely just the pick hitting the string differently due to hand placement and the rake angle of the pick. If you angle the pick while you play, you'll hear the same difference between up and down picking on an acoustic guitar.

Yep!