adjusting polepieces

[Guido]

I found this thread in the mylespaul forum: I adjusted the polepieces.

You need to scroll down until you get to the scanned article. A G***** employee, who works at the custom shop,

explains the polepiece adjustment. He says it's the old Kalamazoo approach to adjusting polepieces.

Well I did it and I have to say I really do think my pups sound different.

The sound is rounder and more harmonic. I will definitely leave it this way.

 

Would be great to read if you tried it and what you think of it.

 

 

Guido

[H]

I found this thread in the mylespaul forum: I adjusted the polepieces.

You need to scroll down until you get to the scanned article. A G***** employee, who works at the custom shop,

explains the polepiece adjustment. He says it's the old Kalamazoo approach to adjusting polepieces.

Well I did it and I have to say I really do think my pups sound different.

The sound is rounder and more harmonic. I will definitely leave it this way.

 

Would be great to read if you tried it and what you think of it.

 

 

Guido

Hi Guido,

 

I do this for any adjustable polepiece pickups I have. I usually tweak the neck pickup afterwards to bring up the E, B, G and D polepieces a little to brighten it a little.

 

I learned this a while back when I had an LP with ceramic magnet pickups - it was way too hot so I backed off the pickups into the mounts to make it more usable. It was then too uneven across the strings and I found a similar article suggesting shaping the polepieces to match the string radius.

 

So, good spot! Let's see what others make of it

[212Mavguy]

I'm gonna give it a try and also look at the tailpiece height adjustment on my 555 and see what happens after work tonight. Right now according to the article the tail piece is too low. That guitar sounds really nice right now, but will give it a go and see what happens, it's a reversable procedure and I like that.

[tulk1]

What a cool article. I think in all my umpty umpty years of playing that I have only messed the poles pieces a couple of times. And then chickened out and put them all back flush. I'm going to try it with a couple of guitars, see what happens.

[GuitArtMan]

That's also in Dan Erlewine's book. Cool trick, thanks for the link.

[tbonesullivan]

Another thing to consider is that some strings, particularly an unwound G and an E string, naturally produce more magnetic disturbance due to the larger amount of steel. Due to this you may sometimes want to back the pole pieces for those strings down a bit. That's how my guitar tech usually sets up the pole pieces, and the way that Carvin adjusts their pickups from the factory.

[jazzrat]

I have used that method with good results but in the end my ear likes something else.

I adjust the E and B up, G down, D and A flush and I drop the low E a tad to

kill any low end boominess.

I also drop the bass side of the pickups a bit.

Suits my ear but YMMV

[erictheweasel]

So what's the standard neck radius in Kalamazoo, 12"?

[H]

So what's the standard neck radius in Kalamazoo, 12"?

I just use a steel rule to measure the height of string to polepiece in each case.

[tulk1]

I have used that method with good results but in the end my ear likes something else.

I adjust the E and B up, G down, D and A flush and I drop the low E a tad to

kill any low end boominess.

I also drop the bass side of the pickups a bit.

Suits my ear but YMMV

A little different set up for jazz, maybe?

[Guido]

A little different set up for jazz, maybe?

That's exactly what I was about to say.

Maybe it's not working for jazz players.

But we're talking about Les Paul type guitars here.

So I am looking for that vintage tone and after a long search I found it.

And this method just added a little bit of extra vibe to it. At least for me.

[Guido]

So what's the standard neck radius in Kalamazoo, 12"?

The Schaller parts they usually use have a 14" radius.

So I guess the fretboard radius is 14" as well. But it's just a guess.

[jazzrat]

A little different set up for jazz, maybe?

 

Might have something to do with it. I'm after a really even response from bass to treble

Archtops tend to boominess hence the dropped pickups on the bass side.

I will say my solid bodies are setup this way too and I still like it.

I think the OP's proposal it is a good strategy for set up if you are after that classic LP tone.

[Guest mgoetting]

I just use a steel rule to measure the height of string to polepiece in each case.

 

What is that distance? Does it matter what angle the slots are?

 

Thanks.

[H]

What is that distance? Does it matter what angle the slots are?

 

Thanks.

It's whatever sounds right, there is no 'correct' height - for me it starts about 7mm on a humbucker and then I adjust from there. I try not to get closer than that as the pickup can start to pull the string down and cause wolf tones. Slot angle shouldn't matter, it's a magnetic field you're adjusting and I'd be amazed if the slot made any difference worth compensating for.