Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: MrBump on February 26, 2011, 05:46:41 PM

Title: Pickup Width
Post by: MrBump on February 26, 2011, 05:46:41 PM

I know that technically you SHOULD use 53mm bridge pickups in Strat guitars and 50mm pups in Gibbos, but has anyone any experience in mixing and matching?

I've got a set of Nailbombs that I used to have in my Charvel strat, but I'd quite like them in something else, possibly an SG (Tokai anyone?)

Is there a massive difference?

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: Transcend on February 26, 2011, 10:22:07 PM

Ive never really noticed a difference to be honest.

The pickups always work perfectly well for me.

The best way to find out is to try it as you may notice something i havent in the past.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: roland_rat on February 26, 2011, 10:59:50 PM

I have a set of F spaced VHII in a faded SG and they work fine. Im sure you must lose somthing having the wrong spaced pickup in the guitar but they still sound good to me. If you got a spare set I would certainly give them a go.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: Transcend on February 26, 2011, 11:02:11 PM

Ive never noticed anything as the poles still line up with the strings they just arent perfect.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: MrBump on February 27, 2011, 07:27:46 AM

Awesome, that's kinda what I thought.

Thanks, guys.

Mark.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: Philly Q on February 27, 2011, 11:00:29 AM

On most modern Gibson-style guitars, and even modern Fenders, the string spacing at the bridge is about 52mm or 52.5mm so it's in-between the two humbucker spacings anyway.

The only time you get a real spacing mismatch is putting a 50mm bridge humbucker in a guitar with a Floyd or vintage Fender bridge, because then the string spacing's 54 to 56mm and your E strings will fall outside the polepieces.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: MrBump on February 27, 2011, 11:17:56 AM

Thanks, PQ - good to know.

Title: Re: Pickup Width
Post by: ericsabbath on February 27, 2011, 08:06:15 PM

asian gibson copies and modern original gibsons are 52 mm
I think the only guitars I've seen with 50 mm bridge spacing were a couple Corts and PRS guitars