Pickup Width

[MrBump]

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?

[Transcend]

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.

[roland_rat]

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.

[Transcend]

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

[MrBump]

Awesome, that's kinda what I thought.

Thanks, guys.

Mark.

[Philly Q]

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.

[MrBump]

Thanks, PQ - good to know.

[ericsabbath]

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