Pickup spacing!? Did I screw up!?

[VESmedic]

So I was in such a hurry (:facepalm) to buy a BKP warpig for my jackson RR-1T (NO TREM), that I didn't realize I purchased a "wide spaced" warpig. However, the seller told me that they really only come in one spacing, and that it won't matter because the pole pieces are so big. Again, my RR-1T has no trem, and this pickup is the 53 mm I believe ( that IS what wide spacing is right?) From what I've read though, it doesn't seem like it's going to make any differance really. The sellar seemed to be familiar with BKP, so I DO trust the guy, I just wanted some opinion. Thanks guys :)

[Loomer]

I'm pretty sure non-trem Jacksons have the same spacing as those with. My guess is you'll be fine :)

[Transcend]

I messed up by ordering a standard spaced one for my hardtail RGA when in fact it turns out its still the wider trem spaced one that i needed.

But it doesnt really make a difference its more the slight cosmetic abnormality that bugs me

[darkbluemurder]

53mm is definitely the wider spacing. I doubt that they only come in one spacing but it should not matter. I have never had a tonal issue with 50mm pickups in guitars with F-style bridges and with 53mm pickups in guitars with G-style bridges.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

I think the only time the spacing is really crucial is with a vintage Fender bridge.  That's 2-3/16" - nearly 56mm - so the "E" strings will be pretty much outside the polepieces if you have a 50mm bridge pickup.  Even then it probably doesn't really affect the tone much, but it looks bad.

Same's true for a Floyd, but that's a little narrower - about 54mm usually (I think).

[VESmedic]

Thanks guys, you guys rock! :D And thanks to Tim for the fast Email replies..

So I guess the Obviously question then is...if "none of it really matters", whats the point of making F spaced? I mean, the reality is, MOST people are not playing a vintage fender from the 50's, and even LESS are putting BKP pickups in them :D Sooo....

[Philly Q]

The main reason F-spaced pickups were introduced was the Floyd Rose! 

I don't know who started making them first - DiMarzio introduced "F-spacing" and Duncan introduced "Trembuckers" around the same time, sometime in the '80s (the Duncan advert had a picture of a Floyd and said "get your E strings back!"). 

But Gibson also introduced their "T" and "R" model pickups at some point - I have no idea when they first appeared.

[AndyR]

I always get confused with these threads. I use a lot of guitars with vintage fender spacings, and they've all got BKPs in, and I never has no troubles... but, of course, I'm putting strat and tele single coils in, er, strats and teles :roll:

(The only way a humbucker gets anywhere near a strat or tele of mine is if it's in an SG or LP on the stand next to it...)

But I think Philly has finally cleared it up for me:

The main reason F-spaced pickups were introduced was the Floyd Rose!

This means I never need worry about F spacing ever again :D

(The only way one of them fancy-fangled trem things gets anywhere near a guitar of mine is if it's in someone else's on the stand next to it :lol:)

[marauder]

I've got a SL2H with a narrow spaced Holy Diver in the bridge, and it sounds fine to me.  I think it's more a cosmetic issue, big gap around it in the ring.

[Shag101]

I've got a SL2H with a narrow spaced Holy Diver in the bridge, and it sounds fine to me.  I think it's more a cosmetic issue, big gap around it in the ring.

I believe pickup spacing is from E to E.  The actual size of the pickup is the same.
My Jackson model 1 had the gap around the pickup ring when I went to BKP, but that is because Jackson made over-sized pickups for some guitars, thus needing over-sized pickup rings.

I had Dave from http://www.fretsonthenet.com make me a custom ring and it looks killer...

[Philly Q]

I believe pickup spacing is from E to E.  The actual size of the pickup is the same.

You're right, the main difference is the spacing, the polepieces on a 53mm pickup are closer to the outer edges of the bobbins.

With covers, the 50mm and 53mm pickups are the same size.

But if they're uncovered, I think the 53mm bobbins are slightly longer than the 50mm ones - I haven't actually measured, but I have a 53mm VHII and it wouldn't quite fit in a Fender HSS scratchplate.