Pole stagger

[blueskiwi]

I'm a bit confused about staggered vs flat ploes as I've read different things on the net.

For example I've read that staggered pole pieces were introduced when players started using unwound G strings...

Alternatively I've read the opposite somewhere I'm sure. And that flat poles are better for modern flat radius necks.

I expect there are even different stagger patterns out there, just to make it more confusing.

I use 11 guage strings with an unwound G on a Mexican Strat with, I guess, a more vintage than flat radius... which would be better?

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Staggered poles were introduced to match the heavy radius of the finger boards which made some of the strings further away from the poles than others, which resulted in some strings being quieter than others (To Leo fenders ears anyway) Previous to 1954 the poles on Teles and the original P-bass were flat, then in 1954 the first stagger was introduced to strats, then changed again in 1956.
  If you have a flat board its best to stick to flat profile, if your fingerboard has quite a heavy radius, a stagger would be the best option.