Polepiece adjustment

[richard]

Anyone spend much time doing this ? If so, with what results ? I'm thinking of having a fiddle with the low E and A polepieces on my RYs to see what it does to to the low end and I'm wondering what to expect.

[Yellowjacket]

lower pole pieces / higher pickup = phatter tone.  Lower pickup and higher pole pieces = brighter tone.

[EarthRoosterUK]

Now that's a brilliantly conscise reply;it's answered a long(ish)-term ponder of my own.Cheers! 

[Yellowjacket]

Yes.  It's best to get the general height of the pickup set first and then fine tune everything with the pole peices and minor pickup height adjustments afterwords. 

Adjusting the individual pole pieces can also help with string to string balance.  On my Les Paul, lowering the low E pole piece in relation to the other ones cuts the output and the bass slightly.  i.e. if the pickup height stays the same, lowering pole pieces decreases output while raising them increases output.  But this is just for fine tuning.  The overall level of the pole pieces in relationship to the pickup height determines the overall tone.  It's just that as you lower the height of the pickup as a unit, you reduce the output and clean up the sound.  My first comment really hold true as an overall observable trend. 

[richard]

Yellowjacket - thanks for the advice. I'm trying to get just a little more low end out of my low E and A. So, if I raise the polepieces I'll get an increase in volume but it will also sound brighter ?

[Yellowjacket]

I think it's a combination of the pickup height and the height of the pole pieces that influences tone.  SO

Raising pole pieces on the bass side will give a louder but comparatively brighter tone to:

Raising the bass side of the pickup and lowering the pole peices.



Try raising up the 'bass' side of the pickup slightly and then lower the pole pieces to balance the output with the treble side.  This should give you more what you want.  Remember, make subtle changes.