Author Topic: string spacing (Read 4742 times)

jimm · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 05:48:08 PM »

I bought a set of mules that i will put into my santana 3 with a tremolo. If i dont like it i want to try them in my hardtail mccarty. The first has 53mm spacing and the other has 50 mm. I ordered the set with 53mm in the bridge. Would it make that big a difference if the string spacing is not perfect in the mccarty?

jimm

zigmund · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 06:22:31 PM »

A big enough difference to make a difference :o
There'd be little point in having a changeable tonal response in the bridge pup , given that the guitars have(presumably) been bought for their tonal qualities. :?

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 08:00:14 PM »

The PRS hardtail spacing is 52.5mm at the bridge, so about a mm less over the pickup. 53mm's a little too wide, 50mm's a little too narrow. An F-spaced DiMarzio is perfect, but... it's a DiMarzio.

It really doesn't matter either way.

jimm · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2007, 09:11:58 PM »

Interesting, The string spacing for the prs with tremolo and with hardtail seem to be about the same. I guess i assumed they would be different. This works out well for me because i can try out the mules in all my prs guitars(cu22,santana3,mccarty) if i want to :D .
Another interesting thing, my gibson LP actually measures a little more than 50mm at the bridge pic kup(around 51.5mm). Curious.

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2007, 09:25:21 PM »

Yep, don't assume that Gibsons or similar guitars necessarily have narrow string spacing. Most companies nowadays seem to use Gotoh (or Schaller) tune-o-matics with spacing around the 52mm mark (it varies a bit depending on how they've notched the saddles).

American series Fenders are also 52.5mm. Floyds and vintage Fenders are a bit wider.

Best thing to do is always measure the actual spacing.

jimm · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2007, 09:34:59 PM »

Philly,

One of the reasons i am considering not staying with the mules in the santana 3 is that i am very interested in the abraxas fo that guitar. I t seems to be the logical choice(i.e. santan=abraxas=latin) to try for that guitar. Tim suggested the mules so i will check those out first. What do you think about the Abraxas; what guitar do you have them in?

jimm

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2007, 10:05:22 PM »

I've only got the Abraxas neck pickup, in a Gibson The Paul SL (mahogany, no maple top) with a Rebel Yell in the bridge.

I chose it because Carlos Santana's distorted neck-pickup lead tone has always been one of my absolute favourite guitar sounds. I'm not a huge Santana fan, but I love that sound. The Abraxas neck really does nail it - fat, smooth, sweet and singing, with just a little bit of sparkle to stop it getting mushy. I haven't got a Mule to compare with, and my Stormy Monday's not fitted yet, but I suspect the Abraxas is a bit hotter and less vintage sounding.

From what I've read, the Abraxas bridge is also like a "Hot PAF" but a little bit smoother and warmer than, say, the Crawler, Emerald or VHII. I went for the RY because I like my bridge pickups to be quite bright and snarly, to contrast with the neck.