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Pole pieces?

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case211  
27 Aug 2009 17:15 | Quote
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Hello yet again. I have noticed that my humbucker's pole pieces don't match up with the strings position. Will this affect tone greatly, and is it a bad problem?
EMB5490  
27 Aug 2009 17:21 | Quote
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matters how much. they pick of string vibration so it does matter but id need a pic. it also matters the angle your looking at.
Guitarslinger124  
27 Aug 2009 17:32 | Quote
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Chances are, the pickups are designed like that. Many old guitars have pickups with coils seemingly placed at random. So long as the coils are close enough to the string to pick up the vibrations you will get sound. Everything about your pickup (and your guitar) is directly related to your tone. If you don't like the way that pickup sounds get a different one. Each pickup will sounds different...other wise what would be the point of having different pickups.
So to directly answer your question, yes it affects your tone. No it is not a problem, unless of course you don't like the way your guitar sounds with that pickup. There is nothing wrong with your pickup, that is just how some pickups are made; assuming that is a factory manufactured pickup and didn't just come out of someones workshop.

Hope that'll keep your mind at ease...rock on.
case211  
27 Aug 2009 19:37 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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awesome, thanks guys. I was a bit worried that it would be hurting my guitar overall, tone, but it's the factory pickup, so I'm trusting that Ibanez did it on purpose and that it isn't a "mistake".
Thanks,
Case
RA  
28 Aug 2009 13:29 | Quote
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
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if the are(pole pieces) adjustable just move them(some have them glued in). I have all my pickups at angles. the factory tends to put things at bland spots and there recommended heights are crap you just have to experiment with each pickup and pole pieces. And it effects your tone greatly but as GS said it's not a problem just move if it if you don't like the sound and if your fine with the sound keep em where there at "don't fix if it ain't broke" as the saying goes. I know Ted Greene always put his G string pole piece up high compare to the others due to him liking the G string for melody
case211  
28 Aug 2009 13:54 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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yeah, I slightly shimmed the pup to move the pole pieces under the strings a little bit more, I didn't notice a huge difference,just a little bit more treble on the DAE strings.
RA  
28 Aug 2009 14:27 | Quote
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
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why would you need to shim it? all pick ups are on adjustable plates or have springs under there screws.
case211  
28 Aug 2009 14:38 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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no, I shimmed it over a little bit, not up.
nater2  
28 Aug 2009 16:08 | Quote
Joined: 28 May 2009
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yea, i have an Ibanez hollow body and the the rhythm pickup doesn't match up on it either but i usually only use the the bridge pickup anyways so i don't really care
RA  
28 Aug 2009 17:10 | Quote
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
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well I missed out on what was going on here huh. what type of guitar do you have/ more importantly bridged? because I have never seen that unless it is like a fender's bridge setup because then someone whacked it out of line with it's self i have done that when giving my tele a good cleaning. or and i mean no disrespect is it a really cheap like 100$ Yamaha beginners guitar?
case211  
28 Aug 2009 17:41 | Quote
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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no disrespect taken, its a 1989 Ibanez EX360, so its not a $3000 guitar, but it was top of the line for their players class back in the late 80's and early 90's. really, I think that the springs or something might be pulled up just right to pull the pick up over just a little bit, so I just put a folded up piece of paper in there to push it over a bit. Its the typical ringed humbucker in the bridge position
RA  
28 Aug 2009 20:29 | Quote
Joined: 24 Sep 2008
United States
Karma: 16
well i really hope i didn't sound snobbish(I'm really bad at typing my thoughts and saying them for that matter WORDS who can figure) my eclectic only cost me 500(clearance is fun) i was just wondering if it was a starter model because a lot times they can be good but set up horribly at the factory. I wish i was able to take a look at because I'm generally quite good at this stuff. but maybe your springs are getting old 20 years can do a thing or two


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