polepieces: blade vs traditional

[link wray]

What are the pros and cons of blade type polepieces vs traditional style polepieces in a pickup?

[Stealth]

As you can plainly see the blade-type polepiece covers the entire area of the string's travel - that is, no matter how much a string moves sideways when it vibrates, there's a bit of the polepiece underneath to "collect" the motion of the string and convert it to sound.

That said, a blade is supposed to have a smoother sustain because the string is always above a bit of the magnet. On the other hand, to counter that, it loses the snappy, sharp attack because the string does not initially rapidly come above a polepiece.

At least, that's the way I view it.

[newbold]

blades don't allow the player to wonder is his/her instrument is less than perfect because the poles wouldn't line up with the strings.

[link wray]

And what about aperture? - anybody hear a difference?

[mcnach]

Originally Posted by newbold

blades don't allow the player to wonder is his/her instrument is less than perfect because the poles wouldn't line up with the strings.

heh, true.

I moved the bridge on one bass because the alignment was so poor, but it was a lovely bass otherwise.



I have an OLP that needs the same treatment too. Just a couple of mm to the left... easy to do.

[fuNKmaster83]

i have grown to like blade pickups... they are easyer to make and have a better response... and it never happens that you loose volume while bending cuz the strings are always vibrating abowe the blade