Fralin Jazz split coils - Fender string spacing

[hollowteeth]

I have a Fender American Deluxe Jazz which I want to swap out the N3 pickups to Fralin split coils. The Fralin specs say the pickups work with string spacing 0.78" (20mm) neck - 0.82" (21mm) bridge, but the standard spacing for a Fender is 0.74" (19mm) at the bridge. Has anyone had problems with the Fralin pickups not aligning with the strings on Fenders?

 

[winston]

There's a recent post about string/polepiece alignment, I'm in favor of it esp. on Jazz basses that don't have polepieces that are staggered height-wise to match neck radius. I find it makes a difference I can hear in terms of note detail and volume balancing across strings. I've generally settled on Hipshot bridges that have either threaded saddles (Vintage, B) or adjustable spacing (Kickass, A).

Does your bridge have a few different channels per saddle that allow adjustable spacing? A lot of American Deluxe Fenders I've seen in the last 25 years have them, but maybe not all.

 

[hollowteeth]

Yeah, I think a Hipshot A might help. I'm surprised that Fralin doesn't know that the pickups would be a straight swap, but I asked them but they're not sure?

 

[One Way]

A phone call to Lindy Fralin may provide valuable insight

 

[ctmullins]

It’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.

 

[J Wilson]

I'd also add you should give Fralin a call.

And my usual advice:

When it comes to Fender replacement pickups (or keys, bridges, etc.), over the many years, what seems like standard sizes can often vary just enough to require some rework and occasionally, yes, they can be drop-in, like-for-like replacements.

So, you always measure the length, width, depth, and where the screw holes are on what you have compared to what you're wanting to install. ALWAYS

This will save you a lot of aggravation.

 

[iiipopes]

Is your bridge the vintage-style bolt-stock design for the saddles so you can adjust the string spacing to get the strings centered on the pole pieces?

 

[Nedmundo]

I've had those in my 2003 Fender Am. Series J since 2005, and they're fantastic IMO. In fact, out of several noiseless J pickups I've tried, they're my favorites.

The saddles on my bass's bridge have three grooves, and with the current setting the G, D, and A strings are centered between their respective poles on the pickups, while the E goes directly over its inner poles. I could move it over to another groove to run closer to the center, but I like how it feels and it sounds great, so it's fine IMO.

BTW, I have the raised poles for the A and D strings, which spoiled me for good string-to-string balance.