My strings and pole pieces don't line up

[Philthy]

So, I put an Artec Alnico MM in my modofied OLP and the pole pieces don't line up 100% in the middle except for the G string. Do you think it impacts the sound? It does not seem to. But it does bother me visually. I know, I'm being anal.

Comments, thoughts and opinions welcome. Thanks.

 

[line6man]

Strings rarely line up properly over pole pieces. That's perfectly normal, and has no effect on the sound.

 

[Jazz Ad]

It's usually because the neck is a bit tilted.

 

[Steve Dallman]

You can probably find the same pickup with a solid cover.

 

[Philthy]

I've tried to reset the neck and nothing. Its pretty much butted up against the neck pocket. I would entertain the idea of a solid cover pickup but I don't want to break the bank.

How are the EMG-MMHZ or Kent Armstrong (Korean) pickups? I would want something i can wire to a series/parallel switch. I'm running this with a 2 band Stingray clone preamp.

 

[Spidey2112]

I've tried to reset the neck and nothing. Its pretty much butted up against the neck pocket. I would entertain the idea of a solid cover pickup but I don't want to break the bank.

How are the EMG-MMHZ or Kent Armstrong (Korean) pickups? I would want something i can wire to a series/parallel switch. I'm running this with a 2 band Stingray clone preamp.

Had the same problem with a kit build from Saga... more than likely my neck wasn't 'square' before they drilled... didn't feel like putting time into that, so I chose the upgrade path instead, and installed a HipShot Kickass bridge... string spacing totally adjustable...

... probably just aesthetics, but I understand where you are coming from.

Check the height of your current bridge saddles and compare with the new one if you choose to go this route... that way no surprises!

 

[RobbieK]

Resetting the neck in its pocket is a pretty straightforward and surprisingly quick job for a luthier/tech. But before you do this you also need to check the string alignment along the neck edges. If the G is much closer to the edge than the E, then clearly the neck needs resetting. If the strings are aligned with the neck, then something else needs to move. Moving the bridge on a MM is a PITA, and is best avoided if possible. Moving the pickguard and pickup is also an option...

But as others have said, it's more an asthetic thing. In fact, the G string output is notoriously problematic with MMs and you may well be better off with the G directly over the polepiece and the E slightly off-centre.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

First world problem.

 

[lz4005]

Do you think it impacts the sound?

You have the bass. We don't. You're the only one who can answer that question.

The solution to this non-problem is to spend at least double the time playing the bass as you do looking at it.

 

[ctmullins]

Close your eyes. Play the bass. Does it sound good, with even response from string to string? If so, we're done here, problem solved.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

My '94 Stingray is like that, but lines up on the E...you're fine...

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Especially considering the strength of those single pole magnets it makes zero difference in the sound. Don't sweat, it is fine.