Why don't pole pieces line up with strings?

[walterw]

Here is a Sadowsky. You going to question Roger's QC?

no, because that's perfect. i guarantee you that if you looked at this bass square-on, the string to magnet-gap lineup would be dead-on.

Here's one more example: As far as I know, Lakland makes their own pickups, so what's the deal?

whereas this is just not cool on something that costs over a grand;

you could argue that it's only cosmetic (and i disagree, there's a slight tonal difference in the attack, like i said earlier) but any other equally annoying "cosmetic" flaw like a finish blem or an unevenly-spaced tuning key would not cut it on a bass in this price range; why does this get a pass?

(edit: this is a skyline import version, correct? i'd hope the "real" ones don't get this detail wrong.)

 

[FunkRenegade]

I think I can use some harder attack on my E string, so misalignment should actually help in my case.

 

[maurilio]

….
….. i'd hope the "real" ones don't get this detail wrong.)

"unfortunately" they do!

M

 

[David Jayne]

lakland it's because they use the same exact parts for bridge and neck (same pole pieces pattern/spread), but with their relative bridge and neck windings.
This puzzles me too. ...

That would be a good explanation, except the 'spread' is in the wrong direction. The neck pickup spread would be wider than the string spacing, not narrower as pictured.

 

[maurilio]

the distance of the pole pieces (spread) is exactly the same for the bridge and the neck.

 

[David Jayne]

the distance of the pole pieces (spread) is exactly the same for the bridge and the neck.

Have another look at the picture.
EDIT: nevermind. I just blew it up and looked at it closely. I agree.

 

[maurilio]

not sure if with the "new" hanson pups they fixed that, but the former Lindy Fralin were like that…. (?)

 

[wideload]

What I want to know is
If the string is perfectly placed between the poles, and then moves when I strike it, how come the pickups don't move with the string, to keep it perfect, you know?? (Removing tongue from cheek as you read this ).

 

[maurilio]

 

[walterw]

Cheek-tongue interaction acknowledged, but the answer is that the whole idea is for the attack to happen with the string in the gap, which softens it a little, then as the string swings out over the poles, the output increases a little; together this is supposed to make for a smoother, more even tone.

 

[matante]

Click for larger view:

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[Batmensch]

Here's what My 2010 Squier VM P's string alignment was like, right out of the box ($279 new at MF) ...

And here's what My SX Ursa 1 was like (Rondomusic at $109) ...

Not bad for two such cheap basses.

 

[bassbenj]

the distance of the pole pieces (spread) is exactly the same for the bridge and the neck.

This seems to have a lot to do with the problem! Your strings are tapered from bridge to nut, so the "correct" pole spacing is different for each position along the strings. For example my MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe V is:

Bridge 68.5mm
Nut 40.5mm
Neck pickup 63.6mm
Bridge Pickup 66.25

These are measured from center of E string to center of G string.

Note that if you make both pickups with the same pole spacing you get a 3mm error in pole spacing. If you make both pickups with the bridge spacing it's even worse. I've noticed cheap basses like this.

I can understand the economics of this. It costs money to make a die to punch out the bobbin top and bottom for a pickup and since pole spacing doesn't much matter, it's easy to justify just using the same bobbins (die) for both pickups even if they are wound different. so unless you are a nit picker like Roger Sadowsky, a lot of makers just aren't going to spend that extra money.

 

[Silver Blues]

Man, this has gone on a while. Does it really matter that much? Just go play your bass!

--Silvie

 

[maurilio]

This seems to have a lot to do with the problem! Your strings are tapered from bridge to nut, so the "correct" pole spacing is different for each position along the strings. For example my MIM Fender Jazz Deluxe V is:

Bridge 68.5mm
Nut 40.5mm
Neck pickup 63.6mm
Bridge Pickup 66.25

These are measured from center of E string to center of G string.

Note that if you make both pickups with the same pole spacing you get a 3mm error in pole spacing. If you make both pickups with the bridge spacing it's even worse. I've noticed cheap basses like this.

I can understand the economics of this. It costs money to make a die to punch out the bobbin top and bottom for a pickup and since pole spacing doesn't much matter, it's easy to justify just using the same bobbins (die) for both pickups even if they are wound different. so unless you are a nit picker like Roger Sadowsky, a lot of makers just aren't going to spend that extra money.

Roger is not the only one. We take some pride on making our pickups 'right on'
If you have the right tools it is not that much of a difference making it right…

For some players/owners it does matter. Again IME/O as long the misalignment isn't too far off, it is really not a problem

M

 

[walterw]

Click for larger view:

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now with these, the string spread is a little narrower than the polepiece spread, but the strings are still totally over each polepiece; aesthetics aside, there's no argument to be made about any tonal detriments or string balance issues here.

 

[RedJag]

i'm kinda surprised more jazz pickup makers don't go to 19mm spacing for the polepieces instead of 20mm, based on how many bridges are at the narrower spec; the overall shape could be the same (so they fit he cavities), just with a slightly narrower magnet spacing.

Here I am over 10 years later still wondering this very thing.

 

[Basslie]

Here I am over 10 years later still wondering this very thing.

Just got this new Sire V5…the bridge pickup appears to be offset about 1/8” towards the treble side, so none of the strings are centered between the poles on that pickup. Kinda annoying visually. The neck pickup is mi h better, but not perfect. Still sounds good to my ears. Debating if I want to swap it out in hopes of finding another V5 with out the issue. On Sire’s website it’s all centered….but I guess this is within “allowable tolerances”.

 

[mellobud]

Just got this new Sire V5…the bridge pickup appears to be offset about 1/8” towards the treble side, so none of the strings are centered between the poles on that pickup. Kinda annoying visually. The neck pickup is mi h better, but not perfect. Still sounds good to my ears. Debating if I want to swap it out in hopes of finding another V5 with out the issue. On Sire’s website it’s all centered….but I guess this is within “allowable tolerances”. View attachment 5019818

This p46 equipped Squier was done by me knowing full well that nothing would align. I suspect you could never tell the difference between one that has the poles aligned perfectly vs your current one. If you really wanted, you could find a replacement pickup that doesn’t show the poles.

 

[ctmullins]

This is purely a visual/aesthetic OCD thing.

The physics still works perfectly fine.

Hint: Don’t listen with your eyes.