Humbuckers: F spacing ??

[ES330]

I'm about to order a Humbucker for my Fender bridge.
Wondering if anyone has any opinions on standard spacing 50mm
vs F spacing 53mm ??

thanks in advance

[GAD]

It doesn't hurt anything. IMO, it doesn't help anything either. It does look nicer if you're anal about the strings lining up with the poles. Honestly though, I never cared.

[paulscape]

If the pickup is quite hot it won't make much difference but with a lower output pup you might notice a lack of definition and tightness on the low and high e strings.

[gtraddict]

There will be differences like paulscape said, also if like tweaking the polepieces a bit(i will raise the E A D string a bit) it will throw it off

[GAD]

Check this out. http://www.moore.org.au/pick/06/06_gobd.htm

Look at the magnetic fields in the diagrams. I have a seriously hard time believing that a few millimeters will mater. What happens when you bend a string?



When I think about this stuff, I try to think of my favorite guitar tone of all time - Eddie Van Halen on Van Halen 1. He screwed a PAF into the wood of his guitar at an angle. No science, no over thinking - angled for more treble, screw it in, let's rock.

I'm sure there is a difference - even measurable. It's all Internet hyperbole when the drummer kicks in.

[shane88]

i'd be more concerned about the mounting holes and bolts lining up so yep i'd get the F spaced

[EADGBE]

Originally Posted by ES330

I'm about to order a Humbucker for my Fender bridge.
Wondering if anyone has any opinions on standard spacing 50mm
vs F spacing 53mm ??

thanks in advance

I'd get the F spaced for a Fender or a Floyd Rose bridge. More even response.

[delron22]

Definately go F spaced or 53mm

[Marble]

Standard spacing works just as well as GAD pointed out

[EADGBE]

Originally Posted by Marble

Standard spacing works just as well as GAD pointed out

Not when it comes to adjusting the pole pieces. And there can be a volume drop when bending the treble strings as they go farther away from the pole pieces.

[jerrydog]

Originally Posted by GAD

It's all Internet hyperbole when the drummer kicks in.

I LOVE this statement.

[rob2001]

Originally Posted by GAD

Check this out. http://www.moore.org.au/pick/06/06_gobd.htm

Look at the magnetic fields in the diagrams. I have a seriously hard time believing that a few millimeters will mater. What happens when you bend a string?



When I think about this stuff, I try to think of my favorite guitar tone of all time - Eddie Van Halen on Van Halen 1. He screwed a PAF into the wood of his guitar at an angle. No science, no over thinking - angled for more treble, screw it in, let's rock.

I'm sure there is a difference - even measurable. It's all Internet hyperbole when the drummer kicks in.

This supports my findings from many pickup swaps. I came to the conclusion F spacing was a term created by pickup builders to sell pickups when guys started slapping buckers in strats. YMMV

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by GAD

That's actually a diagram of my hair on a Sunday morning.

Having the E strings over the outer sides of the last screws isn't all that bad ... when you bend, you're bending inwards, and never missing the poles.

[larimar]

Originally Posted by shane88

i'd be more concerned about the mounting holes and bolts lining up so yep i'd get the F spaced

Def' something to consider.

[Summa]

The only thing I'd be sure to ask for is shorter legs. The rest is semantics.