Tone differences tele bridge pickups

[12strings]

Hi, what are the main differences, all things equal between flat pole tele bridge p/u's and staggered pole ones? Thanks in advance.

 

[walterw]

the flat-pole pickups will have loud E strings and a weak D string by comparison; that's why i'm not a fan.

(this is assuming we're comparing a properly staggered pickup for the strings you're using, like a taller D pole for modern plain-G sets.)

 

[12strings]

Great thanks! Are they typically brighter than flat poles?

 

[sanhozay]

Much bigger fan of flat pole vintage style tele pickups. I can get them higher to the strings and they are less twangy and plenty ballsy. Love.


sent from a lonesome train on a lonesome track

 

[walterw]

Great thanks! Are they typically brighter than flat poles?

i wouldn't assign a specific EQ difference, it's just about string-to-string volume.

polepiece stagger also less significant with amp compression or overdrive, and/or if the pickup is a little further away from the strings (the increased distance lessens the output difference between one string and the next.)