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Staggered or flat pickups with 9.5" or 10" radius?
Flat 50%  50%  [ 4 ]
Staggered 50%  50%  [ 4 ]
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Post subject: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:48 am
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I'll keep it short...

I have an '89 Korean Squier Strat with a 9.5/10" Radius (Not sure exactly what it is) and I'm putting some better pickups in. I'm going with Seymour Duncan SSL-2 (flat) OR SSL-5 (staggered), I would like to get the SSl-5 as they have more meat but I'm not sure about the staggered poles.

Some people say use flat for 9.5" or 10" radius and I get the logic behind this....so why would Fender do a 9.5" or even 12" radius guitar with staggered poles??? Are staggered pickups going to be weird with my radius or will I get used to it? (See below link for guitar with 12" radius and staggered pickups)

http://intl.fender.com/en-GB/guitars/st ... sunburst/#

Many thanks,

K.


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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:07 pm
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Pickups with staggered pole pieces are offered for those who enjoy the Stratocaster's original sonic structure while pickups with flat pole pieces are favored by many guitarists who prefer a more modern (ie: linear) string response.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:11 pm
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I think more importantly you should check the routing depth of your guitar before buying new pups.
The squire is a little less deep than a regular strat so some modern pups will require you to route out the holes a bit. As far as flat or staggered I haven't ever played a flat pole pickup. I have never heard the neck radius is a factor in determining pole configuration. But in order to be fully adjustable with staggered poles, if the body's pickup route is to shallow you may have issues adjusting to optimal height.


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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:21 pm
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Thanks for the replies guys!

I'm not worried about the depth of the pickup cavities, they're fine, and making them deeper won't be a problem if I need to.

I think my plan is to go try a Strat with staggered pickups strung with standard strings and see how I like it.


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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:29 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
I have never heard the neck radius is a factor in determining pole configuration.


+1

Correct. The difference between pole types is based solely on tonal qualities.

All vintage Strats (pre 1979) and most re-issues of same feature staggered poles.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 1:42 am
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It seems that the majority of Strat players prefer staggered poles, it just seems to be the done thing. Still, I think I'll go try a guitar with staggered pickups in and AB it with flat.


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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:22 pm
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To be honest I think that most guitarists just accept whatever's on the guitar - I don't think a preference for staggered or flat even comes into it.
I'd concentrate on playing the thing to be honest.

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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 3:23 am
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Cheers guys for your input. I've ordered the staggered. Will swap out the bridge for a ssl-5 if I need more power from that.


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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 7:27 pm
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I have a 2012 American Special Stratocaster with Custom Shop '69 pickups (staggered) and a 2005 American Series Telecaster with flat pole pieces on its pickups and to my ears the flat pole pieces on the Tele give a fuller chord and a more even sound than the staggered on the Strat. Especially the lower strings.
:-)

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Post subject: Re: Flat or Staggered pickups?
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 1:56 am
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Hi people!

So I went with the standard staggered Duncan pups and couldn't be happier, they fit perfect so no adjustments needed. I can detect I difference from flat poles but for me it's a good thing, it just feels and sound more 'Strat' like. They defo turn this guitar in to a proper gigging one for sure!

Thanks for all your help!

Karl.


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