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Post subject: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 2:14 am
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So I recently bought an American Special Strat, brend new set it up perfect, sting action 1.6mm (4/64) neck relief 0.10 etc.. Adjusted pickups to factory specs, bass side 3.2mm and 2.4 on treble side, anyway high e and b string were noticeably quieter than the rest, on all the pups, but most noticeable on neck pickup...
Though it might be ground, but first proceed to raise the treble side, so I did, to 1.8mm neck, 2mm on the middle and the back and eventually evened up the tone now all strings have enough volume.
Anyone ran into this with Texas specials?


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 3:27 am
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This phenomenon is manifested by most pickups with staggered pole pieces (to include Fender's Texas Special set) to one degree or other. Usually some careful hand-massaging of the Strat's set-up procedure provides a workable solution as you've discovered.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 3:36 am
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Thanks for quick reply Arjay
I'm recently back in electric guitar world


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:03 am
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Hi again!

I've been roundly slagged off for this before, but you MIGHT want to try it if still unhappy with the TS's...

Lift the scratchplate, support the pup, gently but firmly (with something softish) push the pole pieces back into the pup so that the stagger is gone. Repeat for all pole pieces/pups as required.

Disliking stagger, I've done this with many SC pups. I have similarly-modded TS and Custom 69's on a CS Strat at present, and that's how I like them!

Other posters have pointed out that you can't/shouldn't do this with vintage pups. There are various other modern pups I wouldn't try it on either, but I've had no problem with TS's, so it's up to you. Of course, you can also reverse it if it doesn't help!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:11 am
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Peter S wrote:
Hi again!

I've been roundly slagged off for this before, but you MIGHT want to try it if still unhappy with the TS's...

Lift the scratchplate, support the pup, gently but firmly (with something softish) push the pole pieces back into the pup so that the stagger is gone. Repeat for all pole pieces/pups as required.

Disliking stagger, I've done this with many SC pups. I have similarly-modded TS and Custom 69's on a CS Strat at present, and that's how I like them!

Other posters have pointed out that you can't/shouldn't do this with vintage pups. There are various other modern pups I wouldn't try it on either, but I've had no problem with TS's, so it's up to you. Of course, you can also reverse it if it doesn't help!

Cheers - Peter.

Thanks for the info, I realy dig TS,
Manage to balance it out, but I would like to push in a third pole on all pups, since the 3Rd string sounds the loudest and the poles for it are the highest.
It's not really a problem, it a tad louder, but since I fingerpick I compensate with picking if needed.


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:28 am
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Yes, I like the TS on that particular Strat (bridge position).

You'll find it (the mod - if you'd call it that!) quite easy to do. I use the plastic-covered handles of pliers to do the pushing, but anything that doesn't mark/scratch will do. Obviously you'll lose the 'vintage' look, but - for me - a guitar has to be playable first and foremost!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:32 am
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Peter S wrote:
Obviously you'll lose the 'vintage' look, but - for me - a guitar has to be playable first and foremost!

Cheers - Peter.


True that
Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 4:20 am
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I don't want to open a can of worms here, but a word of caution:
Pushing down (or up) pickup polepieces is a highly controversial subject, and it's always possible to ruin a pickup attempting to do this.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54590


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 4:30 am
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jmattis wrote:
I don't want to open a can of worms here, but a word of caution:
Pushing down (or up) pickup polepieces is a highly controversial subject, and it's always possible to ruin a pickup attempting to do this.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54590


Yeah I read about it, I'll see down the road...of I was to push in the 3Rd pole it would be less than a mm. That being said it's 9.5 radius neck so there's a reason 3 and 4 are lifted. Just getting all the info and thinking about my setup.
Thanks for heads up.


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:14 am
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jmattis wrote:
I don't want to open a can of worms here, but a word of caution:
Pushing down (or up) pickup polepieces is a highly controversial subject, and it's always possible to ruin a pickup attempting to do this.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54590


+1

And it won't matter if such "adjustment" moves that pole piece a millimeter or a mile......should it snag and fracture a winding, the pickup will be irreparably damaged.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:32 am
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Thanks guys for all your input.
Nice forum
Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:58 am
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Hi again,

Not quite the bile I got last time (yet!), but I did say there would be people advising against this, didn't I?! And in fact I negated certain p/ups myself. It all depends on whether the coil is in contact with the magnets (pole-pieces). If so, I wouldn't do it. If it's wound round a plastic bobbin - as most modern SC p/ups have been for ages - there's no problem at all.

But all I would say is that I'm not speaking from guesswork with CS Texas Specials and '69's (although it's fair to say that I've just assumed they have a modern bobbin). I've actually done it with no problem whatsoever.

However, if you can get the sound you want by either positioning or picking technique, then I wouldn't touch them either!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:31 am
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The biggest problems I have with my Texas Specials is that I am out of Strats to put them in so I have to buy more Strats.

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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:41 am
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donnycraven wrote:
The biggest problems I have with my Texas Specials is that I am out of Strats to put them in so I have to buy more Strats.


Cool, I like em a lot too!


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Post subject: Re: Texas Special small prob
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:58 am
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Peter S wrote:
Not quite the bile I got last time

No purpose to maim, I was only emphasizing the caveats of the pole push/pull operation.

Peter S wrote:
It all depends on whether the coil is in contact with the magnets (pole-pieces). If so, I wouldn't do it. If it's wound round a plastic bobbin - as most modern SC p/ups have been for ages - there's no problem at all.

Wax, lacquer, tape and such (especially when they have age on them) play their part also. The coil wire and pole have to be attached in only one place to break the wire...
Been there, done that :oops:

Peter S wrote:
I've actually done it with no problem whatsoever.

See paragraph 1 above: I ain't arguing your success on CS Texas Specials, only giving the warning that it doesn't apply to all pups & every pole push/puller.


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