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Post subject: Trembuckers, Humbuckers and F spacing
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:58 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I have an MIA Stratocaster, a Classic Spaced Stratocaster that is hybrid MIA neck and MIM classic body, and then two hybrid MIA neck and MIM bodied Stratocasters that have the standard MIM bridge spacing.

Recently I decided to switch two of my hybrids over to Hum-buckers. It did not take long to encounter how complex this can become. First was learning that a standard humbucker is typically not appropriate for a Stratocaster bridge pickup and that special Trembuckers and "F spaced" pickups are made for that application.

I ordered a set of Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro’s for one guitar; I bought the standard neck humbucker and a "trembucker for the bridge. It seems though that a trembucker is unnecessary for a MIM spaced bridge, so I find out, as a standard spaced humbucker actually fits the string spacing better than the trembucker. The trembucker is spaced well for the Classic spaced bridge and less well for the MIA bridge and quite a bit off for the MIM bridge.

So to cut to the chase, it seems for a MIM Stratocaster a standard spaced humbucker is best suited and a "trembucker" of "F spaced" (DiMarzio term) is not necessary, however the classic spaced strat and to a lesser extent the current MIA production stratocaster would be a good fit for the trembucker.

Am I missing something?

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Post subject: Re: Trembuckers, Humbuckers and F spacing
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:52 am
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The magnetic fields over a pickup blend into a single field and extends a fair bit to each side, so it's not strictly needed to center each string above each pole piece. When you bend, the string may be halfway between the pole pieces without the volume dropping. So it's not as important as one might think by looking at the strings and pole pieces.
If it's way off, sure, adjustments are beneficial, but when it's as little as 3/64" (which is as much as the E strings will be off with a standard vs wide bridge), it doesn't matter much, except to those selling pickups and bridges.

The spacing of the strings for playing purposes seems far more important to me. I like the classic bridges that are 3/32" wider than the modern ones because even if ~1/64" extra per string isn't much, it's enough to make fingerstyle just a little easier. When using a pick, or having small hands, narrower might be better.
But for pickup fields, as long as it's not an audible (3dB?) difference for the E strings, I would not worry.


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Post subject: Re: Trembuckers, Humbuckers and F spacing
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:58 am
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Rock Star
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I don't think you're missing anything.
Some MIA Strats have slightly wider spacing at the bridge.
That's why they call them Trembuckers or "F" spaced humbuckers.
The outside dimensions of the pups are identical to equivalent model standard spaced buckers, as are the windings and magnet material.
Only the pole locations are different.

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Post subject: Re: Trembuckers, Humbuckers and F spacing
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:03 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I wouldn't worry about it. I've been putting HH setups on my Strats for many years and have had both standard HB's and the wider-spaced ones, all Seymour or Dimarzio. Haven't noticed any difference whatsoever, whether the pole pieces are directly under the strings or not.

Could always be my ears, though!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Trembuckers, Humbuckers and F spacing
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:32 am
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Mine are Dimarzio Air Classics and both regular neck and bridge non F spaced and the Seymours are Alnico II Pros and the bridge one is a trembucker.

Ok, I will go ahead on this advice and not worry about the difference. Thanks all.

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