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Post subject: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 3:32 am
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Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 3:21 am
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Hello,

I've already tried adjusting the pick up pole pieces, increasing pick up height on the treble side and adjusting pick up selection switch/amp settings.

However, when I get the volume I want for the b and e string, by rasing the pick up height of the neck and middle pick up to favour the treble end, the pick up pole piece is too close to the string and I don't get any sustain.

Also if I lower the pick up height on the bass end to try and even out the volume between the bass and the treble. The bass fades out too much and when playing funky chords it sounds more like just the empty clicks of the plectrum.

How can I sort this out?
Anyone know how much (in mm) the two middle pick up poles should stick out from the pick up?


Thanks
V.


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Post subject: Re: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 3:12 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
You can't adjust pole piece, just all the pickups eight.

Are your strings are new ?
Wich Strat ?
Wich pickups ?

Post good pictures of pickups.

Never heard about you are talking about. Fender pickups are always " well" balanced if you like Fender tone.


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Post subject: Re: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 5:34 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 1339
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Some Strat pickups have alnico mags and plastic bobbins -- you can safely push those up or down to adjust pole height.

On vintage style Strat pickups with the coil wrapped directly on the magnets, it's very risky to move the poles. But some people do it and get lucky. (Particularly risky to move either E pole.)
--------------------
While very rare, it's possible for alnico mags to become demagnetized. See this recent thread:
https://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=109524

But it's very rare for that to happen and would be super duper rare for it to happen to several pickups.


Last edited by strayedstrater on Sun Apr 22, 2018 5:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 5:42 am
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Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:50 pm
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Location: Denver, CO, USA
But most likely, you're raising the pickups too high trying to get strong output.

That exaggerates the effect of the staggered pole pieces. Lower the overall height of the pickups, then balance them by adjusting the bass side relative to the treble side.

Then turn your amp's volume up, or use a boost pedal.


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Post subject: Re: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:08 am
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Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
As a pole-pusher (who has taken some stick over the years!!!), if you have staggered poles - and it sounds like you have - you could try pushing down the 3rd & 4th level with the plastic cover. One word of warning: I tried to pole-push on my Fat 50's and couldn't shift them. Well, not without using more pressure than I was prepared to risk (so I replaced the loaded pickguard instead).

And as strayedstrater says, I wouldn't do it on 1st or 6th, but I've done the middle two on Texas Specials and CS'69's to my complete satisfaction. I might like the look of staggered poles, but I hate the sound! All my Strats have flat poles, either as standard or modded, and they're all adjusted further away from the strings than recommended, which I find helps with string balance.

Or perhaps you're just used to HB-equipped guitars? In which case a Strat is going to sound different, whatever you do with it!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: b and high E string quiet please help!
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 4:47 pm
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Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
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How old are your strings?

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