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Post subject: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU's
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:33 am
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I've got a '93 MIM strat that is all stock. I've done the setup myself and feel confident about the results. However, I've noticed that when bending the D through the high E strings, I don't get the full sound when using the neck and middle PU's. I get the initial note, but not the bend. I do get the full sound with the bridge PU. I'm using 10's. It seems that the string, when doing the bend, moves away from the 'nub' on the PU's, much more on the neck and middle PU's then the bridge. I've set the PU's to be 4/64 " from the bottom of the strings. Doesn't seem right to me. Any suggestions?
Thanks. :?:

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Post subject: Re: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU'
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:11 am
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Hi xny1989: it seems very odd.

Most of what you say appears to describe the strings choking on the next fret up during bending, due to the action being too low, or maybe slight backbow on the fingerboard. Except that you say you do get normal output from the bridge pickup. So then it ain't choking.

The string moving away from the pickup's pole piece is not the issue. The poles have enough range to cover it. For example: when we bend the B string at the 15th fret a full tone up it takes the string from above the B pole to the G pole on the neck pickup. But the signal is not affected. Pickups are very forgiving in that way.

I don't think it's to do with the pickup height either: 4/64" is a bit on the close side to be sure, but again, the pickups should be able to cope with it. Though it only takes a moment to try dropping them another 3 or 4/64ths, so you might as well give that a go to see if it makes a difference. That would be the place to start, I'd say.

Otherwise, I'm a bit at a loss. But I guess the first question is, did this issue exist before you did the setup? If not, then it means something changed during the setup and you have to retrace your steps to find out what that was. Only you can know what adjustments you made, so the ball's in your court on that.

By the way, just as a general suggestion, when a player has a guitar set up just how they like it it's often a nice idea to take some accurate measurements for relief, action, bridge float and pickup height. As a point of reference to tell techs, or just give you a benchmark in situations like this.

Good luck - C

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Post subject: Re: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU'
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:42 am
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Ceri,

Thanks for the reply. I'll make the the suggested adjustment to PU height, and re-check my setup. I first noticed this issue when I started playing Mountain's "Mississippi Quen" intro. To ensure that this issue wasn't caused by either poor technique on my part, or some other electronics (I use a Digitech R255 modeler and Fender Frontman 25 amp), I plugged in my first electric, a Jackson Dinky Special, and the bends sounded perfect. So, it's something with the setup.

Your response at least informed me that, at this point, I don't need to go out and buy other PU's to solve this problem.

Thanks again!

Regards

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Post subject: Re: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU'
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:09 pm
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xny1989 wrote:
Any suggestions? Thanks. :?:



Yes, get a real guitar, stratocaster is an American guitar, Japanese and Mexican are copies ..

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Post subject: Re: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU'
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:08 pm
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Thanks Nikola - LOL :roll:

Turns out that I had the PU's way too close to the strings! The last setup I did, I forgot to press the strings on the highest fret when setting the PU height. :idea: Sounds much better now, as do the bends.

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Post subject: Re: string bending tone not picked up on neck and middle PU'
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:35 pm
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If your MIM Strat is a Standard model, you'll always have the problem to an extent due to the narrower string spacing which most severely manifests itself when using the middle and neck pickup. Lowering the pickups will broaden each pole-piece's magnetic field and help atone for the mis-aligned strings overhead but aside from switching the pickups out for blade-type coils, it will always remain an issue. You seem to have found a compromise solution which is likely the best outcome possible.

Arjay

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