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Post subject: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:06 am
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So my 2012 American Standard has fat 50's I am very happy with Neck and Middle. The Bridge Pick up I am not happy with :( . I have measured the SPL and Neck and Middle have the same DB the Bridge has a little more, but it does not sound loader to my ears so I guess the word is it sounds weak and thin. If I adjust the pickup height up closer to the strings will this give me a fatter sound or do I go lower. I know I can just try it higher or lower but was looking for advise to get me going in the right direction the first time
mud
Oh PS I must say the bridge PU sounds better on the 1069 SFSR but I don't use it as much as my bedroom Amp ( Line 6 twin 12's :oops: )
mud


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:51 am
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I had the same problem with my 50's reissue. I tried a few things but ended up pulling the bridge pup for something ballsier.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:10 am
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IMHO, with especially single coil Stratocasters, loudest does not always equal best sound.
Start with pickup height on factory specs, then experiment.

http://www.fender.com/en-FI/support/art ... tup-guide/


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:31 am
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jmattis wrote:
IMHO, with especially single coil Stratocasters, loudest does not always equal best sound.
Start with pickup height on factory specs, then experiment.

http://www.fender.com/en-FI/support/art ... tup-guide/

Yes it is factory height just thought before I start what direction would I start with Higher or lower I imagine if I go higher it will get louder but will it get fatter with less sustain. Again I guess I would just experiment till I get that sweet spot. So if any one has experience on tweaking height, got any tips
mud


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:14 am
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Everybody's ears/tastes are different. I've only had a couple of pickups that sounded best to me set way down low -- I almost always prefer them raised up until they're just on the edge of causing Strat-itis. So the only thing you can do is experiment.

In general, higher is fatter. You might try lowering the middle and neck to thin them out a bit, and raise the bridge pickup. Then adjust your amp gain and EQ to fatten the neck and middle back up.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:17 am
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fwiw...

The bridge pickup will always sound brighter (thinner?) and often a bit lower in output as vibrations close to the bridge are way different than they are out by the neck. That's one part of the Strat Sound. I was not happy with very high output pups (SSL-3, SuperDistortion)...lost all the sparkle and chime.

It is not a big deal to rewire the switch to allow the second tone control to also act on the bridge pickup.

I have found for my guitars that farther away from the pickups gives the best sound for me. This includes stock 70s pickups, DiMarzio SDS-1, Seymour Duncan SSL-6, SSL-3, and Fender 57/62 (close to F50). For me.

Too close will increase the general loudness, but with the magnets so close you will find an artifical end to the sustain as the magenets dampen the string vibrations...you will notice the decay sounds wrong as you get them too close together. Longer, true sustain comes with a larger distance.

Tone? Severly a matter of opinion...only you can say what tone works for you...

How far away? For me...the neck pup cover is about aligned with the PG and the bridge pup is just higher than the adjustment screws. The outputs are mostly the same across all three, and any output loss from 'factory nominal' can be offset by that volume knob on the amplifier.

Give it some time. Too often folks (me included) run to new pups without really learning about what is there. Fat 50s really can rock...give them a chance.

Cheers.

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1975 Fender Stratocaster
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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:49 am
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HeyJoe42 "It is not a big deal to rewire the switch to allow the second tone control to also act on the bridge pickup."
The Am Stand 2012 has the tone control wired to middle and bridge, and the bridge gets muddy not fat when turned for high freq cut. I will start with raising the bridge PU tonight and hope I will get more of the tonal quality I am looking for. If that doesn't do it for me I will lower it and hear what happens and if all else fails I will not use the bridge pu with the Line6 and only use it in the 1069 SFSR :wink:
mud


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:53 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
Everybody's ears/tastes are different. I've only had a couple of pickups that sounded best to me set way down low -- I almost always prefer them raised up until they're just on the edge of causing Strat-itis. So the only thing you can do is experiment.

In general, higher is fatter. You might try lowering the middle and neck to thin them out a bit, and raise the bridge pickup. Then adjust your amp gain and EQ to fatten the neck and middle back up.


+1

The Fat 50's bridge pickup is wound roughly 10% hotter than the other two coils -- hypothetically, it should sound louder than the other two. Lowering the bridge will decrease the volume and result in an audibly-thinner tone while raising it should result in more sonic beef. Dial it in then adjust the middle and neck pickups to EQ their volume levels to the bridge. Fatter strings (.010's or .011's) may also help.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:09 pm
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Thank you I will raise the bridge pu and try for that sonic quality

Arjay "Fatter strings (.010's or .011's) may also help."
I do have fender 9's on, I have read all kinds of opinion on strings, some say it doesn't matter some say it does. I do have 10's on my epi SG I like them but when I go back to the Strat, the 9's just feel so easy to play, I do think it does have something to do with the neck on the strat also, as the epi is a Chinese entry level guitar
mud


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pick Up adjustment
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:28 pm
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The heavier-gauge strings will sound louder. That's one of the reasons that SRV had such a monstrously huge tone -- I think his high E was like an .013" or close to it. Pete Townsend was also a proponent of heavy strings.

Arjay

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