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Post subject: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2017 8:47 pm
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I am upgrading my Blacktop tele with new SD pups. I have seen many forums on this topic as well as the Seymour Duncan page explaining the size differences of humbucker vs trembucker. My question is this: The spacing at the bridge is 53 mm e string to e string which is trembucker spacing. The SD article though also states that because it is narrower at the neck pickup a humbucker is ok for the neck pup.That is what is confusing me. The existing pups are exactly the same size. I assume I would buy 2 trembuckers? Your help is appreciated.

Brian.


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 12:58 am
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Very much IMHO:
Your guitar has the 2 1/16" (52,3875mm) string spacing.
The other typical Fender spacing is 2 7/32" (56,35625mm).
The 'F-sized' of Trembucker would come to best use as the bridge pickup on the wider spacing - if there is an audible difference even then.
Strings seldom line up perfectly over pole piece centers - and actually, a humbucker should have slightly different spacing on inner/outer coils to reach that... :wink:

So, you have to decide for yourself how OCD you want to be over this. No need to think about the spacing of the existing pups - it's change you're after.


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:43 am
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The Blacktop, afaik, uses the Sung Il BN005 bridge which is 54mm (2 1/8") spacing. This is the usual Telecaster bridge spacing.
I find that a trembucker bridge and standard humbucker neck is the best combination to achieve good string/pole piece alignment.


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:10 am
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You're right about the part name/manufacturer.
But e.g. Darrenriley sells that bridge as 2 1/16". Actually, it's mm-based (5 x 10.8mm =54mm).
And all of these small differences disappear when the strings don't sit smack in the middle of the saddle, or saddles aren't perfectly straight...
:wink:


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 10:31 am
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Keep in mind that Telecasters are generally small radius guitars (12, 9.5 or 7.25" radius are all small), with the E strings closer to the pickup anyhow due to the curvature. So a pickup that's slightly narrower than the string spacing might actually be a good thing.

Also, strings vibrate omnidirectionally, so only a small portion of the vibrations will bring the outer strings farther from the field sideways. So the difference isn't as much as one might think.

I'd go with standard humbuckers in both places. But that's me.


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 11:46 am
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Just to confirm ...

It makes less of a difference which size you choose at the neck than it does at the bridge.
That's because the string's vibration path is narrower at the bridge since the anchor point (bridge saddles) is/are much closer.
Also, as the OP mentions, the strings are closer together at the neck since the nut is so much narrower than the bridge.
Hence the term Trembucker being used at the bridge position.

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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 5:56 pm
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I think I will go with the Trembucker bridge and humbucker neck. Sounds like it may not make much difference but I would rather match up spacing if I can. Just curious though.... does a trembucker not sound as good as a humbucker?


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 7:45 am
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Why would you think that?

Except for pole spacing, as long as they are the same model, the important specs are the same.
Magnet type, wire type, number of windings, etc.

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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 9:26 pm
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Ok. Awesome. Just ordered a sd 59 humbucker for the neck and a pearly gates trembucker for bridge. We'll see how it sounds! Also ordering chrome knobs and a tortoiseshell pickguard. Should look and sound sweet!
Next up a new bridge pup for my '89 American Std Strat..


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 2:50 pm
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Got my new pups and brought them to my guitar tech. Unfortunately he informed me that once he got it apart he found out that the cavity is too shallow for the new pups. So now he has to rout out about a quarter inch to get them to fit. Also new pickguard has to be slightly modified to fit them as well. Just thought I would mention it for any future Blacktop owners who are doing same. Oh well. A few extra days wait. Hope it is worth it.


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:27 pm
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Sorry about double post.


Last edited by bluesguy996 on Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:29 pm
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Just picked up the guitar.
It sounds amazing! Great combination for cleans and Dist/ OD.
Very versatile. Very pleased.
Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 9:06 am
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Hey everyone, I'd like to pick up this thread. I have a mexican HH Telecaster. I also would like to install new PUs and found this thread. From the specs I found in the Seymour Duncan specs, the PUs should fit without extra routing. The blacktop PUs have a height of 21mm including the legs. Cheers Michael


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