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Post by rdr on Oct 23, 2023 9:38:50 GMT -5
Hi there! I have seen height recommendations for P90 pickups, generally very close to the strings. Recommendations vary, but for one, Lindy Fralin says from string to top of the pickup with strings depressed, should be 1/16".
I have a Casino with the dogear pickups where the clearances are much larger. I was thinking about ordering some pickup shims from Fralin (if I can figure out how to add them to my cart!). Anybody mess with this and have good success?
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Post by Leftee on Oct 23, 2023 9:58:15 GMT -5
They do really want to be close to the strings. Some foam under them is fine. That’s what I use.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 23, 2023 10:43:04 GMT -5
Like this stuff. The black open cell type. Musiclily Pro 70x30x10mm Self-Adhesive EVA Foam Pickup Height Adjustment Anti-Vibration Foam for Jazzmaster Pickup, Black (Set of 10) a.co/d/jf2Ksrx |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 23, 2023 14:57:31 GMT -5
I use foam too. Saying the obvious here but you can also adjust the screw heights.
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Post by rdr on Oct 23, 2023 16:21:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys! But these dog-eared pickups are screwed directly to the guitar top; there is no adjustment to raise the body, so I need a shim.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 23, 2023 16:25:18 GMT -5
So there are no screw adjustable pole pieces?
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Post by Leftee on Oct 23, 2023 17:13:56 GMT -5
I see what you mean. My bad. You need to shim under the pickup covers.
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Post by rdr on Oct 23, 2023 17:14:36 GMT -5
Yes there are adjustable pole pieces. The word is that these are not very effective, the pickup body needs to be close. Hence the use of shims. I see Lollar sells shim sets, I think I'll get a set.
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Post by rdr on Oct 23, 2023 17:20:02 GMT -5
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 23, 2023 18:05:39 GMT -5
I've never had dog earred P90s before only soap bars. I've used foam underneath, but soap bars have 2 adjustable screws to allow it to compress or expand. I've adjusted the individual pole pieces to fine tune radius, etc. So yeah, with no height adjustment capability shims make more sense than foam. I haven't found/heard any deficiencies raising P90 pole pieces a tad but if the gap is significant shimming seems the right way to go.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Oct 28, 2023 11:31:18 GMT -5
To the pole piece thing, it is important to remember: the pole pieces don't "sense" the strings. The coil does. The coil is an inductor which turns changes in magnetic field into a weak current. The pole pieces help put the strings into that magnetic field. So, by adjusting pole pieces you're increasing the magnetic field in order to compensate for the actual sensing part of the pickup being too far away. That is why it sounds much better if you just draw the whole coil closer instead of just raising the pole pieces.
Lack of adjustability was a known problem/bug for p-90s, which is why it got fixed for the upgraded version, the humbucker, which Gibson didn't really consider a distinct design, just a new and improved version of the old one. Would be great if at some point p-90s were made to be adjustable for height and also pitch/angle. It is interesting that the pickups that had the most staying power in the guitar world (Strat, Tele, humbuckers) are also the most adjustable.
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