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Humbucker Placement

Hi folks,my first post here!

I'm working on my first build, a three string CBG, and would appreciate a little advice on how to use a six-string pickup. I'm no novice at woodworking and have learned to work on solid body guitars because I'm poor and my oldest son is a guitar freak. But, I'm not sure how to deal with this pickup in my planned 3-string build; or if its even appropriate.

The pickup I have a Seymour Duncan "Little 59" I pulled from one of my son's guitars - he wanted something else in its place and we intended to sell this one but haven't gotten around to it. Its relatively small and has two rows of six posts, intended to line up directly under each string of a six-string. They marketl it as a Telecaster pickup replacement.

here it is: http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/telecaster/high-outp...

I guess its a bit overkill for a 3-string CBG, but its what I have.

I've heard these pickups have a narrow range. That is, the string needs to be directly over the pole and somewhat close. Do I need to worry about the strings lining up? Should I

Line up my three strings with three of the poles of the pickup - say the middle three?
Install the pickup at something like a 45 degree angle to the strings so the overall span of the posts equals the span between my three strings?
Something else?
Bag this idea and go with a piezzo?

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks!

Tags: pickup, placement

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on October 29, 2011 at 8:30pm

I have not used a real pickup yet but have seen 6 pole on a 3 string set at an angle as you stated, this should work fine. I like piezos but if you have the humbucker yo should use it!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on October 29, 2011 at 8:42pm

Welcome to the Addiction!!

With that pickup having 2 sets of poles, if you turn it on an angle, won't some of the poles not line up? Maybe, and this is just a long shot, but can you make a quick and dirty jig that will hold the pickup upside down, above the strings, so you can test various positions before you actually start cutting to install it? Kind of simulate the position and do some testing?

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on October 29, 2011 at 10:16pm

Yes, I agree, just hook up the pickup with some alligator clip wires to a jack and plug that into an amp. Hold the pickup above the strings at various angles you described and see what you think.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Eight Spades CBG on October 30, 2011 at 3:42am

It will work fine if the strings don't line up with the poles. The mag field should be strong enough to pickup the strings. Ive done slanted 6 string pickups and straight on three stringers and they sound the same. Just center the humbucker and place the strings where you want. Should sound great.

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Permalink Reply by Madurobob on October 30, 2011 at 8:53am

Thanks for the input, folks! Now that I think of it, it should be simple to complete the build but for the pickup, then hold it in various positions to see if there is a difference. Cutting the hole in the lid will be simple no matter when its done.

When I do that - next weekend I think - I'll post the results. If it really makes no difference I think I'll go with slanted just for the looks.

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Permalink Reply by JohnWoodward on October 30, 2011 at 8:37pm

Dont angle the pickup! Fender did that with the single coils to get me Treble sound from their guitars.The humbucker has plenty of power to pick up all the strings evenlyand has a much more balanced sound. Most HB's have flat even poles,where as the fender type singles are staggard to compensate for the angle.IMHO the HB will sound better strait than angled.