This may be a novice question, but I noticed that some guitars have magnetic pickups mounted at angles. A Fender Telecaster is a good example, but I have also seen guitars with a single pickup mounted at an angle. Is there a particular reason for this? Does it affect the sound?
Reason I ask is that I have a cigar box with a rather large label that I really like that if I were to mount the pickup at an angle, I could preserve more of the label.
Tags:
The sound picked up by the pickup will vary depending where along the string's length the pickup is positioned. Moving farther from the bridge toward the neck will tend to make the sound, how do I say this, deeper or throatier. moving toward the bridge brings out more of the treble in each string. It is common with a single pickup to put it around 15~20% of the scale length from the bridge. This is a good compromise position for clean sound without too much treble.
Now, If you want options in your sound, then you put a pickup near the bridge, another near the point where finger board ends on the body and a third in the middle of the two. Add a three way switch and you can select the sound you want with the flick of a switch.
Mounting a single pickup at an angle is an attempt to pull out certain characteristics from, say the heavy stings, and different characteristics from the smaller strings. It often becomes a case of splitting hairs, but I guess if you're a professional guitarist, you can tell the difference.
Also, just to confuse things further, some CBG builders angle the pickup to better align the strings with the poles. Most common pickups have six poles. By angling the pickup, you can run each of three strings between two adjacent poles.
So, what should you do?
Don't over analyze things. If you put the pickup out at about 15~20% and angle it a bit (not a big 45) then you will produce very usable sound. Add a tone pot and you can tweak the sound to hit that "perfect" sound you are seeking.
Give it a go and don't worry.
I have angled 6 pole pickups on three string guitars so the pickup isn't hanging out real wide on the sides of the outer strings. It was for looks rather than tone manipulation. And, I usually use 4 pole pickups, mounted straight sideways, on three string builds to allow for a little "fudge factor" when plotting and cutting the pickup mounting hole in the top of the box. My experiences in building demonstrated to me that the strings don't need to be exactly over a pickup pole. So, three strings over four evenly (mostly) spaced poles gives me good, even sound. I read this in Cigar Box Nation or somewhere in the past, and it works for me. I try to be accurate when cutting on builds, but hey...my eyes and my skills are what they are. And I think the finished product looks good and sounds good. My $.02.
Thanks for the replies. The pickup I have is a single coil so it sounds like I can't really go wrong.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. on Thursday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango on Tuesday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!