Pole piece adjustment - help?

automaton_2 · May 1st, 2008, 12:09 AM

Hi all.
This is my second post.
I have a CIJ 52 special reissue (butterscotch) with a dragster humbucker in the neck position.

I have been very happy with the tone of this guitar (after it was set up by a decent tech).

But just now I decided to experiment and got a screw driver and turned the pole pieces about a quarter to a half a turn clockwise across the humbucker.

I tried to reverse what I had done, but pretty much made random adjustments so couldn't get the screw positions back to where they were.

Is this kind of adjustment likely to radically (or even subtly) alter tone?

To be honest I didn't know what a pole-piece was when I did this, and I am concerned that I have subtley affected the tone of my beloved tele in a negative way.

Is there any way to reset the pole pieces to a 'default' setting?

Is this something I shouls be concerned about?

What the heck are pole-pieces anyhow?

Your comments are appreciated!

boneyguy · May 1st, 2008, 12:17 AM

A quarter turn is very unlikely to make a huge difference if in any to the tone of your guitar. I wouldn't sweat it. Just put them back about a quarter turn and everything will be fine..

Guitar_Ninja · May 1st, 2008, 01:12 AM

With humbuckers with adjustable pole-pieces I drop the two outside poles down to just above flush with the cover, and then raise or lower the other poles to match the radius of the fretboard. The only exception being the pole under the G string, which I lower a little bit more since the G is so wonky.

It's a fairly common way to do it. Then you adjust the overall pickup height to preference.

It does affect the tone of the pickup since you're effectively altering the properties of the magnetic field to some degree by raising or lowering the poles.

automaton_2 · May 1st, 2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitar_Ninja

With humbuckers with adjustable pole-pieces I drop the two outside poles down to just above flush with the cover

Thanks for this - so by this you mean the tops of the 2 E string pole piece screws should be flush with the top of the humbucker?

Then the next step is to turn the other pole pieces anti clockwise until they are the same distance from the strings as the E pole pieces are?

I will try it, makes sense, thanks.

What do you mean when you say the G is wonky by the way?

May 1st, 2008, 12:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
automaton_2 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 19	Pole piece adjustment - help? Hi all. This is my second post. I have a CIJ 52 special reissue (butterscotch) with a dragster humbucker in the neck position. I have been very happy with the tone of this guitar (after it was set up by a decent tech). But just now I decided to experiment and got a screw driver and turned the pole pieces about a quarter to a half a turn clockwise across the humbucker. I tried to reverse what I had done, but pretty much made random adjustments so couldn't get the screw positions back to where they were. Is this kind of adjustment likely to radically (or even subtly) alter tone? To be honest I didn't know what a pole-piece was when I did this, and I am concerned that I have subtley affected the tone of my beloved tele in a negative way. Is there any way to reset the pole pieces to a 'default' setting? Is this something I shouls be concerned about? What the heck are pole-pieces anyhow? Your comments are appreciated!

May 1st, 2008, 12:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
boneyguy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: victoria b.c. Age: 50 Posts: 2,731	A quarter turn is very unlikely to make a huge difference if in any to the tone of your guitar. I wouldn't sweat it. Just put them back about a quarter turn and everything will be fine.. __________________ "Shut up n' play yer guitar"

May 1st, 2008, 01:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,303 5 Photos	With humbuckers with adjustable pole-pieces I drop the two outside poles down to just above flush with the cover, and then raise or lower the other poles to match the radius of the fretboard. The only exception being the pole under the G string, which I lower a little bit more since the G is so wonky. It's a fairly common way to do it. Then you adjust the overall pickup height to preference. It does affect the tone of the pickup since you're effectively altering the properties of the magnetic field to some degree by raising or lowering the poles. __________________ Wicket KNOWS.