Level Pole v. Staggered Bridge Pickup

zombywoof · March 18th, 2006, 04:37 PM

While this has probably already been covered, last evenin' had me a chance to play a stock 54 Tele. Gotta tell ya'll, to my relatively untrained ear the bridge pickup on that beast blew my '57 out of the water. Produced the sweetest well rounded sound I had ever heard come out of a Tele. Mine sound downright harsh in comparison. I am assuming this is the difference between the level pole and staggered pickup. If so, what was Fender thinking to change the pickup design. I can't see anything mine does better unless I am missing something here.

TDPRI · March 18th, 2006, 05:18 PM

10,000 variables. Obviously it isn't any one thing, such as raised poles or flat. Every pickup was wound by hand to a similar, but not exact, number of turns every time. Every pickup has aged differently over the years as well. And, been treated differently by its owner or owners.

These are the variables that keep us up at night and fuel our GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and make us post messages on the TDPRI asking each other for opinions and suggestions.

Paul Green

lewis · March 18th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Didn't Fender switch the magnet material in their pickups between '54-'57? Alnico 3 to alnico 5? Vice versa?

zombywoof · March 18th, 2006, 06:19 PM

I'll tell ya' Paul, I am one of the lucky ones. Granted, I have played far few guitars than most of ya'll but I have rarely played a Tele I liked better than mine before. Nuttin' gave me GAS, cept maybe the breakfast at Ernie's on campus corner in Norman or the gravy fries down at the Shake Shack on Homochitto St. back in Miss. - Till Now! That axe produced a heavenly sound.

0le FUZZY · March 18th, 2006, 06:57 PM

There issa reason for the stagger of those poles. It has been splained in a few books from the past.

Back then there waz liddo selection fer strings and the guages ran heavy.

Leo and the gang noticed a liddo difference in the volume and sound from the different strings sew they spear-minted with each by placing the poles closer tew individual strings.

They came up with the stagger and called it good but later changed it a liddo.

The new lite guage strings don't seem tew care bout no stinkin stagger HEE! HEE!

Haffin said that, I don't think yew hear the lack of stagger but rather a difference in winding and ALNICO content.

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

Please visit my page

Mark Davis · March 18th, 2006, 07:24 PM

I like staggard better than flat poles.

Like Paul said its way more than just the pickup. You could take that pickup out of that 54 put it in anyother Tele a 52 57 65 2005 and it wouldnt sound the same as it does in the 54. Some guitars are just magic and its not just one thing that makes the magic its a combo of everything.

red57strat · March 19th, 2006, 12:21 PM

I prefer staggered pole pickups as well.

It's probably been a coincedence but the staggered pole pickups that I've played sounded better to me.

zombywoof · March 19th, 2006, 12:33 PM

I have used pretty thick strings since the late 1960s, under the belief (possibly a misguided one) that the more metal moving over the pickups the more sound will come out. Guess this is why I could crush out a Tijuana small between my fingers and never feel it. Soooo, the guitar is going to the local guru this week for a set up, neck adjust, and general cleaning to get the dog hair and whatever out of where it shouldnt be. Maybe I will have him put on 11s and see what happens.

March 18th, 2006, 04:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,893 17 Photos	Level Pole v. Staggered Bridge Pickup While this has probably already been covered, last evenin' had me a chance to play a stock 54 Tele. Gotta tell ya'll, to my relatively untrained ear the bridge pickup on that beast blew my '57 out of the water. Produced the sweetest well rounded sound I had ever heard come out of a Tele. Mine sound downright harsh in comparison. I am assuming this is the difference between the level pole and staggered pickup. If so, what was Fender thinking to change the pickup design. I can't see anything mine does better unless I am missing something here. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

March 18th, 2006, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,872 28 Photos	Didn't Fender switch the magnet material in their pickups between '54-'57? Alnico 3 to alnico 5? Vice versa? __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

March 18th, 2006, 06:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,893 17 Photos	Never really had GAS I'll tell ya' Paul, I am one of the lucky ones. Granted, I have played far few guitars than most of ya'll but I have rarely played a Tele I liked better than mine before. Nuttin' gave me GAS, cept maybe the breakfast at Ernie's on campus corner in Norman or the gravy fries down at the Shake Shack on Homochitto St. back in Miss. - Till Now! That axe produced a heavenly sound. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

March 18th, 2006, 07:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	I like staggard better than flat poles. Like Paul said its way more than just the pickup. You could take that pickup out of that 54 put it in anyother Tele a 52 57 65 2005 and it wouldnt sound the same as it does in the 54. Some guitars are just magic and its not just one thing that makes the magic its a combo of everything. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

March 19th, 2006, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
red57strat Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,172	I prefer staggered pole pickups as well. It's probably been a coincedence but the staggered pole pickups that I've played sounded better to me. __________________ Don

March 18th, 2006, 05:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,562 36 Photos	10,000 variables. Obviously it isn't any one thing, such as raised poles or flat. Every pickup was wound by hand to a similar, but not exact, number of turns every time. Every pickup has aged differently over the years as well. And, been treated differently by its owner or owners. These are the variables that keep us up at night and fuel our GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and make us post messages on the TDPRI asking each other for opinions and suggestions. Paul Green

March 18th, 2006, 06:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	There issa reason for the stagger of those poles. It has been splained in a few books from the past. Back then there waz liddo selection fer strings and the guages ran heavy. Leo and the gang noticed a liddo difference in the volume and sound from the different strings sew they spear-minted with each by placing the poles closer tew individual strings. They came up with the stagger and called it good but later changed it a liddo. The new lite guage strings don't seem tew care bout no stinkin stagger HEE! HEE! Haffin said that, I don't think yew hear the lack of stagger but rather a difference in winding and ALNICO content. MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click) Please visit my page

March 19th, 2006, 12:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,893 17 Photos	I have used pretty thick strings since the late 1960s, under the belief (possibly a misguided one) that the more metal moving over the pickups the more sound will come out. Guess this is why I could crush out a Tijuana small between my fingers and never feel it. Soooo, the guitar is going to the local guru this week for a set up, neck adjust, and general cleaning to get the dog hair and whatever out of where it shouldnt be. Maybe I will have him put on 11s and see what happens. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker