So I put the "GE Smith Theory" to the test tonight (w/ pics)...

[ajgus]

...I mounted my bridge pickup to the body. Now, its pretty late here in Chicago, & I live in a communal building, so I can't crank my amp. But from the volume that I was able to attain, I could not notice a significant "fattening" of the tone. Believe me, I SO want it to happen..but I'll have to 'wait until tomorrow' (ala Jimi Hendrix) to really see/hear if the theoretical tonal benefits ring true. I've included some pics, as is mandatory, including some shots of the full guitar in general. I'd love to hear thoughts of your experiences with this type of set-up/mod...

Looks a little funky without the mounting screws, but they now lie beneath...

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...and the whole guitar, just for good measure...

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[IPLAYLOUD]

Yanno?
You can do this mod and put clipped screws in the holes and no one would ever know.
Hmmmmm.....

[spicolli]

maybe mounting to the body doesnt make a difference with noisless pickups?

[Taipan]

Hopefully you made a few sound clips of before and then will make some after.

[Fret Wilkes]

Originally Posted by spicolli

maybe mounting to the body doesnt make a difference with noisless pickups?

There is another variable at play also. The GE Smith bridge pickup is not surrounded by metal, so perhaps the magnetic field is different?

[tpaul]

Originally Posted by spicolli

maybe mounting to the body doesnt make a difference with noisless pickups?

Yeah, I think the pickups would have to actually make some kind of sound, in order to notice any difference.

[ajgus]

I wouldn't think that the type of pickup would really matter. As far as it being surrounded by metal, yeah its possible. But I'm not about to saw my bridge in half. I just figured I try it out. Like I said, I haven't really fully test driven it yet, so all hope is not lost. Btw, the only sound clips I have are in my head .

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by ajgus

As far as it being surrounded by metal, yeah its possible. Btw, the only sound clips I have are in my head .

The metal around the pickup will have an affect on it
Funny, my best sound clips reside in my head as well.

[wpkg]

Originally Posted by Fret Wilkes

There is another variable at play also. The GE Smith bridge pickup is not surrounded by metal, so perhaps the magnetic field is different?

yeah he cut his bridge in half. im sure this has a great deal to do with it. plus he said that he mounted the pickup very close to the strings. try these I am very curious to see if it works

[ajgus]

I figured the body mounting would cause the vibration to carry through the pickup, thus "fattening up" the tone. I've read threads here where some people claim that it works & some don't. I guess its hit or miss. Hell, even GE himself claims to notice the difference.

[ajgus]

wpkg, welcome aboard! I generally tend to place my bridge pup very close to the strings as well. However, I don't think that the bridge pickup is very pretty when exposed, so I think I'll keep it covered for now.

[ajgus]

Just an update...So, I finally had a chance to adjust my bridge pickup the its proper height. I generally play it pretty close to the strings. I had to replace the original screws twice with longer & longer screws , but eventually I found the right ones & WOW...the theory holds true! I've achieved a definite "fattening" of my bridge tone, no question. This may just be a mod that will be mandatory on all of my future Teles...

[Chrismeyer]

I did it to my Nuno bettencourt washburn with two humbuckers and it was almost TOO fat! Both my EVH peavey's came that way.
Did it take too much twang out of yours? Seems like the metal setting of the bridge pup and the fact that it's suspended there in the cavity would be a big part of the twang and quack.
Let us know!
BTW nice Tele and I LOVE the Noisless pups!

[ajgus]

Chris, I haven't noticed any loss of twang. I guess it just sort of "beefs up" the low end. Still twangy, however.