Just another thread on staggered pickups

[dreamist]

Yes, there are a lot of threads asking these same questions. And despite my previous thread regarding pushing the pole pieces, I still don't own any of those staggered pickups.

My guitar has 12" fretboard radius, which, based on other threads, is a bit on the flatter side. I don't dig the look of the staggered pickups, but I do care for tone. So here are my questions:

1. Do you find the uneven output across strings annoying when playing leads on staggered pickup?

2. Does the staggered configuration sound even more uneven on flatter fretboard?

3. Have you ever felt an urge to do something destructively crazy just because it sticks out, like pushing the staggered magnets back down, or pushing the tweeter cone on a speaker? (j/k) (I do sometimes, but never to the point of really doing it.)

4. Is the tonal difference between flat pole-piece and staggered ones so much that it loses its magic, its vintage vibe, or whatever you consider important?

I'm thinking of putting a SSL-1/2 in the middle and APS-1/2 in the neck. Hopefully they would combine well and give a good quack (or cluck?) in the notch. The only thing left is to decide whether to staggered or not.

[Benjy_26]

This subject has been discussed ad nauseum. Use the search function.

[dreamist]

Yes, I've searched and read a lot of them. Yet I still could not make a decision on it. I like the look of the flat pole-piece more, but most seem to like the sound of the staggered more. That's why I asked whether the difference is so drastic that it loses its magic or whatever.

As for the fretboard radius, some said that 9.5-10" are the point where one could consider flat pole-piece. I'm still on the fence as a lot still think that staggered sound better, so that's why I asked whether it would sound annoyingly uneven when playing leads with the staggered on a flat fingerboard of my radius which is 12".

So I'm sorry if I ask the questions that have been asked over and over again, but that's why I try to be specific to my case in the questions asked.

[Folo]

As for the fretboard radius, some said that 9.5-10" are the point where one could consider flat pole-piece. I'm still on the fence as a lot still think that staggered sound better, so that's why I asked whether it would sound annoyingly uneven when playing leads with the staggered on a flat fingerboard of my radius which is 12".

Wouldn't a 12" be flatter than 9.5-10" radius? If so then get the flat pole pieces, if that's what you want.

[Gearjoneser]

Get flat pole versions for a radius that flat. There's very little difference in tone and no benefits either way really. I'd just use staggered on 7.25-9.5, and flat on 9.5-12. Another benefit to flatpole is that your fingernail or pick will never snag on a raised pole.

[dreamist]

Thanks. I'm ordering them soon.