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The pole pieces are used in a pickup for directing the magnetic field to the strings. If the strings are off set from the pickups the signal or output can be affected. The relationship of the strings to the pickup is important as well as the shape of the coil. The magnetized string movement will…

This can either be a neck or a bridge alignment. If you just noticed this and it didn’t happen before, check the condition of the instrument for any broken joints or damage. This is very typical on Fender style instruments and can happen if the instrument is dropped or bumped in the case. With my…

The string alloy can greatly effect the output of a pickup. The inner core of most acoustic and electric guitar strings is made from various gauges of spring steel or piano wire. The spring steel can be wrapped with various material shapes that add diameter and tension to the string. Strings can be flat wound,…

Basically it’s the ability of a ferrous material (guitar string) to retain a magnetic charge when it is near a magnetized substance (pickup pole piece). When the string is removed from the magnetic field, it loses it’s magnetism quickly. A magnet within a pickup is used magnetize the string so when it vibrates it causes…

Normally when you pluck the string near the bridge you get more treble and a thinner sound. When you pick towards the neck the sound becomes fatter with increased output. There is less string vibration closer to the bridge as compared to increased string vibration towards the neck position. With increased string vibration, the string…

This is another where I would be the first to say it does. I’ve found different bodies of the same material can sound totally different. I like using a medium weight swamp ash and one of my favorites is the “Albert Collin’s” clone guitar. It weighs 7 lbs, 11 oz’s. It’s not light but it’s…

The output can vary from pole to pole depending on the make and model of pickup and make and gauge of string. The pole height can play an important part in the balance of the strings. Typical Fender Stratocasters have staggered poles to balance each string but with modern strings, the balance is pretty equal….

Old worn or dirty strings can become dull sounding after use and many stories have been told about them. Many players, especially bass players would boil the strings in hot water and make the strings sound brighter again. Basically, they were dislodging the oils and grime that would fill the voids in the string from…

I’ve heard of all kinds of string combinations being used on both acoustic and electric instruments. Using a 42 or 46 plain string for the bottom “E” would completely over power the plain 09 or 10 high “E” string. You can find the larger diameter music wire in may hardware stores in spools. You can…

Using quality electric guitar strings you can pretty much assume that heavier gauge strings will give you more output and a fatter fuller sound when compared to a lighter gauge of strings. Heavier strings can make it more difficult to bend strings and also increases the tension on the neck and without proper adjustment can…