I have a couple of questions about electronics stuff, as I'm planning a build and have never messed with that stuff. First, I know it's a very general question, but what is the sonic difference between wound pickups and piezos? Second, can/should you use a 4 or 6 pole pickup on a 3 string guitar?
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Hi Joe, how's it going? The exact placement of the poles under the strings is not really necessary. The magnetic field emitted from each pole is wide enough to encompass the string's vibration. Saying that, the last two string chugger I built, I used a three pole pickup set at an angle, like Gary suggested. I did this more as an exercise than anything else. This way the the two outer poles are under the strings. As I say, it not strictly necessary. These are CBGs. not six stringers coming out of the Fender Custom Shop. You could also try hotrail style pickups: lipstick tube pickups, single rail single coil pickups and mini-humbuckers are examples. With these pickups, there are no pole pieces just rails. I particularly like the lipstick tube single coll pick for the bright jangly tone and the mini-humbucker for the darker Bluesy sound: C.B.Gitty "Lipstick Tube Pickup" demo by Shane Speal and Demo - C. B. GITTY "Snake Oil Pickup" - clean amp w/reverb and tremolo. The build I'm currently making is a three string fretless. That'll be fitted with a P90 single coil with six pole pieces. I'm not worried about the string placement. It'll scream: 3-string P90 cigar box guitar. I hope this is helpful, good luck with the build and have fun.
A mag pickup reads mostly the strings and will sound more clear and guitar like , a piezo reads the box vibrations , and sometimes even the hair on your arm rubbing on the neck , and usually sounds like a microphone in your pocket ;-) but , done right and embedded in silicone or hot-glue to dampen the sound a bit , piezos can sound good . best to test for a sweet spot . (usually near the top of the bass side of bridge under the lid .)
yes you can use 4 or 6 pole mags on a 3 or 2 or even one stringer . some folks tilt the pickup to align the poles better (but this is more-so for looks) , the mag field radiates outward so it will read the strings even between the poles . alignment is not necessary for the tiny difference it may make . and actually , many pickups you see tilted may be for another reason . tone . any side tilted toward the neck will sound warmer , while the other side toward the bridge will sound brighter . ie : the slanted pickuup on a strat . etc ..
hope that helps .
I thought I was being helpful, but I just learned something I didnt know. Thanks "Anonymous Pick"!
I think I need to keep my mouth shut and my ears open until I get a few more miles under my belt. Haha.
Gary , Your answer was not wrong , pole alignment does make a difference , just not so much on a fewer string instrument like a cbg . plus most will agree, it looks better aligned more that way . .
we should never feel discouraged in answering or replying if we believe we can help. Even if we are wrong and corrected , we all learn and benefit from it . ;-)
you were not wrong , or corrected ;-) infact i just elaborated on what you said . ;-)
I can answer the pickup question.
Just place the pickup at an angle so that all of the poles are under the strings.