"Polarizing Subjects"- Humbucker Pole Piece Heights
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2021
- This is a simple A/B test of a set of Ron Ellis LRP (Lee Roy Parnell) humbucking pickups. The signal chain and every other measurement are exactly the same. The only thing changing is the Ellis preset raised pole-piece heights compared with almost flush pole pieces. Let me know in the comments how you think the two different settings sound.
Products used-
Heritage H150- heritageguitars.com/pages/h-150
Ron Ellis LRP Humbuckers- / ronellispickups
Laney IRT SLS Amp- www.laney.co.uk/amps/guitar/i...
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#humbucker #polepiece #LesPaul - เพลง
Thank you! I enjoyed this so much I watched it twice.
Thanks I appreciate that.
Thanks for your comparison. Keep in mind that humbuckers with a nickel cover already have their polepieces raised quite a bit, compared to an uncovered humbucker. In fact, if you add a cover to an uncovered humbucker, you’ll see you have to raise the polepieces A LOT even to just make them flush with the cover, otherwise they’ll remain buried inside. So I wouldn’t personally raise the polepieces of a covered humbucker as much as you showed in your pictures, because it means you’re really unbalancing the output of the two coils.
Anyway, I always adjust the polepieces of my humbucker equipped guitars, too, firstly to achieve equal output volume from each string, but sometimes also to fine-tune the tone. The more you raise the polepieces, the more you add mids and attack, to my ears. Combined with whole pickup adjustments, you can vary your tone quite a bit.
I appreciate the comment. I have to completely agree with you about these findings too. Currently I’m going all level with bridge even about 1/8”+ from strings (top fret depressed) and my neck is below the bezel on bass side treble side up. The pole pieces are all flush with one covers maybe a little lower. I tend to adjust them every other week. Refining 😁
It might have been more noticeable with clean tones. Myself, I make the two outside poles flush, then make the middle ones lower in a "frown" pattern. The nice thing is, if you don't like it, you can always change it. My guitar tech said they're meant to be messed with, so mess with them lol. Ether way, like the the last guy said, balance the output between the two pickups so they're balanced tonally.
Thanks for commenting. It was a lofi comparison I’ve been finding lots of cases for all flush and some for poles raised. Every guitar seems to have it’s own unique voice. This experiment was specific to Ron Ellis being set raised new. I have a set of others by him that I left factory heights and have been getting used to it.
I just liked the playing.
Actually, I like the pup low and some poles raises...often the high E and B in the bridge....the neck I mostly leave alone.
Thanks for checking it out. I have found I like a combination myself.
What is your generel pickup height with flat Polens? Do you balance your pickups volume wise? Great video👍
Great question. Every pickup is different but I like about 1/8” from the depressed at highest fret string to top of pickup/pole. The bass side I adjust to volume/eq. I play live a lot with bands and can’t handle a lot of lower mids and lows in the mix. Always refining 😁
I really liked the way you did this video!! You had it hop around from the various positions and settings for some seconds at a time, not like a solid minute of each position/setting. Btw I have a similar video suggestion: compare the directions of the screw heads. I've heard that it sounds best to have the screw slot perpendicular to the strings. I think there's some "magnetic truth" to it, because I've noticed that my tiny flathead screwdriver wants to be magnetically attracted to one half of the screw head or the other but certainly not in the slot itself lol.
Thanks for checking it out. It’s a small tonal detail but was interesting to compare back to back. Now only if I could limit myself to the exact same playing for each 😂
What is the string highth from cover with poles flush?
About 1/16"+
Thanks, I know it sounds pretty damn good. That's Gibson's specs and i started mine out at that with all poles flush, adjusted full circle right back to that with the exception of raising A -B to match radius. Brought the G & B poles down a little so all rang out without over powering one another. When all was said and done, pole highth almost mirrored those on the the single coil pickups that are non adjusting and staggered. Thought I'd share that, God bless and stay healthy.
Thanks for sharing that. I’m constantly trying to refine pickup heights and am always surprised coming back to certain measurements.
Flush pole pieces = More Bass and Output
Higher pole pieces = More Treble
Is that right?
I hear those things myself. I also found the flush was a more balanced sound across all strings. That being said i I use a combination on different guitars.
Hi Aaron, you didn't change the general pickup heights between the 2 tests, right?
Yes correct, just lowered the pole pieces so they were all level with covers top.
i know nothing of pole piece height but for my bridge pickup i like to have it almost flush with the pickup cover maybe higher by maybe 1 turn. a minute ago my bridge was sounding to "clean" i couldnt get the twanyness i want i turned it less than half a turn instantly it sounded and felt more real as if it made the strings rattle like crazy and before it was dead my neck pickup is just garage its ugly sounding
I’m gunna try raising the neck pole pieces I definitely have them too low
Interesting. I’ve experimented a lot. Currently have them raised on neck on one guitar. Everything else that is adjustable poles is flat. Lately I’ve been into getting the guitar vibrating as lively as possible then just adjust pickup slightly b
Definitely more clarity raised to my ears. Better balance between strings as well.
That was my first impression too. More experimentation coming.
@@joeriffanucci I went through the same process about a year ago when I replaced the pups in my Lester with a set of Geppetto Camelots. I ended up with the neck poles raised and tweaked for each string, and the bridge poles set to the string radius. Couldn't be happier
Good to hear. How are those pickups? I haven't tried them yet.
@@joeriffanucci They're okay. Typical unpotted PAF clone. I like the neck pickup really well. It has a particular mid-range nasal honk I like very much. Bridge pickup reminds of a Pearly Gates. I also bought a set of their Firebird pickups that I had to send back because they literally fell apart, and the neck pickup lead was 2 inches too short.
That's very interesting. I hear the Pearly Gates on the Ellis LRP bridge myself. Funny how that's one of our benchmarks. (Not that there's anything wrong with it 😂)You ever try Peter Florance humbuckers?
Hard to tell as there is no unity in cords or notes between raised or flat.
I agree, it’s very subtle. I should’ve simplified
Chuck the screws and adjust the pick up
That’s my direction. I’ve done the comparison on a lot of guitars and seems best to just have them flat
Honestly having a hard time hearing a big difference. Could be the laptop speakers though...
It's very subtle. The bridge was more apparent to me. Plain steel strings really had harmonics and could almost be harsh when I pick hard near the bridge. Perfect ZZ top sound though. The neck got a little muddy for my tasted. So bridge is flush and neck is compensated currently.
No, I have a nice little amp and good bookshelf speakers on my comp. There are so many myths with guitars. Like rough cast mags sounding diff than smooth polished. It's called expectation bias or placebo effect. People say they understand it but will never admit it's happening. "but I really hear a difference". It happens in our brains. It's one of the most widely used sales tools in all aspects of audio. When you really understand what's happening and admit to yourself you can be fooled, many differences seem to vanish.
I totally agree with biases. We do it with everything we like and everything we don’t like. I hear everything and still find myself having an issue with things like this. Another one is pickup heights in relationship to what they read. The one constant that seems to permeate is the fact with everything you don’t like in the chain you can compensate for in another way. That being said, just like in recording I think its best to get the best possible tone from the simplest and most pure way possible.
There are basically two opinions on the matter, both of which are spectacularly stupid (which is typical for electric guitarists among musicians): The one group wants the pole pieces to stay plane with the pickup, „because it doesn’t matter“. In fact, they say that because it looks better. The other group wants to duplicate the fretboard radius, in order to give each string the same distance. Ok, now let‘s talk about the actual facts. You could actually use your ears and adjust the pole pieces, until all strings have the same output. The result would be, that the two e strings are plane with the pickup, and the pole pieces go upstairs from thick e string to d and actually DOWNstairs from thin e string to g. So the d pole would lifted, while the g pole would be lowered. Why is that? Because the plain strings have a stronger magnetic field and thus a larger output than the wound strings. That‘s why g strings are always loud, while d strings are quiet. Unfortunately, electric guitarists don‘t notice that, because for the most part they aren‘t really sophisticated musicians, but are rather interested in testosterone battles, like bullshit tech talk with other guitarists or looking cool with their guitar. These guys dominate the market in such a way, that Fender to this day produces top end guitars with „staggered pole pieces“, with a lifted g string pole (lol :D :D :D). Greets!
I agree with your thinking. That’s how I approach it. Only did this video because of the pre-adjusted poles on these new pickups. I take it you aren’t an electric guitar player? The other major factor people ignore is string excursion at the bridge or neck locations. I personally have worked on enough guitars to know every one is a new challenge with the component variables.
@@joeriffanucci I'm a private teacher for guitar, piano and vocals for 13 years. Guitar students are by far the worst. For the most part, they don't want to practice or learn theory. While you can just work through the same piano book with all piano students (with actual notes inside :D), guitar students only accept their own favorite songs, which are usually too hard for them, simplified by tabs or chords. And they still don't practice them. They basically want to look cool with their guitar and wait for my magic spell which makes them play good. My experiences with guitar service techs (:D) and with other guitarists in bands speak a similar language. Lots of ego in this business.
Interesting. I’ve met a lot musicians who have an attitude myself. I suppose the music is the most important part. I have no interest in the attitude. Curious why this video caught your eye. I’m into demoing gear and tones live music etc. like you I’ve been teaching for 20+years, touring, even worked managing guitar stores and doing luthier work all that time. Hope you’re having a decent Thanksgiving.
@@tobisteffen I find it a bit ironic to bemoan the egos of others, while wholesale criticizing an entire group, just by their instrument. Perhaps guitars draw a more rebellious student, but that is in fact sort of what rock and roll is about to begin with, isn't it?
@@tobisteffen get the hate out that a boy. Feel better now. 😂😂
Nice attempt but badly executed. Should had kept like for like. Jumping from bridge flush to neck with poles raised then bridge again, leave no room for direct comparison. Also should had played the same riff again and again
I recorded with them raised then flush. I spliced the clips back to back, did not know I used the wrong pickups back to back. It was mostly for my own interest in what 1% difference in tone was. Frankly a waste of time. The thing every commenter falls to address is that companies do one or another. In regards to the poles. My only goal was to hear that difference because of that choice by the manufacturer. Ie- flush =vintage etc. I’ll check out how you would do it..
Look, first of all thank you for your effort. I understand it isn’t easy to produce an A-B comparison video so please accept my comments as a suggestion, not a criticism. If you consider doing it again it would be more helpful to play the same riff with each position with pokes flushed, then with poles raised. While editing it will help to place the neck clips side by side, then the bridge clips side by side.
Thanks for your suggestions.
A waste of time ... no voiceover, no explanation, just overdriven guitar playing and short clips of video. Skip it
Guilty… I thought I put a disclaimer in the description.
True...it may have come from another guitar. Who knows...post processing and stuffs.
The question is did I do this for any reason at all…. I’m beginning to think no by the responses. Reality is Ron Ellis adjusts the pole pieces up. I wanted them flat and decided to record before and after. Simple as that.