I was hoping someone could answer this question about an electric guitar kit build.
(No, this is not about a guitar amplifier.)
The kit is a Paul Reed Smith copy from China.
It came in a box, completely un-assembled, and no directions.
The pickups that came with the kit, never installed; are being upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups.
There are flat thick pickup cradles, flat thin pickup cradles, and sloped pickup cradles.
If we use the sloped cradles, should the thinner side of the cradle face towards the area where you pick the strings, to allow the picked string to move toward the guitar body without hitting the cradle?
I normally can be found in the Tubes / Valves threads.
I hope a guitar person can answer the question.
Thanks!
(No, this is not about a guitar amplifier.)
The kit is a Paul Reed Smith copy from China.
It came in a box, completely un-assembled, and no directions.
The pickups that came with the kit, never installed; are being upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups.
There are flat thick pickup cradles, flat thin pickup cradles, and sloped pickup cradles.
If we use the sloped cradles, should the thinner side of the cradle face towards the area where you pick the strings, to allow the picked string to move toward the guitar body without hitting the cradle?
I normally can be found in the Tubes / Valves threads.
I hope a guitar person can answer the question.
Thanks!
You know the drill 😉 : pictures or it didn´t happen 😉
In any case, pickup face should be parallel to strings and able to get real close to them, you use thick/thin/angled "cradle" depending on your Guitar body curvature (which you do NOT show 😉 )
Say a Telecaster has a flat front , a LP or 335 has a quite curved one, etc. ; we don´t know WHICH PRS yu are talking about, although I´f guess a quite contoured one.
You may put strings on it and try fit (without actual screwing on) all 3 cradles in place.
In any case, pickup face should be parallel to strings and able to get real close to them, you use thick/thin/angled "cradle" depending on your Guitar body curvature (which you do NOT show 😉 )
Say a Telecaster has a flat front , a LP or 335 has a quite curved one, etc. ; we don´t know WHICH PRS yu are talking about, although I´f guess a quite contoured one.
You may put strings on it and try fit (without actual screwing on) all 3 cradles in place.
String up the guitar and at least do a rough setup - neck relief, action...... Then measure the distance from the bottom of both E strings to the bottom of each pickup rout. With this information you can calculate the range of clearances from the top of the poles to the bottom of the strings. Generally the thicker strings will be further away from the pickups than the thinner strings. Fore and aft the pickups should be parallel to the strings. On this Tele I just finished building the low E is ~⅛" and the high E is ~1/16" below the pole. Be sure to leave room to adjust either way.
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JMFahey and BeaufortRalph,
Thank you both for your helpful (and well described) responses.
Just the kind of treatment that keeps me reading and posting in the Tubes / Valves threads.
You gave lots of good details.
I am sorry I did not attach at least one picture. Perhaps I will attach one later when I get caught up on several things (including wiring my first balanced / differential 2 stage push pull amplifier to work with my balanced CD player output.
I am completely out of my league when it comes to electric guitars.
We shall see if my friend and I can come up with a well working unit, or have to pay a Guitar Technician in the area to finish those details that are needed when we string it up (I have a couple of good ones to choose from).
Thanks again.
Thank you both for your helpful (and well described) responses.
Just the kind of treatment that keeps me reading and posting in the Tubes / Valves threads.
You gave lots of good details.
I am sorry I did not attach at least one picture. Perhaps I will attach one later when I get caught up on several things (including wiring my first balanced / differential 2 stage push pull amplifier to work with my balanced CD player output.
I am completely out of my league when it comes to electric guitars.
We shall see if my friend and I can come up with a well working unit, or have to pay a Guitar Technician in the area to finish those details that are needed when we string it up (I have a couple of good ones to choose from).
Thanks again.
Don't let this put you off.
Many musical instruments were invented at the times where the only precision tooling available were... stones 🙂
Pickup mounting is only a black art over 3D:
Many musical instruments were invented at the times where the only precision tooling available were... stones 🙂
Pickup mounting is only a black art over 3D:
- Each pole piece (the little screws) must face a string
- The PU must be relatively close to the string to pick up a decent signal, but not too close to be hit. There should be adjustments built into the hardware, because this also affect the sound. Or select the appropriate height. Or shave: plastic rings are cheap. Check the 2nd link below.
- If you have more than 1 PU, install one near the bridge, another one near the neck. If no pilot holes are provided, look up some pics and guestimate the distances. This will affect the tone.
Zung (and the other responders),
Thanks again!
I only hope that I can help you sometime on Tubes / Valves.
Most of you know I am very opinionated, and often very unkind in my words and demeanor on those threads.
So I apologize in advance for when I do that (and for the past too).
Happy Picking
Happy Listening
Happy New Year.
Thanks again!
I only hope that I can help you sometime on Tubes / Valves.
Most of you know I am very opinionated, and often very unkind in my words and demeanor on those threads.
So I apologize in advance for when I do that (and for the past too).
Happy Picking
Happy Listening
Happy New Year.