PIckup polepiece spacing

[stratified]

I'm considering a set of Donlis humbucker pickups for an inexpensive guitar. I've noticed their bridge humbuckers pickups come with 52mm spacing while the neck pickups have 50mm spacing. I believe 52mm are more suitable for the wider vintage or Floyd tremolos bridges.

Since my application is a dual humbucker guitar with a TOM bridge, I am contemplating whether the 52mm bridge pickup would be suitable, or would ordering 2 neck pickups be a better solution. In the later case, the bobbin with the screws would be closer to the neck end for both neck and bridge pickup. Probably not significant, but it would look unusual.

Any recommendations as to the better alternative?

[ssstonelover]

You might be overthinking things. Firstly not all TOM bridges are 50mm. Secondly though it looks nice when the strings are directly over the pole pieces, sound is not affected unless alignment is way off. Thirdly all the string bending will be on the fretboard and not by the bridge pickup plus the slots in the saddles won't let the strings "wonder off" and affect string magnetism. Fourthly neck and bridge pickups are often (not always) wound differently so you will be losing the benefit of that difference (which can help sound quality when playing the bridge pickup).

TOM example

[gckelloch]

I guess Donlis is supposed to invoke Ron Ellis. I'm all for cheap pickups, especially of standard design. You know what type of sound you are hoping for?

The import TOM spec is apparently 52mm, so the 52mm pole spacing will be great in the bridge pos with that or a 52.5mm spacing.

[stratified]

Doesn't take much to convince me. I'm aware that strings don't have to be directly over the polepieces, but I was looking for confirmation that it would not make a significant difference in sound volume. I wasn't so worried about about the difference in the lower resistance of a neck pickup in the bridge position (tend to prefer lower K pickups).

You did inspire me to measure my bridge, and you're spot on, it is the Korean TOM at 52mm.

Thanks!

[stratified]

Mostly, I'm a lower output kinda guy. I have several guitars with single coils. My favorite has a single mini humbucker. I have one with EMGs for which I've switched out 85s for 81s, but it is my least favorite. I have a semi hollow with medium wind A5s.

For this one, I'm thinking to go with a PAF wind with A2 or A4 magnets.

I was impressed with some of Antigua's testing of Donlis pickups, so I thought I'd give them a try. Initially, I figured the nickel silver baseplate model, but I just saw his comparison of pickups with brass and the conclusion that it wouldn't make an audible difference. 

[gckelloch]

Keep in mind some are listed as having Brass covers, which would make a big difference. A2 or A4 can be too mellow in the neck depending on the guitar, cable capacitance, etc. I prefer A4 to A5 in a PAF as well. Swapping magnets is not hard at all in a PAF type, especially without covers.

[stratified]

gckelloch said, "Keep in mind some are listed as having Brass covers"

Yeah, I'm going to try the zebras this time around. Since I already have one guitar loaded with A5 mags, I wanted to try an A2 or A4 in this one.

[gckelloch]

I could see possibly going for an A2 in the bridge. Should be bright enough without a cover. Do they make an A4 model?

I like that the PAF types are slightly lower inductance than average. Better articulation.

[stratified]

It appears no A4 Donlis humbuckers offered.

I noticed a couple of mini humbuckers, one A5 the other ceramic. However, both have brass covers.

[gckelloch]

You could get an open coil A2 for the bridge and A5 for the neck. Again, swapping magnets is pretty easy if it's not hard glued in. Philadelphia Luthiers sells A4 magnets.