| Author |
Topic: swapping pickups: does string spacing matter? |
Myk Freedman
From:
Brooklyn
|
Posted 3 Mar 2012 11:08 am |
|
Hello, long time follower, infrequent poster.
Wondering if anyone might have the answer to a question of mine.
I am looking to swap out the pickup in my Rondo SX 2 lap steel with one of these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dimarzio-dp169-virtual-p-90-humbucker-pickup
and am wondering if I need to make sure the string spacing is compatible.
The string spacing being:
Width at the Nut: 2 1/16", x String Spacing: 3/8"
I've been playing steel a while now, but have never changed the pickup in one of my steels so I'm not sure about what are probably some pretty basic questions.
thanks everyone! |
|
|
 |
Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
|
Posted 3 Mar 2012 11:25 am
|
|
As long as the strings on your lap steel don't extend past the outside pole pieces it should be no problem.
_________________
Bob |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 3 Mar 2012 11:29 am
|
|
String spacing can be an issue, Myk. If the strings don't line up over the poles, you may not have an even, balanced sound. From what I can see Dimarzio has 2 string spacings for their humbuckers--the Gibson standard and the Fender standard. The Fender spacing is wider:
F-spaced pickups measure 2.01" (51 mm) center-to-center from the first polepiece to the sixth. Standard-spaced pickups measure 1.90" (48 mm).
Myk, hope all is well. Would love to hear some of your new music.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 3 Mar 2012 11:43 am
|
|
Like mike mentioned, string spacing is important.
Is your SX2 the earlier dog eared one or the later version with the soapbar? If its the soapbar, then that linked Virtual 90 should be a direct drop in and have the same spacing as what is in it. If the dogear, then the spacing will still be ok, but you will have to do some modifications / routing to get it to fit?
Soapbar on top, dogear on bottom.
.
.
_________________
Some misc pics of my hand crafted steels
Follow me on Facebook here |
|
|
|
Myk Freedman
From:
Brooklyn
|
Posted 3 Mar 2012 11:54 am
|
|
Thanks for all the feedback everyone.
It's the soap bar model. So I'm glad to hear it'll be a nice fit to replace. I'm pretty excited to hear how it'll sound once it's in.
I've read up on how others modified theirs in pretty interesting ways and am eager to see where I can take mine.
Mike, nice to hear from you too. You still live in NYC? I've been playing a lot in Brooklyn these days. It would be be great to meet up sometime and hear you play again! |
|
|
|
