Help me decide if this pickup is F-Spaced or not

[Rouse]

Heres the picture:

Its a SD Seth Lover. It says 1.956 inches on the meter. I know F-spaced is 53mm, this says that its 49.682mm, which seems to be gibson spaced. I just wanted to double check that the guy who is selling this measured in the right spot. He measured towards the middle of the poles, do you measure there or on the outside? If it was on the outside, it might be closer to F-spaced. I asked the guy and he had no idea.

 

[TroubledTreble]

The best way to measure is from edge to edge.

For example:

Measure from the left edge of the first pole screw to the the left edge of the sixth pole screw.

It is the best way to get an accurate measurement instead of trying to "eyeball" the center.

I just measured the SD Seth Lover I have and it measures 49mm.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The best way to measure is from edge to edge.

Maybe on this one since you have a similar one for comparison, but it assumes that all pickup pole pieces are the same.  If comparing one F-Spaced pickup to another and they have overly large or small pole pieces, edge to edge will be different, but center to center will always work.

 

[Dan025]

that's why he said left edge to left edge, not outer edges and not inner edges, only different pole pieces on the same pickup would be the only potential problem but i cant remember ever seeing that done. center to center is sloppy you rely too much on the eye

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Yeah, I thought about that after I posted it.

 

[Superlizard]

Seth Lovers are my go-to for PAF clones... I know one could get a custom F-spaced from Seymour, but
the stock SL's are not F-spaced.

And when we say "F-spaced", that's the old-school Fender string spacing (I forget the numbers), not the
newer Am Std Strat, etc   type.

For example, Callaham parts sells Strat bridge saddles that fit for the different spacings.  

The Cal. saddles I have on my Am Std Strat trem are skinnier than the Cal. saddles on his vintage 6-hole trem kit, and I do
have a Seth Lover in the bridge of said Am Std Strat, and the strings align with the pole pieces.

 

[Rouse]

Seth Lovers are my go-to for PAF clones... I know one could get a custom F-spaced from Seymour, but
the stock SL's are not F-spaced.

And when we say "F-spaced", that's the old-school Fender string spacing (I forget the numbers), not the
newer Am Std Strat, etc   type.

For example, Callaham parts sells Strat bridge saddles that fit for the different spacings.  

The Cal. saddles I have on my Am Std Strat trem are skinnier than the Cal. saddles on his vintage 6-hole trem kit, and I do
have a Seth Lover in the bridge of said Am Std Strat, and the strings align with the pole pieces.

So, that pickup should fit my Warmoth Strat with the Am. Stand. Trem?

 

[Superlizard]

So, that pickup should fit my Warmoth Strat with the Am. Stand. Trem?

Alright since you twisted my arm heheh...

Some more info:

"F-spaced" is a term DiMarzio came up with a long time ago to describe Fender vintage string spacing ("F" is for "Fender").

Fender vintage trem =    2 7/32" string spacing... or "F-spaced"
Fender Am Std trem =   2 1/16" string spacing
Fender Mexi trem =       2 1/16" string spacing

=========================================================================

Now, I purchaed a Callaham Am Std Strat trem upgrade kit for my Am Std Strat trem - said kit features 2 1/16" spacing stamped saddles:

Callaham Vintage Styled "CG" Saddles for American Standard Bridge

$40.00 per set of 6

In order to meet the demand for a high quality vintage styled saddle for American Standard guitars, we now offer narrower vintage styled stamped steel saddles for American Standard guitars. Not only do they sound far better than the stock cast saddles, they look so much better. These saddles are specifically for American Standard styled bridges with the offset intonation screw. These saddles will work on either Strats or Teles with this style bridge. They are supplied with all stainless steel 4-40 screws. The E strings come with 1/4 length height screws and 5/16 length height screws for the others. Allen wrench included. Nickel. 2 1/16 string spacing.

Notice it says "2 1/16" string spacing"... in other words, these are direct replacements for the block/cast saddles (yuck I hate em)
that come stock with the Am Std Strat trem.

Now as you can see in the pics (Halfmoth Strat with Seth Lover in bridge), the strings and poles line up (pic reversed for righties - I'm a lefty):

So, with all this considered, you should be fine.  BTW, that's also a Warmoth pickguard.

 

[Superlizard]

One thing to check though, in case it's a custom order Seth Lover:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192053

Hi all, new member first post. Just bought a seth lover b off ebay and was quite surprised to see a four conductor black plastic wire and sticker reading "TB-55B". No seth, seymour signature either. I assume I got a custom Seth Lover made for a trem guitar? Kinda lame the seller didn't mention this in ad. Anybody seen one like this?

It seems the "T" designation in "TB-55B" would stand for "trem-spaced", which is Seymour Duncan's way of saying "F-spaced".

I doubt this is the case with that particular SL you're looking at, but always good to double-check.

 

[Dan025]

yes they call them trembuckers from seymour duncan hence "TB"

 

[lafromla1]

I put a Gibson Burstbucker Pro in the bridge with a Wilkie Trem (2 1/8) and the E's sit just outside the outer poles.  No loss of sound or tone though, they just doesn't sit directly on top.

 

[swarfrat]

Measure edge to edge, then subtract one screw width. It's the Correct Way in the shop.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

That's the same as center to center, or the same edge to same edge.

 

[swarfrat]

Yes, but it allows you to measure round surface to round surface on the inside of calipers. Without trying to guess if you're on the center or not. You can properly to edge to same edge if you have hermaphroditic calipers, and I'm sure that they had some back with the manual mills/lathes at my old work, but I never across them during my stay there.

 

[Dan025]

no need for hermaphrodite calipers which are only good for transfering a measurement. you can take a depth measurement or same edge to same edge measurement with those calipers, when you open the jaws there is a rod that protrudes out the back that can take depth measurements in a hole and the sliding jaw on the back side is ground flush to the end of the caliper for measuring steps. but we're splitting hairs here. anyway re-reading the OP i see that the question was about whether the poles are measured center to center by the manufacturer or if the numbers given by seymour duncan are intended to be outside to outside. to answer the OP the measurement should be center to center how ever you think is best to get that measurement. it looks to me to be gibson spaced, i dont know if the seth lover is available trem spaced, trem spaced is required for vintage fender but for modern trems you can get away with gibson spaced but trem spaced would be better