What humbucker pole spacing for Hipshot hardtail?

stefan

Junior Member
Messages
54
I.e this one:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html?tab=Specs#details

The reason I ask is that the string spacing at the bridge (52.83mm) is close to Fender modern trem/fixed strat  1/8" (54mm) than vintage trem/fixed strat (57mm).

SD pickups come on both "SH" and "TB" flavours, my understanding was that TB humbuckers had wider pole pieces for trems, but a Floyd Rose has a 53mm string spacing according to Warmoth and now I'm confused!
 
stefan said:
I.e this one:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html?tab=Specs#details

The reason I ask is that the string spacing at the bridge (52.83mm) is close to Fender modern trem/fixed strat  1/8" (54mm) than vintage trem/fixed strat (57mm).

SD pickups come on both "SH" and "TB" flavours, my understanding was that TB humbuckers had wider pole pieces for trems, but a Floyd Rose has a 53mm string spacing according to Warmoth and now I'm confused!

There's a bit of width in each polepiece, so you do have a bit of leeway. If the hardtail says 52.83 and you can get a 53 I think you'd be right. If all else fails, maybe shoot an email to SD and ask them what pickups for that bridge width? No harm in asking them. A Floyd Rose is only one type of trem, there are other trems around (despite what Dangerous R6 would have us believe  :icon_jokercolor: ), so the assumption that a FR is 53mm is not necessarily the same for other trems. It's a bit vague of SD if that's how they match up their pickups.
 
Wasn't concerned with 52.83 vs 54, was just wondering if any forum members had experiences with SD humbuckers and this bridge. You are of course right - I'll ask SD!

On my tele with 53mm string spacing  Gotoh humbucker bridge, the poles do seem too narrow with an SH-spacing humbucker.
 
Found the answer here:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/frequently-asked/everything-else/what_does_tremb/

"A quick and easy way to tell which you need is to measure from the middle of the high string to the middle of the low string, directly over the pickup. If the distance is greater than two inches or 50mm, go for a Trembucker. If it's less than two inches or 50mm, go for a humbucker."

Looks like all Strat bridges want Trembuckers in the bridge! I've had the wrong type in my Tele all these years :p
 
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