My first electric

[Raymond]

I have a customer who wants a flying V with a neck like a PRS, dragon on the fretboard and pick-ups like a Texas Special Strat. I have the neck and body shape laid out and even have the dragon inlaid fretboard, but I have never done an electric before and was wondering about the placement of the pick-ups.

Are they just laid out in approximate location or are they supposed to be a measured distance from the nut or bridge?

I'm countin on there not being any stupid questions because this sure sounds like one to me...

Raymond

[Eben]

It DEFINITELY matters where you put 'em Bro!

Pickups in th' wrong place are prone to picking up all sorts of weird tone shadows and wolves and what not.

I'm gonna suggest you get a book or two - Look at Melvyn Hiscock's Making Your Own Electric Guitar, and Electric Guitar Setups by Hideo Kamimoto are two of my faves.

Also good pickup websites like Sedmour Duncan's have a wealth of info on positioning pickups.

Finally, I always liked this article by Don Tillman too:
http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponse/index.html

E

[Raymond]

Thanks Eben.

In looking up your references it appears that a Strat had the neck pickup directly under the 24th fret, but 'some newer models have it a fraction of an inch closer to the bridge.'

Any opinions on the difference in sound? Anyone have any idea how much a fraction of an inch is?

I also couldn't find any reference to the angle of the bridge pick-up on the Strat.

I had this guy play a bunch of guitars at the local Guitar center and tell me which one he liked the sound of and he chose an American Standard Strat. That's why I'm looking at those even though this is a flying V.

Raymond

[Eben]

I don't know what it is either, but you can measure off mine!

A fraction of an inch closer? Bullshit - Go with the tried and true!



E

[D_H_G GUITARS]

Hi Raymond I have some plans if you like, I could send them by way of email.
Just pm me your address and they are in pdf and dwf files.



Thxs
Hugh

[Raymond]

PM on the way Hugh.

Thanks,
Raymond

Eben,

You got everything I need including knowledge, so... I'LL BE BACK (in my arnold voice).

[Eben]

I'll be here, friend!

E

[Jason]

I disagree! Pickup placement matters, but not that specifically. If you put it directly under the 24th fret, it's only under that particular node for that particular note, everywhere else it's slightly higher.

Pickup placement is a general thing. If you want to read a book on the subject, I suggest... crap... I'm not at home and I can't really refer you back to luthierforum... It was my textbook for acoustic physics at OU (phenomenal class!), and it's excellent.

I'll have to go into more detail when I have time. Ben's gotta go to band practice, and my sister is coming into town. I still need to take you and Ardith up on dinner, so maybe we'll talk about it then. I'll PM you.

Jason.