Proximity & Timbre

[fieldwrangler]

Folks -

Is there a general consensus among the team here regarding how (all other things being equal, as they say) the sound of a string changes when a polepiece is brought closer to the string? Let's just assume that neither string pull nor relative coil balance in side-by-side humbuckers is an issue, and we're thinking steel polepieces, not rod mags.

Dynamic and static considerations are of interest, and all relevant reports, empirical and theoretical, are hereby solicited...

Bob Palmieri

[Lovelock]

Hi Fieldwrangler,

I can't stop noticing it is the proximity of the coil to the string that makes more difference in output. If a polepiece is raised above the coil, it does magnetise the string more, and will raise the output somewhat, but the raised polepiece will also prevent you from getting that coil closer to the string. This will lower the sensitivity/overall output.

I must say my experience in this matter is mainly with rod magnets, which might change things somewhat.

[Mike Sulzer]

Folks -

Is there a general consensus among the team here regarding how (all other things being equal, as they say) the sound of a string changes when a polepiece is brought closer to the string? Let's just assume that neither string pull nor relative coil balance in side-by-side humbuckers is an issue, and we're thinking steel polepieces, not rod mags.

Dynamic and static considerations are of interest, and all relevant reports, empirical and theoretical, are hereby solicited...

Bob Palmieri

Raising the pole piece makes it louder. This can introduce a couple of confusing effects.

1. Slightly louder things tend to sound better. That is, some of the difference one hears might go away if one readjusts the volume. [Some of us remember the stereo salesman who always played the more expensive system a bit louder.]

2. If you are using distortion, the sound of the distortion can be affected by the higher level. If you readjust the level before the distortion, some of the difference that you hear might go away.

One "real" effect could be what Joseph Rogowski has pointed out: distortion due to changes in the strength of the magnetic field over the vibration path of the string. The fractional change could be different at different adjusted heights.

[fieldwrangler]

Agreed on all of these counts.

I think that I (and others) often feel that the clean sound, compensated for changes in level, seems brighter. I wonder if it really is, or if there is an increase in transient effects that folks associate with other situations in which a similar effect is in fact due to an increase in high end.

'Course, the whole issue of controlling for the way in which changes in the amount of extension of the polepiece above the flatwork changes the response really makes this question of mine all the more questionable...

[David Schwab]

Raising the pole piece makes it louder.

I don't find this true on humbuckers. When you raise the poles (on the one coil) you have to lower the pickup. It sounds brighter, but not louder. It's a thinner tone. It's fuller when it's closer. I also find that raising the poles for individual strings does not make them a whole lot louder.

Single coils with magnets for poles is a different matter.

[Mike Sulzer]

I don't find this true on humbuckers. When you raise the poles (on the one coil) you have to lower the pickup. It sounds brighter, but not louder. It's a thinner tone. It's fuller when it's closer. I also find that raising the poles for individual strings does not make them a whole lot louder.

Single coils with magnets for poles is a different matter.

If the pickup is initially low enough so that you do not have to lower it when you raise the pole pieces, I think it gets louder.

[David Schwab]

If the pickup is initially low enough so that you do not have to lower it when you raise the pole pieces, I think it gets louder.

I keep my pickups as close as I can get them.

[Stealth]

Mr. Milan explained it fairly well on his webpage (MAMA pickups) - however, that particular part of the page is still untranslated (in Italian) - but Google Translate clears things up somewhat.