specs for low mount pickups?

[smiling wolverine]

I'm familiar with the basics (magnet types, pickup design, wire gauge, etc) and how they relate to overall sound and output, but I have a design consideration that has stumped me. I'm not sure about how the mounting height of a pickup affects tone, assuming the output were not a consideration. I've got a playing style that clashes with the middle pickup when they are adjusted to sound/balance right. I want the strat sounds but need to lower the middle pickup flush to the body. what design considerations should I consider when looking for/custom winding a hot middle pickup to sound like a standard one if it's more than a quarter inch lower than the others?

[big_teee]

Welcome to the BC.
I guess use a Pickup with hot A5 Magnets.
Anyone got any good ideas for Wolverine?
T

[madzub]

I had the same problem, my fingers and pick would always hit the middle pup on a strat.... so i got rid of the middle pickup! a lot of players don't use the middle pup anyway, and there are still plenty of sounds you can get out of the neck n bridge pups with different wiring if you need the variety.

otherwise, maybe neodymium magnets would help?

[copperheadroads]

A5 ,A8 or Neo magnets ,Keep in mind there are a few strat enthusiast that like a weaker middle pickup that is quite low compared to the other 2 pickups for the 2 & 4 quack

[smiling wolverine]

A5 ,A8 or Neo magnets ,Keep in mind there are a few strat enthusiast that like a weaker middle pickup that is quite low compared to the other 2 pickups for the 2 & 4 quack

so, stronger magnets, same winding as the rest? I'm thinking of going with a p-rail in the bridge, or maybe an L-500. just need to spec out a neck/middle to match. Ideally I'd hide the middle pickup under the pickguard like the fender marauder prototype, but that might prove problematic. I'm hoping for a solid distorted tone from the bridge humbucker, a hot single coil neck for legato leads and then something to give me a nice "quack" tone when matched with the other 2. I doubt I'll use the middle on its own.

[big_teee]

so, stronger magnets, same winding as the rest? I'm thinking of going with a p-rail in the bridge, or maybe an L-500. just need to spec out a neck/middle to match. Ideally I'd hide the middle pickup under the pickguard like the fender marauder prototype, but that might prove problematic. I'm hoping for a solid distorted tone from the bridge humbucker, a hot single coil neck for legato leads and then something to give me a nice "quack" tone when matched with the other 2. I doubt I'll use the middle on its own.

If you put it under the pickguard, it truly is a long way to the strings.
I would mount it regular and lower it so It's not in the way.
Usually to get that pretty quack the middle is hot and high.
Another factor on Quack is taller bobbin pickups usually quack better than short bobbins.
I made a Bridge and Middle just for a guy to play in position 2.
I made both pickups a little taller and wound them hot, but not too hot.
They had that great Quack, and Spank! He loved them.
So gang, how do you like to make pickups to Quack good?
T

[R.Madgwick]

You're stuck with alnico rods if you want that true strat tone but if youre not going to use the middle alone you won't notice much volume drop when in parallel anyways. Look into super switches its very easy to wire for the following.
Bridge
Bridge/mid
Bridge/neck
Neck/mid
Neck

This eliminates the position entirely and gives you the bridge/neck combo which is a favorite of mine, drop the middle pickup out of the way and call it a day. I wouldn't miss match magnets and powerful rods tends to add a certain brightness and resonant peak I'm personally not a fan of. Also with the super switch you can go farther to seperate humbucker coils when running parallel for noise cancelling with a rw/rp mid giving noise cancelling everywhere but neck only.
Bridge full
Bridge south/middle north
Bridge north/neck south
Neck south/mid north
Neck only