RGA F-Spaced or not?

Wu1VeN · #1 04-03-2006, 01:55 AM

Hey, I'm ordering an RGA121 (el naturale

) and I'm intending to replace the pickups (Petrucci set - Air Norton neck and D-Sonic bridge) and was just wondering if the guitar is designed for F-Spaced pickups or not. I know most (all?) Ibanez's are but just wanted to be 100% sure.

Thanks a lot.

j.arledge · #2 04-03-2006, 01:57 AM

it is about 99% cosmetic as to whether you need f-spaced pickups or standard . You'll be fine with either, sound wont be noticable affected either way .

Wu1VeN · #3 04-03-2006, 02:01 AM

Really? I was under the impression it did make a difference. Thanks. Edit - I just checked, and your completely correct.

If someone could still answer my question, I would appreciate it.

rguser · #4 04-03-2006, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arledge

it is about 99% cosmetic as to whether you need f-spaced pickups or standard . You'll be fine with either, sound wont be noticable affected either way .

it's not that simple,
depends on the poles of the pickup, among other things.
the breed bridge seems to be very sensitive to position, angle, distance, etc.
flat pole pups should be better, I think.

j.arledge · #5 04-03-2006, 02:44 AM

i should have said i personally dont think it matters , i have put standard spaced in floyded guitars and had the exact pickup in other guitars spaced correctly and noticed no difference . I have had the same pickup f-spaced and non f-spaced in the same guitar and didn't notice any change in sound .

I have never had a breed though so i can't say for sure on that one but i have had the following .
evolution neck and bridge
air norton
fred
air zone
super distortion
D-sonic
steve's special
tone zone
paf pro
norton

all of those except the norton, air norton , air zone and steve's special i have owned 2 or three and had them in standard or f-spaced in the same or different guitars .

Wu1VeN · #6 04-03-2006, 02:48 AM

Ok...

Can someone answer the question now, thanks...

rguser · #7 04-03-2006, 02:52 AM

you have used more dimarzios than I have,
have you noticed any difference regarding the two types of pole pieces,
evo's, fred and steve's sp, paf pro have hex poles,

rguser · #8 04-03-2006, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wu1VeN

Ok...

Can someone answer the question now, thanks...

d-sonic @ bridge should be fine with either spacing because of the bar, imho

Wu1VeN · #9 04-03-2006, 03:06 AM

Well only half of it is a bar, so the other half would have a spacing, and then theres the Air Norton which isn't got a bar. Thanks for that though.

Can someone answer the question now...

lyconxero · #10 04-03-2006, 05:22 AM

Yes, the guitar takes F-spaced pickups. I dunno why people couldn't just come out and say that instead of adding all the "it doesn't matter" or whatever. I know that it takes F-spaced pickups because I asked that very question to the Dimarzio tech a few months ago. And whether or not it REALLY matters will always be up for debate, but for me personally I'd rather be safe than sorry.

dave_mc · #11 04-06-2006, 07:16 AM

^+1 on lyconxero. If you know, just answer, lol- and THEN put in that it doesn't matter. Even if it is only cosmetic, you might as well have it looking right, and better safe than sorry.

As a further answer to this question, from all i hear, you don't need an f-spaced neck pickup- I think it says this on the dimarzio website under FAQ or something like that- only the bridge version needs to be f-spaced.

This helps me a lot too- thanks for asking the question, wu1ven, i'm looking into an rga121, and i have a voucher for £5 off some swineshead pickups, so may have to buy the pickups first as the voucher expires at the end of april!

GUARDiAN · #12 04-06-2006, 08:05 PM

I just read somewhere that you should use a F-spaced pickup in the neck-position if the nut width is 43mm or more. So RG/JEM/S should use F in both positions and JS/JPM should use F only in the bridge position.

j.arledge · #13 04-06-2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyconxero

Yes, the guitar takes F-spaced pickups. I dunno why people couldn't just come out and say that instead of adding all the "it doesn't matter" or whatever. I know that it takes F-spaced pickups because I asked that very question to the Dimarzio tech a few months ago. And whether or not it REALLY matters will always be up for debate, but for me personally I'd rather be safe than sorry.

well i am not sorry , the pickups sound just fine to me either way . I really dont think it matters , that is just what i think . I he asked for an a reply and i gave it to him .

the magnetic field of a pickup isn't just confined to the pole pices , it covers the extra space when using a pickup that has a smaller pole peice spread.

So do whatever , if you think you'd be safer just going ahead and getting f-spaced do it . IMO it dont matter

dave_mc · #14 04-07-2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GUARDiAN

I just read somewhere that you should use a F-spaced pickup in the neck-position if the nut width is 43mm or more. So RG/JEM/S should use F in both positions and JS/JPM should use F only in the bridge position.

where'd you read that? just out of interest

cheers!

screamndemon69 · #15 04-07-2006, 10:48 AM

F spaced are what fit and probably LOOK aesthetically better (if you're real picky). i put a Seymour JB and '59 set in my natural one and it sounds great! i am pretty picky and i don't really notice it much. as you can see, the neck pup is fine but you miss the pole pieces on the bridge alignment. sounds great so i don't care one way or another. i have a non F-spaced Evo II in my custom RG (Flash) and it sounds great and again, it doesn't bother me not being 100% aligned. sorry for the bad pics.