Pickup spacing- quick question

[BeastofLove]

Going to be ordering a replacement neck pickup for my USRG30 - going with the PAFPro.

Do I need an f-spaced pickup or not?

I was looking at my DBK, and the polepieces look like they are the same on the neck and bridge, so presumably the neck Breed is ALSO f-spaced. Although, the neck width is different on the DBK and the USRG30.

-Ben

[JESTER700]

Get a regular pup for the neck, not an F-spaced.

[BeastofLove]

Great- I assumed I wouldn't need an f-spaced pickup since it's not a bridge pickup, but I just wanted to be doubly sure before dropping the $.

Thanks,

Ben

[johank]

Now when I look closer I relise that the bridge pickup of my jem777vdy, is not F-spaced. Is it an disadvantage compared to a F-spaced pickup?

[Lonely Raven]

F spacing is done to help get those magnetic poles as dead on under the
strings as possible. Here is what DiMarzio has to say about it:

F-SPACING:
F-spacing refers to a wider spacing between pole pieces available upon request at no extra charge on all full-sized humbuckers. For proper string alignment and balanced output, F-spaced humbuckers should be used in the bridge position on all guitars with string spacing of 2.1" (53 mm) or greater. This applies to most guitars with tremolos, as well as many newer fixed-bridge instruments. On guitars with a nut width of 1-11/16" (43 mm) or greater, F-spaced pickups can be used in the neck position as well. Please specify "F-spaced" at the time you place your order.


(IMHO) I buy all my pickups F spaced. You never know when you can
used the pickup elsewhere in the future, and it doesn't cost anything
extra to buy one F spaced.

The only time I wouldn't buy an F spaced, is if you have a narrow bridge,
nut, and or neck like on the vintage strats, Alvarez electrics, and some
Jacksons. But even then, F spacing does pretty well.

[dcord]

F-spacing is, in reality, a marketing ploy, and is mainly and aesthetics issue. Either normal spaced or F-spaced pickups will sound equal in the same guitar due the the physics of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is created through the poles and windings of the pickups. Since the windings go around the bobbins (which are the same size on both spacings), the magnetic field is basically the same for both pickups.

It makes a larger difference in sound by raising the pole pieces and extending the magnetic field into the path of the strings.

Cost is the same, so I'd get F-spaced simply because of the string alignment. Looks are everything.

[Lonely Raven]

If it was a marketing ploy, then why would they bother doing it at all
if their not going to charge anything extra for it?

[dcord]

It attracts sales of their pickups due to the "superior" spacing. They don't need to raise price. Either way, revenue is up.