Pickup question for Les paul.

[parntz145]

I want to change out the pickups in my R9 Les paul. I heard that the Pauls are 53mm (trem spaced) sizing. Is this true or should I get the 50 mm spacing?

 

[glip22]

Stop Tail Bridge is always 50mm unless something was changed.

 

[parntz145]

I have an old 80's duncan JB in the guitar now that is standard50 mm spacing and I noticed that the strings on the outsides low E and high E dont line up over the pickup pole pieces. I have heard that the Les Pauls are 53 mm spacing but im not positive about it.

 

[glip22]

Just measure from string to string across the bridge. You can print a mm ruler online

 

[glassjaw7]

Yeah, some years used trem spacing (53mm) but not sure which models/years. Lot of help I am, lol.

 

[tjon]

I dont think you would hear a difference either way

 

[Aristocat]

Yeah, some years used trem spacing (53mm) but not sure which models/years. Lot of help I am, lol.

My low e pole piece on the bridge doesn't line up but that could be a poorly cut saddle.

If your bridge is stock from Gibson, print out a spacing template and see how it measures up. The spacing can be off which also causes tuning/intonation problems.

 

[parntz145]

Yeah, some years used trem spacing (53mm) but not sure which models/years. Lot of help I am, lol.

My low e pole piece on the bridge doesn't line up but that could be a poorly cut saddle.

If your bridge is stock from Gibson, print out a spacing template and see how it measures up. The spacing can be off which also causes tuning/intonation problems.

I have a Tonepros locking bridge on it. My tech did the bridge for me. I dont think thats the issue. Its a 2006 R9.

 

[ericsabbath]

just measure the actual strings

gibson guitars with "T" pickups in the bridge are usually 52mm and the pickups are 53mm
the bridges are notched in that spacing to match the pickups
gibson guitars with 57 classics and burstbuckers are usually 50mm

japanese gotoh bridges are 52mm, schallers are also 52mm
don't remember about tone pros, but I'm almost sure they are 52mm as well

edit:

http://www.guitarbitz.com/guitar-parts- ... ickel-p552

E to E spacing: 52mm / 2.04 Inches

 

[parntz145]

just measure the actual strings

gibson guitars with "T" pickups in the bridge are usually 52mm and the pickups are 53mm
the bridges are notched in that spacing to match the pickups
gibson guitars with 57 classics and burstbuckers are usually 50mm

japanese gotoh bridges are 52mm, schallers are also 52mm
don't remember about tone pros, but I'm almost sure they are 52mm as well

edit:

http://www.guitarbitz.com/guitar-parts- ... ickel-p552

E to E spacing: 52mm / 2.04 Inches

Thanks. Looks like I need a 53mm.

 

[racerevlon]

53 mm in the bridge, 50mm in the neck.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I don't know the measurements but I went with F-Spaced DiMarzios in both positions on my Trad + and the strings pass directly over the center of the pole pieces on the bridge position and just a hair off of center in the neck pole pieces but still pass over them.

 

[parntz145]

53 mm in the bridge, 50mm in the neck.

Yea this is what I need. Thanks for all the help. Now where is the best place to order the Suhr Aldrich set in zebra and not direct mount. I need these at my house by Friday at the latest. I would also need 4 conducter for a Les paul. right??

 

[blackba]

My one experience with term spaced pickups was not good. I went from a regular spaced JB to a term spaced JB my strat and hated the change. Sure the strings lined up better, but the tremspaced JB sounded like thin and nasal, tried it in another guitar and same thing.

When I had my lp studio it had the 490r and 498t set stock. I tried a lot of bridge pickups in that guitar and didnt notice much in terms of string alignment.

One thing I love about Anderson pickups is the large pole pieces, you don't really have to worry about string spacing.

 

[Deleted member 16554]

53 mm in the bridge, 50mm in the neck.

Yea this is what I need. Thanks for all the help. Now where is the best place to order the Suhr Aldrich set in zebra and not direct mount. I need these at my house by Friday at the latest. I would also need 4 conducter for a Les paul. right??

Call Lance at Wildwood Guitars, he generally has Aldrich pickups in stock

Also, The Music Zoo has the bridge (zebra) in stock but not the neck

Both of these shops should be able to get the pickups to you by Friday

 

[Shawn Lutz]

53 mm in the bridge, 50mm in the neck.

Yea this is what I need. Thanks for all the help. Now where is the best place to order the Suhr Aldrich set in zebra and not direct mount. I need these at my house by Friday at the latest. I would also need 4 conducter for a Les paul. right??

you don't need 4 conductor if you're not coil split/tap. You only need 4 conductor when you have a PCB board with push-pull pots like the new Standards.

 

[blackba]

FWIW, the Aldrich bridge and neck pickups split really well IMO.