The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: General tech questions: Do your strings line up with your PU screws?

Do your strings line up with your PU screws?

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- Rated: 14 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 12:23 a.m. Slowmo:

I don't know what those 12 screws are called on on each pickup so for now, I'll just call them "pole screws."

Here's my observation: On my RHH, the low E string runs perfectly over the top of the pole screws for both pick ups. The other strings are slightly displaced. As you progress from the A to the high E string the displacement gets progressively worse. In fact, the high E string runs right over the inboard edge of its bridge pole screw so that it's displaced one-half the screw head diameter. In contrast, the picture of the RHH on the Gretsch site shows perfect alignment.

My strings run perfectly centered over each bridge saddle.

Here's my question: Is this miss-alignment typical?
- Rated: 73 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 5:33 p.m. sassy:

What kind of bridge are you using Slowmo ??
- Rated: 65 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 5:44 p.m. Antik:

I think Gretsch uses the same spacing for the poles on both neck and bridge pickups. But the distance between the string is different at the neck and bridge pickups. So it seems there is going to be misalignment. (Maybe using a space control bridge, one can keep the string spacing constant. I think I'll add this as an additional thing to try when I do my bar bridge project this coming winter)

TV Jones though has different spacing on his neck and bridge pickups.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 7:15 p.m. Slowmo:

Sassy, I'm using the stock tun-a-matic type bridge that came with guitar.

Antik, Yes, the pole screw spacings are different on the neck vs bridge pickups (they are the TV Jones Classics that came with the guitar).

Neck Pickup, pole screw distance center to center, high E to low E = 1 7/8 inches. For the bridge pu it is 2 inches.

I'm not saying this is a big deal to me - it's not like I could change anything even if it was. I'm just curious that the photos on the Gretsch site show perfect alignment. I was wondering what you guys see on your guitars.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 8:00 p.m. RogerP:

Slowmo....It looks to me that if you slide your bridge to the left a tad you would have pretty good alignment. The bridge isn't pinned is it?
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 8:01 p.m. RogerP:

Sorry...I meant to say right as you are looking at the pic.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 8:33 p.m. Slowmo:

RogerP, It's pinned alright. You bring up a good point though. I should have asked the membership to check only those guitars of theirs having pinned bridges and the same type bridge as mine....
- Rated: 65 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 8:42 p.m. Antik:

One option might be to get new unslotted saddles and put in slots so the strings line up. Just last week I watched "the Maintenance & Setup for Electric Guitars and Basses" ...with Dan Erlewine DVD where he demonstrated doing that on a Les Paul. The strings did not line up with the pickup pole pieces on the Les Paul. So he put on new saddles and filed the slots off-center in the saddles so the strings lines up with the pole pieces. Although looking at the picture, the high E might end up at the edge of the saddle if the bridge in not moved over.
- Rated: 115 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 8:43 p.m. wenzel:

With the space control bridge you can make them lineup very easily! I use a bar bridge and yes, now my strings lineup almost exactly... I think you need to move your bridge over a little bit.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 9:46 p.m. Slowmo:

Cool, thanks guys for giving me your impressions!

I just checked the string centering down the neck. I'd say it was "perfect". At the base of the fingerboard, both the center of the high E and low E are .2 inches from their respective edges of the finger board. All the strings run "perfectly" over the pole screws of the neck pickup.

My conclusion is that the bridge pickup needs to be centered better. I don't know if it can be shifted over (or if it even matters) but it'll be fun to look "under the hood" to see if it's possible!
- Rated: 21 ↑
Jul 18, 2007 10:08 p.m. Mike Detlefsen:

My view is that you shouldn’t worry about it. You could line those things up perfectly, and it wouldn't make a difference you could hear. It just isn't that critical. The magnetic field isn't that sharply delineated.

Of course if it bothers you to look at, feel free.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Jul 19, 2007 8:50 a.m. lionel:

Factory jig? (reference similar thread).
- Rated: 23 ↑
Jul 19, 2007 9:21 a.m. Shuggie101:

Hi Slowmo

I'm looking at a brand new Japanese TV loaded Annie and it has the same issue, but opposite. The strings line up on the treble side but not the bass.

I noticed that the treble strings are snappy and clear but the wound strings become increasingly softer and 'out of focus'. But maybe that's a Filtertron characteristic?
- Rated: 16 ↑
Jul 19, 2007 10:37 a.m. lionel:

"But maybe that's a Filtertron characteristic?"

(It ain't no DynaSonic).
- Rated: 23 ↑
Jul 19, 2007 11:25 a.m. Shuggie101:

It certainly ain't, but I love 'em anyway
- Rated: 14 ↑
Aug 7, 2008 9:30 p.m. Slowmo:

Whoa, it's been a year since I last posted this question and I finally got around to doing something about my strings being scrunched to one side of the fretboard. It seems I could barely play chords without my fingers wandering over and buzzing against the neighboring strings.

I got a small knife-edge type file and cut some new grooves in the saddles to spread those strings out more evenly. It's as if the TOM bridge needed to be wider.

Difference it makes on upper fret clearance between the strings, barely noticeable.

Difference it makes near the nut, absolutely insignificant.

Difference it makes to my peace of mind knowing it's not the guitar's fault, priceless
- Rated: 9 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 3:09 a.m. mainsoda:

Now I had to go look at this on my two Gretsches. My 6119 lines up perfectly at the neck pick-up but the bridge pick-up is way off cause I replaced the stock one with a TV Jones. I get the feeling it would be perfect if it had the stock pick-up.

My Spectra Sonic is just dead nuts perfect on both.

Interesting
- Rated: 5 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 11:52 a.m. PapaDave:

I was giving my 6120 a once-over just last night and noticed the strings line up perfectly with the neck pickup but only the 3rd and 4th strings line up on the bridge pickup. It looks like this must just be a Gretsch thing.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 12:06 p.m. DangerousMan:

Mine are all slightly right of centre. I have the space control bridge and roll the saddles so I have the highest possible, and of course, equal, string seperation. I don't see the strings being off as a problem.
- Rated: 14 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 12:48 p.m. Slowmo:

Yeah, I walked away from it when I thought it was just a pickup alignment issue.

Then I noticed lately I was losing my ability to play the simplest chords without the strings buzzing against my fingers. Of course, the logical conclusion was that the guitar was at fault.

Kind of like when you're in a hitting slump, blame the bat.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 12:50 p.m. lionel:

I don't ever recall seeing a guitar in which all the poles of each pickup aligned perfectly with all of the strings.

I wouldn't worry about it unless it seemed totally out of whack, or if it was to the point where you seemed to be missing output on one or more strings.

But there may not be much that you can do about it, without moving the tailpiece (yes, you could stick or pin the bridge, but that still wouldn't be ideal).

If it's asymptomatic, ignore it.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 12:50 p.m. lionel:

How many times do I have to say it?
- Rated: 16 ↑
Aug 8, 2008 12:50 p.m. lionel:

I'm warning you; don't make me repeat myself!
- Rated: 50 ↑
Aug 11, 2008 6:13 a.m. Ratrod:

Mine's a little off too. The high strings are a little more to the center. I think this is due to neck width and nut spacing. Remember that Gretsch necks are all shaped by hand even though the rough contours are machine cut.

I've never noticed anything wrong with the sound of the strings that don't allign. The magnetic field is big enough to pick up the sound.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Aug 11, 2008 6:28 a.m. Danman:

Exactly, what has ratrod says: If you don't hear it then don't worry about it. Most of my vintage guitars don't line up either but they sound fine.