How to get a clear and punchy sound from the wound strings

[Roe]

After reading on the Lindy Fralin webpage, I've found a nice way to get a clearer, brighter and punchier sound from Humbuckers with adjustable polepieces (esp. PAFs):
Adjust the polepieces on the wound strings (real) high, especially on the neck PU. Keep the polepieces a bit lower on the plain string and adjust the pickup so it's lower on the bass side than the treble side.

This works very well on Gibsons and it also helps a little on Gretschs or Filtertrons.

It works almost as Gibsons Burstbuckers or Fralins Unbuckers. The difference is that you keep the full hum-cancelling and that you get more of the singel coil sound on the wound strings than on the plain strings.
If you look at SGs and Firebirds you'll find that the PUs are not in the same angel as the strings. This means that you'll have a thiner sound because one half of the humbucker pick up more sound than the other half.

This also means that nickel and flatwound strings will sound clearer and brighter.

[Roe]

I posted this message on the gear page & have received alot of feedback

[Joe-Bob]

Maybe because most people don't have a problem with the clarity of their humbuckers. I never have.

That issue is usually only heard of from single-coil Fender guys...and it's often because they just don't know any better.

[Roe]

joe-bob,

are you serious?

[Gibson-Talk]

If he was joking it is an old joke now... it's been 8 months since he wrote it.

[Joe-Bob]

No, it wasn't a joke. Just the facts, man.

[hans-jürgen]

Changing strings often helps, too... ;)

[Roe]

this set up tip works well on gibsons 57 classics and 490r, but not so well on SD's seth lovers and antiquity