DeArmond 1100 Polepiece Alignment

[motopsyche]

Check out the misalignment of the DeArmond 1100 on this A500B. The whole pickup is shifted to the bass side because of the pickguard. Does this cause predictable problems with the pickup pattern for each string (i.e., weak 6th string)?

 

[teleharmonium]

Check out the misalignment of the DeArmond 1100 on this A500B. The whole pickup is shifted to the bass side because of the pickguard. Does this cause predictable problems with the pickup pattern for each string (i.e., weak 6th string)?

It depends on the magnets or polepieces, but generally the magnetic field is not strongest directly above, but rather a little to either side, so that might be fine. I've heard that this is the case for magnets, anyway, I'm not sure if a steel screw polepiece like those that is just conducting the magnetic field (rather than creating it) will cause the field to have the same shape as the magnet itself.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I've seen that quite a bit on guitars where the owner doesn't want to trim out the pickguard for a proper fit. I don't think it makes a huge difference although you're likely to get some less treble response and some more bass. Enough to bother you... that depends on you. Listen and see if you like what you're hearing and/or if you can adjust for it with a tone control in the signal chain somewhere. If you like what you're hearing you're good to go unless the visuals are killing you. Then you might think about trimming (or having someone else trim) the PG or replace it with one you're willing to cut up a little.

My wife's '48 Broadway has the original bound PG in good shape and she has no interest in cutting it up or replacing it. Her DeArmond looks like yours, slightly offset and sounds fine. You're going to adjust the tone control on the amp each time anyway, right? My Triumph had no PG so I got a black-white-black laminated PG for $30-40 and trimmed out the cutout. Looks fine, sounds great.

 

[jp]

Have you tried moving the pickup around a bit laterally to compare output? It might be worth it to take the pickguard off, laying some fabric on the top to protect it, and trying the PU in different positions, with the PU live, that is.

 

[Telenator]

If that were mine, I'd just get creative with the metal rod holding the pickup.

You could make a few bends in it that would angle the pickup enough so the pole pieces would align perfectly. Yes, it would look a bit unusual, but so what. It might be kinda interesting.

 

[fws6]

these monkey bar dearmonds always are aftermarket - and if you dont want to cut the guard what can you do ?

if it were my guitar I wouldnt cut the original guard either - but have a repro guard made and cut a proper hole into that. Seen the fact that the seller is asking 15k for that guitar spending 150 for a good quality repro guard wont matter much :wink:

 

[fws6]

here's mine..... they ARE fantastic pu's....

 

[motopsyche]

Thanks for the help with this. As noted, the guitar is currently up for grabs on evilbay.

I installed a DeArmond 1100 on my CA-100 by having a second guard cut with a notch for the pickup. It aligns correctly and sounds terrific. That would be the easy fix on this one, too, but I wondered if there was anyone out there playing with one misaligned and loving it. Doesn't sound like it.

My 1100 was hung off the side of the fretboard rather than on a pole anchored to the strings behind the bridge. More stable in my mind, but I'm curious to know what tonal varieties are possible by sliding it into various positions. That would require more than just a notch in the pickguard if alignment was still important. A narrower pickguard would make that possible. Anyone tried that yet?

Can't wait to know how far south of $15K this one sells. We shall see...

Thanks, all!

 

[Chris Metcalfe]

what an interesting thread...I put one of these 1100s on a AA, which I replaced the standard 80s guild AA pup with. They are very strange pickups, because they don't actually have a magnet under the screws - it's magnetised rubber ( yes, rubber) which the poles screw into. I've looked ( this is because my p'up came from a well known US jazz guitarist/ dearmond trader, only dead, so I had to remove the case to fix it!) Why rubber- who knows; they are the only DAs with rubber magnets apparently - maybe it was hot technology in 1950. Anyway, because the rubbery magnet has a very wide ( and weak) field, the screws only make a little difference - I even removed the B string screw, and it balanced perfectly. And despite the dead-end magnet technology ( or maybe because of? ) they are the best sounding dearmonds, I feel.
Having said all that though, it does look better when the poles are lined up - so I personally would spring for the extra pickguard, as suggested above.
ps
I know some of us sometimes say ( self-deprecatingly) that this forum can become a little obsessive ( I have to admit that rubber magnets could just fall into that category!), but there is a pickup forum ( music electronics/ pickups...) which discusses these kind of pickup minutiae in such detail that it makes this forum look positively laconic. And, funnily enough, they are always abusing each other.....
chris

 

[fws6]

> I'm curious to know what tonal varieties are possible by sliding it into various positions

It sounds best under the 24th fret harmonic . sliding it a bit backwards a little doesnt change much tonally but it'll become weaker

Of course you could also slide it to the middle or bridge position; but I dont seee the point on that (its a jazz guitar 8) )