adjustable pole pieces

[guitarist]

Are pickups with adjustable pole pieces just so you can make all the strings have the same volume, or does the sound actually change if you raise/lower all of them equally. What I mean is, what are the differences in sound between low pickup hight and high pole pieces vs high pickup height and low pole pieces?

 

[faderbug]

for as far as i know : the closer the pole pieces are to the strings the higher the output and the fatter the sound.
i don't think there's much difference between your low pickup hight and high pole pieces vs high pickup height and low pole pieces?

 

[miglio]

As I understand it, the differences in string properties (gauge, wound vs unwound, bridge radius, etc) cause different volume levels from each string. The poles are to compensate for this, thus creating a uniform amplitude across all the strings.

Also, I don't think you would really want your pickups to be close to the strings, as the magnets will have an affect on the strings and give you intonation woes.

Again, this is only my understanding, not a assertion of fact

Miglio