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I've been told on this forum that the string spacing on the Saraceno pup is wrong for my SG in the neck position. Will the Jazz, Livewire Classic, or Custom Mini be alright? Just thought I'd check so I can have some options when this Saraceno pick up arrives.

I don't understand your question Blake. Are you considering using a PATB-3 in the neck of your SG? The spacing might be a little wide though it might work out. I haven't ever heard of the PATB-3 being used as a neck pickup.

If you are planning on using the PATB-3 in the bridge position, use a PATB-1n in the neck position.

The Jazz will work in the neck.

You really don't want to mix the Livewires with passive pickups.

The Custom Mini won't fit a humbucker route.

What exactly are you trying to do?

So many people have been asking about using the Parallel Axis pickups in the neck position I think everyone here's gettin' a little tired of explaining it. The Parallel Axis humbuckers are designed to line up with a string spacing equal or wider than that of a regular Fender tremolo. That's not to say it won't work but in theory it would be too wide in the BRIDGE of your SG and then putting it in the neck would mean it would be even further off.

Typically Gibsons have a string spacing that is smaller than that of a Fender...that's why EVH had to mount his Gibson-spaced humbucker diagonally; to line the poles up. The Parallel Axis pickups widen the spacing like a Trembucker (which is a humbucker spaced for tremolos just in case you don't know) and adds a different style non-adjustable pole piece for each string on both the magnet and slug coil that line up on both sides of the string like a broken box.

Imagine this [!] the exclamation point being the string going thru the middle of the poles so to speak. Now if you put the PATB-3 in your SG it might look something like this depending on the string [ ]! (low E) and ![ ] (high E).

I suggest finding a regular spaced Duncan that suits your needs...there are tons to check out and those will be guaranteed to line up perfectly in your axe.

To itbepopples

I am a customer and fan. I just paid for a pick up that I've been told may not be suited for my guitar. If you're getting tired of explaining string spacing, then please don't feel like you have to chime in. I'm mean you're not getting paid by SD to get on this board and answer questions are you? But I have to admit, you gave and excellent discription of my problem and I'm greatful. I'd buy you a beer if we were belly up the bar. thanks

To Robert-
1 Yes I was considering using the PATB-3 in the neck position of my SG. At the time I was ordering it, I did not know the was a PATB-1 and 2 and neck vs bridge. The guy I ordered it from only gave me the one option.

2 Why wouldn't I use the active Livewire along with a passive PATB? Is that just opinion or would there be some more technical problem with it? Level-wise I'm sure it's hotter than the passive, but I'd probably hardly ever use both pups at the same time.

3 There's a small chance I will be routing a new pickgaurd in the near future, so that Custom Mini might still be in the game.

Thanks again for the speedy replies.

Hey Blake

I just read my post and it makes me sound like a real a**hole. I didn't mean anything by it and I had no problem explaining it. I was out of line my bad dude. Anyway if you do put the Saraceno in the neck I'd love to know how it works out. With regard to your idea of using a livewire and a passive I can tell you that I was thinking of doing something like that too. I was thinking if I got a single channel Marshallesque amp it would be annoying to flip the toggle switch to the neck pickup (I use the neck pickup for 99% of my cleans and the bridge 99% of the time for dirt) AND turn the volume knob to clean up my tone in time for a decent clean/dirty switch. So, I thought one low output singe coil in the neck of a Strat and something like a Livewire or EMG in the bridge. It wouldn't be perfect but I think it would be close.

Hopefully this thing will get here in the next couple of days. I'll let you know how it works out.

Okay I didn't want to take my chances on the PATB-3, so they let me switch it to a JB SH-4. I haven't hooked it up yet, but hopefully this will work out alright. Distortion in the bridge and the JB on the neck.