As someone who’s done this to a few strats, I can say it definitely makes a difference. What it doesn’t do is make it sound like a telecaster. It still adds enough bottom end and grit to make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Thanks for the video,Hombre. We were purchasing some Tone Hatch 69's(similar to classic 65) and while trying to decide on a completely different sounding second set,we noticed the "add a bridge plate" option. You just saved us from going through this whole process ourselves...Thanks! Personally,rarely use the bridge pup alone due never finding the desired sweet spot (too brite,yet thin etc). 2-4 switch positions for quack,5 neck alone for Hendrixy phase n swirl. Odd enough,I have a Flying V w Dimarzio X2-N bridge coil-tapped and it RECORDS like it's the perfect bridge tone for leads via a Strat. Listening you'd never guess it was a big 'ol V. That plate makes the bridge pup get to about 80% using the Hatch Tone's w plate. Wow...learnin' thangs is fun! Much appreciated👍
Electrical engineer here. When you put the base plate on, you change the geometry of the magnetic field flux lines of the individual pole pieces more to that of a ceramic pickup where the entire magnetic circuit of the pickup is already originating at the bottom of the steel pole pieces. Unlike the alnico poles which are each individual North-South magnets with the same magnetic flux symetry is the same at both poles, the base plate distorts the flux field on the bottoms of the pole pieces in a way to alter the strength of the magnetic field on the tops. A passive steel pole with a bottom ceramic magnet has a magnetic geometry of the pickup which is similar to the base plate installed alnico pickup.
Do I get it right? You say that ceramic single coil with a magnetic bar underneath is like a alnico single coil with a base plate installed? I have ceramic single coil and still want to make my bridge more beefy and less icy - can I put a base plate there?If yes then where the plate would go? Between the poles nad magnet or below magnet, as a last piece underneath the whole pickup?
You would have to measure using a Gauss meter without the base plate and with the base plate. The Alnico pole pieces using different percentages of alloy materials so you would have to measure the Gauss for each Alnico Pole pieces to match them. The only true way of see if the base plate makes a difference it visually seeing the frequency profile curve from 20hz to 20Khz using a spectrum analyzer.
It's almost like it sounds compressed without it going through a compressor 🤷🏻♂️ and without compression loss. Would be great for country chicken pickin.
I've found that the metal makes it brighter. I took it off. Rewire the middle tone control to JUST the bridge PUP and roll off some of (or a lot) of that treble and you might like life a lot better.
The only way to confirm that the difference is not only in your head, is buy doing a measurement using multimeter before and after installing the base plate. Sound can be deceiving but the multimeter reading cannot.
Like a Tele bridge pickup, altho those are plated with copper and bigger. Bare Knuckle in the UK also sell sets with plates, they insist on zinc plating 54 Strat pickups were spec'd with plates on all 3, but the plates were ditched for production.
Can I add them to my pickups?? I have staggered pickups (like a silver sky se) and the magnet poles are not flat against the bottom base, is that possible??? Sorry for the bad English :(
It's possible Iamoksaabit6794, You can add some foam between the metal bar and the baseplate to account for the uneven surface. As long as the metal is grounded and within close proximity to the magnets, it'll work!
Almost a P90 sound. The pickups sound really good without the plate. I did the same to a Strat but made 3 zinc plates and stuck them to the bottom of the pickup cavity in the body of the Guitar using longer screws for pickup height that rested on the plate, some-how the treble became more ear friendly? I got the idea from a P90 les paul special with soapbar pickups.
Not sure I am the most qualified to answer this.... I would say try them all. Being as 'tone' is subjective there is no right answer to this. BUT any of these materials would be a fine option.
Iron is the only of those metals that gets magnetized, and probably also the only metal that will change the magnetic field. Not sure what the other metals will do. But I think the Broadcaster PU came with a brass plate.
For me the only difference is the baseplate adds a thump to the notes your playing and that’s a good thump. I going to be putting them on my Strat pickups.
I can't clearly tell. The plates seem very thick? I would probably buy pickups that had the ferrous plates already incorporated into them but wouldn't add them myself.
@ebikes2xs159 yeah these are overly thick but it's what I could get locally.... Telecaster bridge pickups have baseplates and depending on where you're buying your pups from, they may have an option to add a baseplate as they're becoming more popular.
@waynegram8907 I may agree with @qddk9545 regarding the gold saddles HOWEVER a brass saddle will affect the tonality... If you're wanting a strict aesthetic feature, go for gold, but a brass saddle vs bent steel, the brass will be brighter, sharper typically.
I feel like it does sound smoother. But you are still right about the bass as well a deeper smoother sound.
As someone who’s done this to a few strats, I can say it definitely makes a difference. What it doesn’t do is make it sound like a telecaster. It still adds enough bottom end and grit to make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Thanks for the video,Hombre. We were purchasing some Tone Hatch 69's(similar to classic 65) and while trying to decide on a completely different sounding second set,we noticed the "add a bridge plate" option. You just saved us from going through this whole process ourselves...Thanks! Personally,rarely use the bridge pup alone due never finding the desired sweet spot (too brite,yet thin etc). 2-4 switch positions for quack,5 neck alone for Hendrixy phase n swirl. Odd enough,I have a Flying V w Dimarzio X2-N bridge coil-tapped and it RECORDS like it's the perfect bridge tone for leads via a Strat. Listening you'd never guess it was a big 'ol V. That plate makes the bridge pup get to about 80% using the Hatch Tone's w plate. Wow...learnin' thangs is fun! Much appreciated👍
Electrical engineer here. When you put the base plate on, you change the geometry of the magnetic field flux lines of the individual pole pieces more to that of a ceramic pickup where the entire magnetic circuit of the pickup is already originating at the bottom of the steel pole pieces. Unlike the alnico poles which are each individual North-South magnets with the same magnetic flux symetry is the same at both poles, the base plate distorts the flux field on the bottoms of the pole pieces in a way to alter the strength of the magnetic field on the tops. A passive steel pole with a bottom ceramic magnet has a magnetic geometry of the pickup which is similar to the base plate installed alnico pickup.
Yet it sounds different than a ceramic strat pickup. More like Tele alnico. A bigger plate has even more Tele sound.
Do I get it right? You say that ceramic single coil with a magnetic bar underneath is like a alnico single coil with a base plate installed? I have ceramic single coil and still want to make my bridge more beefy and less icy - can I put a base plate there?If yes then where the plate would go? Between the poles nad magnet or below magnet, as a last piece underneath the whole pickup?
You would have to measure using a Gauss meter without the base plate and with the base plate. The Alnico pole pieces using different percentages of alloy materials so you would have to measure the Gauss for each Alnico Pole pieces to match them. The only true way of see if the base plate makes a difference it visually seeing the frequency profile curve from 20hz to 20Khz using a spectrum analyzer.
Magic. Got it.
@@wojciechstecyszyn6040
If you want a beefy sound - try humbuckers, stacked or rail.
It's almost like it sounds compressed without it going through a compressor 🤷🏻♂️
and without compression loss. Would be great for country chicken pickin.
I've found that the metal makes it brighter. I took it off. Rewire the middle tone control to JUST the bridge PUP and roll off some of (or a lot) of that treble and you might like life a lot better.
The only way to confirm that the difference is not only in your head, is buy doing a measurement using multimeter before and after installing the base plate. Sound can be deceiving but the multimeter reading cannot.
I tried baseplates and didn't know them. Sounds muffled to me.
Yes, I don't like this mod. I like Strats as they're clear and bright; if you don't like the sound, why get a Strat.
Like a Tele bridge pickup, altho those are plated with copper and bigger.
Bare Knuckle in the UK also sell sets with plates, they insist on zinc plating
54 Strat pickups were spec'd with plates on all 3, but the plates were ditched for production.
@oldasrocks9121 is that right? No doubt they were ditched as they add weight, cost and time.... It's a cool aftermarket mod tho!
Can I add them to my pickups?? I have staggered pickups (like a silver sky se) and the magnet poles are not flat against the bottom base, is that possible???
Sorry for the bad English :(
It's possible Iamoksaabit6794, You can add some foam between the metal bar and the baseplate to account for the uneven surface. As long as the metal is grounded and within close proximity to the magnets, it'll work!
Almost a P90 sound. The pickups sound really good without the plate. I did the same to a Strat but made 3 zinc plates and stuck them to the bottom of the pickup cavity in the body of the Guitar using longer screws for pickup height that rested on the plate, some-how the treble became more ear friendly? I got the idea from a P90 les paul special with soapbar pickups.
Wow @giulioluzzardi7632 that's a fantastic idea! Glad that worked out for you!
Hi, what material is made? better, brass, iron, aluminum, copper?
Not sure I am the most qualified to answer this.... I would say try them all. Being as 'tone' is subjective there is no right answer to this. BUT any of these materials would be a fine option.
Iron is the only of those metals that gets magnetized, and probably also the only metal that will change the magnetic field. Not sure what the other metals will do.
But I think the Broadcaster PU came with a brass plate.
For me the only difference is the baseplate adds a thump to the notes your playing and that’s a good thump. I going to be putting them on my Strat pickups.
@tim_bauer3100 Yessir! Any thump I can add to a strat bridge is a good thump!
I can't clearly tell. The plates seem very thick? I would probably buy pickups that had the ferrous plates already incorporated into them but wouldn't add them myself.
@ebikes2xs159 yeah these are overly thick but it's what I could get locally.... Telecaster bridge pickups have baseplates and depending on where you're buying your pups from, they may have an option to add a baseplate as they're becoming more popular.
You should give us a blind A/B video. Im conviced a heard a small difference in a good way.
@mikemattingly5825 that's not a bad idea! Thanks
Did that pickup need to be fixed?
Hey Maravi! Quick answer, No. There wasn't anything "wrong" with the original pickup per se.... but us tinker-ers can't leave well enough alone!
THOMAS THURMAN, make a video to compare chrome saddles with GOLD saddles, it should be a big difference in twang.
The gold plating is so thin it wouldn´t make a difference.
@@qddk9545 others say it makes a big difference in tone gives a twang
@@waynegram8907 Why should it, it is the same saddles with thin coating of gold, so thin that you can wear it of in few weeks.
@waynegram8907 I may agree with @qddk9545 regarding the gold saddles HOWEVER a brass saddle will affect the tonality... If you're wanting a strict aesthetic feature, go for gold, but a brass saddle vs bent steel, the brass will be brighter, sharper typically.
If only bats can hear it, who gives a flying f__k? LOL
If only bats can hear it that would be a flying fox. lol
To me it sounds fatter and punchier with the plate
Thanks Alan! I agree!