The Steel Guitar Forum

Would appreciate info re:-- wiring for this pickup,, and the ideal distance from the strings, thankyou.

You can hook it up anyway you want. The choice of hot or cold wires only changes the direction he electricity flows. It doesn't change the sound.

Here is an ancient post on my defunct site:

On adjusting the pole pieces what I do is adjust them over time as I get used to them in my steels. I like the basic sound of the pickups so I don't adjust anything until I hear something unbalanced.

JayDee Maness has a much better system that he sent me in a recent email:

On setting the pole pieces. I set the volume pedal to a fairly loud volume then, take my foot off the volume pedal. With my thumb, I hit each string starting with the tenth. Hit it then stop it fairly quick. Start with the pieces closest to the changer or, the treble side. Get each string the loudest you can and as balanced as you can. Then go to the other row of p. pieces and do the same plucking each string. If a string is not loud enough, such as the third, raise one or both of the pieces until it is. If one of the other strings is too loud, such as the fifth, lower one of the pieces. It takes me about half an hour or more to dial in one pickup. It does take some practice and a good ear to get them dialed in. You want to end up with all of the strings even, but maybe the third a little. I close my eyes and really listen to each string as I hit it. It takes some concentration. If a player doesn't adjust these pickups, he won't be getting the full benefit of them. All this happens with your foot OFF of the volume pedal. You probably will have to even lower a p. piece here or there to get the desired setting. What ever it takes in moving the pieces to get what the individual wants out of the pick-up. ALL of my strings on my steels are perfectly balanced. The third string is just as loud as the tenth string. As I said it takes awhile and you might have to go through this process several times, I did. Tell your customers to not give up too soon. Hope this helps, JayDee.

Thnx. for the prompt reply Bob.
Question : - before adjusting any of the pole pieces, what do you recommend the distance between the top of the pickup and the strings should be.

It is sad that Bob stopped making these pickups because in my opinion, they are vastly superior to the Telonics knock-offs.

Fortunate to have had Bob custom-wind (<18K) a set...20 years ago?
They're on my everyday guitar, ol' # 300 Williams, so I just measured how they're set. One quarter inch on the bass sides, tilted slightly closer on the treble strings. Very small raises on the pole pieces of the treble strings both necks. I do remember making very slight adjustments when I installed them.

No contest --- Bob's pickups are far superior to Telonic's --- my original Hoffnar was damaged beyond repair --- tried a telonic's as I could not find a Tonemaster --- just glad I found one thru the Forum, though it's still 'in the mail system'.