Californian pickup pole piece radius

[analogsystem]

I want to stick a Dimarzio Area 58 or 67 in the neck spot on my Cali elite.

The issue is that the pole pieces look like they are super compensated -- like for a vintage fender radius.

Is this going to suck ass in my Cali which obviously has a pretty flat fretboard?

I've got the Bill Lawrence blade in there now and its just kind of weird and sterile sounding. I want a noiseless strat pickup that just sounds like a great normal strat neck sound.

I had a Dimarzio area 58 in a different guitar once and was really happy with the sound. Doesn't look like they come in a flat pole piece model.

What do you guys think? Should I just put it in anyways? Should I grind down the high pole pieces on the middle strings?

Thanks!

PS: I know that the cali won't ever sound exactly like a real strat neck pickup because of the placement of the pickup. In a real strat, the neck pickup is right under the harmonic node (24th fret is there). I guess on a Californian, the neck pickup is closer to a middle pickup placement on a Fender strat. I still want a fairly vintage sound though.

Edit: I see that Dimarzio will make them without the stagger for no extra charge.

I wanted to score one used for cheap......but they are pretty reasonable new so I may just order a new one.

[RobB]

Edit: I see that Dimarzio will make them without the stagger for no extra charge.

There ya go, and there ya are. I don't think the staggered/flat poles will perform that much differently from each other. But, I've been wrong before.

[Bennyboy-UK]

Edit: I see that Dimarzio will make them without the stagger for no extra charge.

There ya go, and there ya are. I don't think the staggered/flat poles will perform that much differently from each other. But, I've been wrong before.

Yeah, I'd say that it would be largely academic. Real-world difference between the two profiles shouldn't give you sleepness nights.

Mind you - there could be a cork out there thats missing its sniffer - if so, commence the barrage!

Cheers,

Benner.

[proxmax]

dimarzio's f-spaced is smaller than duncan's trembuckers.

the perfect fit is 52.5 mm for floyded guitars.

[zenmindbeginner]

Is this going to suck ass in my Cali which obviously has a pretty flat fretboard?

Yes, you will have to change your picking style a bit if you play near the neck, if you play near the bridge, you shouldn't have any problems though.

Ever considered the '61?