Silo special "strat" tone problem

[whitestrat]

Could it be simply because of the look? Hahahaha...

 

[Dizzy]

Maybe my geometry is off, but that doesn't make sense to me. If you slant a pickup, you're effectively reducing its overall width. Or am I missing something?

I had read once that the reason the pickup was slanted was that when Leo created the Strat, the amps of the time tended to be overly dark and bass-heavy. He angled the bridge pickup so the unwound strings would have more clarity and high-end.

Does anyone know THE definitive answer?

Yeah, the slanting has nothing to do with string spacing - you're right, slanting the pickup decreases the perpendicular distance between pole pieces.

I too believe it was for tonal reasons to get the pole pieces in more suitable positions along the strings.

This is especially appropriate close to the bridge, where the changes occur much more drastically within the same comparitive distance.