Pickup height advice Liquifire

[katsumura78]

So I just got my guitar back from the tech (Rga 121 btw) and I have to bring it back in a couple weeks regardless so that's why I'm asking about this. He just put in the crunchlab and liquifire, and I remember the neck pickup having more pick attack. The way it sounds to me now is very round and just smooth I guess. Now to my question and Id love to hear your advice. Would raising the height get me that pick attack I'm looking for? Ive played a number of petrucci musicmans so I know what these pickups should sound like. The neck pickup is also a bit lower from the strings than the bridge too. Let me know what you guys think.

Dave

 

[katsumura78]

Bumb it up! Come on guys someone must have some tips. Will raising that pickup give me the attack I've heard on other petrucci guitars?

 

[The Hoff]

I don't have any experience with these pickups but just try it out. Play, raise the pickup, repeat until you like what you hear. Not very "technical" but that's what I do

 

[vultures]

With the RGA121 it's a little difficult adjusting height since it's direct mount. The screws aren't that long, and a PITA if you want to raise a whole lot. Try it out yourself, a tech can't get the sweet spot that you'll love. If the pickup won't raise up anymore, the foam might be worn and you'll have to get some small springs and put them under the pickup screw mounts, or go to a home depot/hardware store and get similar screws but longer.

Also, I found that every EMG (81/85/60/60a) in the neck position has been very round/smooth and lacks attack. (Some are better than others, but I won't get into that now) The EMGs are also very huge and there is almost no adjusting with height. So if you decide to ever switch to actives, keep that in mind. Let me know how it turns out, because I've been pondering the same question of how to get more attack in the neck position, I just use the bridge for leads

 

[Badronald]

I have an RGA121 as well and LOVE it. I have an Air Classic??? in there right now and it sounds amazing clean but lacks output for gain. Any suggestions for a neck pickup?
I have a Mojo at the bridge and am really happy with it. Sounds great through the Triple Rec.

 

[katsumura78]

With the RGA121 it's a little difficult adjusting height since it's direct mount. The screws aren't that long, and a PITA if you want to raise a whole lot. Try it out yourself, a tech can't get the sweet spot that you'll love. If the pickup won't raise up anymore, the foam might be worn and you'll have to get some small springs and put them under the pickup screw mounts, or go to a home depot/hardware store and get similar screws but longer.

Also, I found that every EMG (81/85/60/60a) in the neck position has been very round/smooth and lacks attack. (Some are better than others, but I won't get into that now) The EMGs are also very huge and there is almost no adjusting with height. So if you decide to ever switch to actives, keep that in mind. Let me know how it turns out, because I've been pondering the same question of how to get more attack in the neck position, I just use the bridge for leads

I guess I'll mention a couple more things I noticed. Only had the guitar back for a couple of days and now its locked up in the church so I wont be able to do much with it till later in the week. The bridge pickup sounds amazing, I'm seriously blown away at how good the crunch lab is and its in I guess its "sweet spot". When looking at the pickups and how far away they are from the strings the bridge is noticeably closer to the strings than the neck. I have a feeling that could be the issue and why I'm only 80% happy with the liquifire. Hard to describe a sound but I'm going by the other petrucci guitars I've had a chance to play, I'm trying to get just a bit more pick attack from the neck position on distorted sounds. Right now the bass is pretty big and its very "smooth sounding", not muddy btw because chords have a good amount of definition. You can tell there is more mids in that pickup but what I have heard in other guitars with it is just a tad more articulation on single notes and chords.

If you skipped all that then let me get to the point lol. How do I raise that pickup (Its directly mounted to the guitar and I'll most likely wait for the tech to do that for me since he has to replace the volume taper on the guitar regardless) , are both pickups suppose to be the same distance away from the strings and will getting the neck pup closer to the height of the bridge pup have any negative effects to the sustain ? Thanks a lot for your time guys !

 

[glip22]

With the string fretted at your last freight Bridge pickup. Adjust to 3/32 from the pole piece to the bottom of the Low E. Do the same on the High E to 2-1/2-/32. For your neck pick adjust to 3-1/2-/32 and 3/32 on the High E. See how this sounds. Sometimes I have my neck at 4/32 and 3-1/2-32.