Pickup Height Help!!!! Someone!!!

[Dallas Marlow]

Ok all, so I know this sounds silly, but I need serious help with setting pickup height.. and I know there's 1000000 websites on this, but they all say this is just a "rough" estimation for the neck and bridge pickups etc. etc., and they don't say to measure from either the top of the pickup it self (Mine are covered) or from the pole piece... And also I'm not sure really what I'm listening for, obviously stuff sounds more "clear" when it's closer and the output goes up, but then there's more pull and on and on...

I just need a real detailed walk through of how to do this and what I'm listening exactly for, etc. I know it can't be THAT hard but who knows... Maybe I'm missing something

Dallas

 

[bsp01]

I think you're over thinking it... I go with the standard two US nickles spacing on the bass side, one on the treble side. Then adjust to taste from there. If it sounds good, it's good.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

I think you're over thinking it... I go with the standard two US nickles spacing on the bass side, one on the treble side. Then adjust to taste from there. If it sounds good, it's good.

Do you place them on the pickup it self as i said mine are covered, or do you place them on the pole pieces?

 

[guitarslinger]

if the strings hit the poles, it's too close.

If the output is weak, it's too far.


not much else too it.

use your ears.

 

[bsp01]

I think you're over thinking it... I go with the standard two US nickles spacing on the bass side, one on the treble side. Then adjust to taste from there. If it sounds good, it's good.

Do you place them on the pickup it self as i said mine are covered, or do you place them on the pole pieces?

On the pickup edge..

 

[Dallas Marlow]

I think you're over thinking it... I go with the standard two US nickles spacing on the bass side, one on the treble side. Then adjust to taste from there. If it sounds good, it's good.

Do you place them on the pickup it self as i said mine are covered, or do you place them on the pole pieces?

On the pickup edge..

Thanks man!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I think you're over thinking it... I go with the standard two US nickles spacing on the bass side, one on the treble side. Then adjust to taste from there. If it sounds good, it's good.

Ditto

As long as its not too close and effecting sustain, just tweak to taste.

I just use the nickels and don't even bother tweaking these days, I like it there.

 

[glpg80]

if the strings hit the poles, it's too close.

If the output is weak, it's too far.


not much else too it.

use your ears.

+1

should be able to fit your pick between the strings and the pickup itself after final adjustment - if it fits - you're good.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I'm going to try the nickle thing

 

[glip22]

To measure Fret the string at the last fret. Measure to bottom of string.

Bridge Pickup Treble side(High E) 2-1/2 32nds Bass side(Low E) 3/32nds
Neck treble 2-3/4 32nds Bass 3-1/4 32nds

These always seem to work. No matter how much tweaking I do I wind up back here.
Post back on your findings.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

To measure Fret the string at the last fret. Measure to bottom of string.

Bridge Pickup Treble side(High E) 2-1/2 32nds Bass side(Low E) 3/32nds
Neck treble 2-3/4 32nds Bass 3-1/4 32nds

These always seem to work. No matter how much tweaking I do I wind up back here.
Post back on your findings.

This is measuring the ruler flush against the pickup correct and not the pole piece?

 

[Dallas Marlow]

To measure Fret the string at the last fret. Measure to bottom of string.

Bridge Pickup Treble side(High E) 2-1/2 32nds Bass side(Low E) 3/32nds
Neck treble 2-3/4 32nds Bass 3-1/4 32nds

These always seem to work. No matter how much tweaking I do I wind up back here.
Post back on your findings.

Dude!!! I did this and it's perfect!!! Thanks so much this is exactly what I needed to do! Thank you x220000000

Dallas

 

[Drkorey]

Did you do pole pieces or flush with the top of pup?

 

[glip22]

Awesome Bro! This works for me everytime. If it's not perfect I usually tweak it a little bit. These numbers are usually right on for me. If they are not, it's usually damn close. Either way I find them to be a killer starting point. Here's a guitar I just sold. Pickups are Bareknuckle Nailbombs. I measure to the top of the screw with the high E and low E fretted at the last. Double click the pic if you want it larger. This guitar is set with the exact measurements I posted.

 

[troublehead]

To measure Fret the string at the last fret. Measure to bottom of string.

Bridge Pickup Treble side(High E) 2-1/2 32nds Bass side(Low E) 3/32nds
Neck treble 2-3/4 32nds Bass 3-1/4 32nds

These always seem to work. No matter how much tweaking I do I wind up back here.
Post back on your findings.

Is there a general rule for single coils?

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Thanks so much for your help GLP, it makes sense to measure from the top of the screw, it really helps open the guitar up and balances it out when you have everything set properly.

Sweet axe you just sold damn dude!

 

[glip22]

Shipped to Texas today. The lead guitar player from "Fallen" bought it from me. Sometimes you can lower the neck just a little more but not much. You get a fair amount more magnetic pull because there is alot more vibration of the strings on the neck pickup. The numbers I posted seem to work best for me with most pickups. Single coils I don't have a whole lot of experience with other than having one as a middle pickup.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Shipped to Texas today. The lead guitar player from "Fallen" bought it from me. Sometimes you can lower the neck just a little more but not much. You get a fair amount more magnetic pull because there is alot more vibration of the strings on the neck pickup. The numbers I posted seem to work best for me with most pickups. Single coils I don't have a whole lot of experience with other than having one as a middle pickup.

Yea I don't know the proper setting for singles but I know those Tex-Mex pickups in strats have a shit ton of magnetic pull... you get them to close and they start making your strings warble like no tomorrow!

 

[glip22]

Shipped to Texas today. The lead guitar player from "Fallen" bought it from me. Sometimes you can lower the neck just a little more but not much. You get a fair amount more magnetic pull because there is alot more vibration of the strings on the neck pickup. The numbers I posted seem to work best for me with most pickups. Single coils I don't have a whole lot of experience with other than having one as a middle pickup.

Yea I don't know the proper setting for singles but I know those Tex-Mex pickups in strats have a shit ton of magnetic pull... you get them to close and they start making your strings warble like no tomorrow!

On the singles I would start further away and work up. Maybe 1/8 Measure to pole pieces. Treble side is always closer than the bass.