Does increasing the height of the pickups make a huge difference in the output and tone?
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Pickup height and output
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Originally posted by Wayne27 View PostDoes increasing the height of the pickups make a huge difference in the output and tone?
That being said, there is a noticeable difference in output and EQ from tweaking the height. I believe the closer you have the pickup to the strings, you get a fuller, louder sound with more bass and treble from the pickup. But there's a point where you'll start running into issues with clicky noises from the strings hitting the pickup itself or pitch-y-ness from magnet pull from very strong ceramic magnet or single coil pickups if they're too close.
I personally like my bridge pickups as close as I can get them to the strings without running into issues. I feel like I squeeze the most from them that way. But I suppose that's my approach because I always work with pickups I like in the first place and rarely ever attempt to "fix" a pickup I don't like by tweaking the height. I always set the neck pickup's height to match the volume of the bridge pickup as close as I can, and then slightly tweak down to find a sweet spot where it doesn't sound overly fat and/or attacky, but not to low so that it sticks out as not balanced anymore.
That's my own personal approach.Last edited by Rex_Rocker; 01-15-2025, 02:38 PM.
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Depending on the pickup, if you get it too close to the strings, it won't necessarily sound it's best. Especially if it's a powerful magnet. I've found that raising the pickup to the point where it begins to sound somewhat distorted (assuming that you are playing clean) and then backing it off a bit, is the best way to find the sweet spot.
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There is absolutely a 'sweet spot' that really is only found with you playing and using a screwdriver to try out different heights. Tone and response can differ with just 1/16" difference, and only you can be the one that finds it.Administrator of the SDUGF
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it makes a difference for sure, but not a huge one. as others have said, if you dont like the pup low, you probably wont like it cranked up high either. but if you want a little thicker tone with a little more output, closer to the strings can help
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Originally posted by Rex_Rocker View PostIn my experience, you have to adjust pretty dramatically to get a dramatic change. In my opinion, for example, if I hate a pickup, it's very likely I won't like the pickup just by tweaking the height. I'm sure some will disagree, but that's me.
That being said, there is a noticeable difference in output and EQ from tweaking the height. I believe the closer you have the pickup to the strings, you get a fuller, louder sound with more bass and treble from the pickup. But there's a point where you'll start running into issues with clicky noises from the strings hitting the pickup itself or pitch-y-ness from magnet pull from very strong ceramic magnet or single coil pickups if they're too close.
I personally like my bridge pickups as close as I can get them to the strings without running into issues. I feel like I squeeze the most from them that way. But I suppose that's my approach because I always work with pickups I like in the first place and rarely ever attempt to "fix" a pickup I don't like by tweaking the height. I always set the neck pickup's height to match the volume of the bridge pickup as close as I can, and then slightly tweak down to find a sweet spot where it doesn't sound overly fat and/or attacky, but not to low so that it sticks out as not balanced anymore.
That's my own personal approach.
I've actually only ever heard 'issues' from pickups with alnico poles like Fender single coils. They're the only pole pieces strong enough to have that big of an effect. That's why you only hear strat-itis from alnico poled pickups. When you have steel pole pieces over a bar magnet, whether alnico or ceramic, there isn't enough magnetic pull for strat-itis or anything like it from other pickups to happen. This isn't my opinion. It's fact supported with data and testing. Not my data and testing, though.
No I can't point you to a certain test or person who tested it. I don't recall where all I read about it at. There's also the fact that I can put all of my pickups as close to the strings as possible and the only ones that will cause issues are the alnico Strat singles. They get Strat-itis BAD while there's absolutely no anything from any other pickup.JC
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Originally posted by Wound_Up View Post
I've actually only ever heard 'issues' from pickups with alnico poles like Fender single coils. They're the only pole pieces strong enough to have that big of an effect. That's why you only hear strat-itis from alnico poled pickups. When you have steel pole pieces over a bar magnet, whether alnico or ceramic, there isn't enough magnetic pull for strat-itis or anything like it from other pickups to happen. This isn't my opinion. It's fact supported with data and testing. Not my data and testing, though.
No I can't point you to a certain test or person who tested it. I don't recall where all I read about it at. There's also the fact that I can put all of my pickups as close to the strings as possible and the only ones that will cause issues are the alnico Strat singles. They get Strat-itis BAD while there's absolutely no anything from any other pickup.Administrator of the SDUGF
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Originally posted by Wound_Up View Post
I've actually only ever heard 'issues' from pickups with alnico poles like Fender single coils. They're the only pole pieces strong enough to have that big of an effect. That's why you only hear strat-itis from alnico poled pickups. When you have steel pole pieces over a bar magnet, whether alnico or ceramic, there isn't enough magnetic pull for strat-itis or anything like it from other pickups to happen. This isn't my opinion. It's fact supported with data and testing. Not my data and testing, though.
No I can't point you to a certain test or person who tested it. I don't recall where all I read about it at. There's also the fact that I can put all of my pickups as close to the strings as possible and the only ones that will cause issues are the alnico Strat singles. They get Strat-itis BAD while there's absolutely no anything from any other pickup.
To be fair, though, I'm pretty sure something like the X2N has A LOT of magnet pull. Or a Black Winter or an Invader. I'd be surprised if the gauss at the top of the polepieces isn't at least as much as an A2 Fender single coil. Not that I have any data supporting it, however.
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Originally posted by Rex_Rocker View PostIn my experience, you have to adjust pretty dramatically to get a dramatic change. In my opinion, for example, if I hate a pickup, it's very likely I won't like the pickup just by tweaking the height. I'm sure some will disagree, but that's me.
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Beyond the very obvious difference in output, there's a pretty significant change to how a pickup feels under your fingers and sounds when you adjust height. Closer to the strings tends to be more immediate . . . too close leads to boomy/woofy bass and shrill/painful treble. Too far from the strings can sound ballsless with muted bass and indistinct highs. There's always a sweet spot, and it usually takes me a couple days to get it dialed in just perfectly.
FWIW, I usually like my neck pickup pretty far from the strings and my bridge pickup closer . . . but both further away than either Gibson or Fender factory specs.Join me in the fight against muscular atrophy!
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I've found the tone changes greater than the output changes with raising and lowering. But I've also found there's little point with most pickups because they only sound good in a certain spot. There are some pickups that were designed to be 'versatile' and can sound different raising and lowering, but usually those are just ok and aren't stellar sounding in any position (like the 498T/490R set).
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Originally posted by beaubrummels View PostI've found the tone changes greater than the output changes with raising and lowering. But I've also found there's little point with most pickups because they only sound good in a certain spot. There are some pickups that were designed to be 'versatile' and can sound different raising and lowering, but usually those are just ok and aren't stellar sounding in any position (like the 498T/490R set).
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