big kurka
Active member
Hi there every one. I've done alot of searching here and else where, and I found this on harmony central (see below). I tried these adjustments as my starting point(haven't fine tuned yet), and I must say my guitar sounds pretty even sounding string to string and pickup to pickup. I only got to play my guitar for appox. 15 min but I felt my guitar actually sounded alittle better. Note: my bridge p/u was appox. 3/32 higher and my neck was appox. 1/32-1/16 higher before I tried this adjustment. My guitar is a Edwards LP pgn and pg/custom hybrid. Anyways I thought some of you guys might find this helpful.:cool2:
Many manufacturers will recommend how to ideally set up their pickups. They typically start from the factory setting, or provide turn-numbers assuming the screw head is flush with the pickup. Here’s one set of instructions using the turn method:
Set all poles when looking at the screw head from the side that only the rounded part rises above the flat part of the pup.
Low E: no change
A: raise 1 full turn
D: raise 1 ½ full turns
G: raise ½ turn
B: lower 1 full turn
High E raise ½ turn
Some guitar manufacturers give measurements from the strings to the pickups, as in this example from a Carvin owner’s manual:
Adjusting Pickup Height
Each pickup has 2 or 3 height adjusting screws. For maximum power output keep the pickups adjusted as close to the strings as possible while maintaining enough clearance so that the pickup pole pieces will not touch the strings when playing on the upper frets. If you want a mellower sound, then adjust the pickups further away from the strings. For humbucking pickups we recommend 5/32” clearance. For single coil pickups go with 1/8” clearance.
Adjusting individual pickup poles
We set each magnetic screw head in both pickups for a balanced sound. If you wish to raise or lower the output of a certain string, then lower or raise the adjustable screw heads until you get the desired power output of that string. Press strings down on the 24th fret and make sure that you have at least 1/16” clearance between the strings and the pickup screw heads, otherwise you may get static as a result. Keep the pickup pole pieces clean as any metallic particles on them can cause static.
What’s clear here is that both approaches assume you will be adjusting your pickups. They don’t warn you that it will “void the warranty,” and they even offer their recommended setups. You should feel encouraged by this to experiment for yourself.
Many manufacturers will recommend how to ideally set up their pickups. They typically start from the factory setting, or provide turn-numbers assuming the screw head is flush with the pickup. Here’s one set of instructions using the turn method:
Set all poles when looking at the screw head from the side that only the rounded part rises above the flat part of the pup.
Low E: no change
A: raise 1 full turn
D: raise 1 ½ full turns
G: raise ½ turn
B: lower 1 full turn
High E raise ½ turn
Some guitar manufacturers give measurements from the strings to the pickups, as in this example from a Carvin owner’s manual:
Adjusting Pickup Height
Each pickup has 2 or 3 height adjusting screws. For maximum power output keep the pickups adjusted as close to the strings as possible while maintaining enough clearance so that the pickup pole pieces will not touch the strings when playing on the upper frets. If you want a mellower sound, then adjust the pickups further away from the strings. For humbucking pickups we recommend 5/32” clearance. For single coil pickups go with 1/8” clearance.
Adjusting individual pickup poles
We set each magnetic screw head in both pickups for a balanced sound. If you wish to raise or lower the output of a certain string, then lower or raise the adjustable screw heads until you get the desired power output of that string. Press strings down on the 24th fret and make sure that you have at least 1/16” clearance between the strings and the pickup screw heads, otherwise you may get static as a result. Keep the pickup pole pieces clean as any metallic particles on them can cause static.
What’s clear here is that both approaches assume you will be adjusting your pickups. They don’t warn you that it will “void the warranty,” and they even offer their recommended setups. You should feel encouraged by this to experiment for yourself.
