Adjusting my humbuckers height
- Thread starter Wayne27
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Masta' C
Well-known member
I don't set pickups to a standard height. It makes sense as a "setup" step if you're a manufacturer striving for consistency in the factory, but predetermined heights are rarely a "best fit" for everyone.
As for which side to put closer to the strings, that depends on what you're after. Generally, the treble side ends up a bit closer after adjustment, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule by any means. The final settings depend on your particular pickup(s) and your tonal goals.
I agree, experimenting is key.
As for which side to put closer to the strings, that depends on what you're after. Generally, the treble side ends up a bit closer after adjustment, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule by any means. The final settings depend on your particular pickup(s) and your tonal goals.
I agree, experimenting is key.
marcello252
Well-known member
and some experience too, for example you must know for a single coil when you start hearing the magnetic pull vibration
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
I also don't set my pickups to any kind of 'standard' height. Most of the time I'm happiest when the pickups are quite a bit lower than any suggestions I've read. Typically it takes me a couple months of little adjustments here and there to get the heights sounding and working perfect for a new guitar.
If you put the pickup closer to the treble strings then they'll be louder. If you put it closer to the bass strings then they'll be louder. Adjust to what your ears like to hear. Most of the time this is slightly more treble side tilt for neck pickups and flat or a little more bass side for bridge.
If you put the pickup closer to the treble strings then they'll be louder. If you put it closer to the bass strings then they'll be louder. Adjust to what your ears like to hear. Most of the time this is slightly more treble side tilt for neck pickups and flat or a little more bass side for bridge.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
If the neck and bridge are the same output, then usually you want the neck lower than the bridge to balance things. If the bridge is very hot and the neck is very quiet you might want the opposite (although this would be unusual). It's entirely personal preference. Do you want to balance the volume between the two? Do you want the neck to be hotter than the bridge, do you want the bridge to be boosted volume for solos? It's up to your ears.
It is up to you. Some people care more about volume balance- they put the bridge were it sounds the best, and lower the neck until they get a balance they like. Some people don't care about balance so much and just put the pickups where they think they sound the best. No rules here, and everyone wants something different out of a multi-pickup guitar.
freefrog
Well-known member
If we start to talk about experience and "must-know" 's, there will be a lot to say... How many realize that multiple pickups ALWAYS affect the harmonic content captured by their counterparts, according to their respective height settings ? "Stratitis" is just the tip of the iceberg, here... ;-)
marcello252
Well-known member
incidentally that's why I do not like RWRP middle pickup on a strat 
it could be psychoacoustics stuff but in my opinion the sound changes...
it could be psychoacoustics stuff but in my opinion the sound changes...Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
It definitely changes in the 60 Hz range that's for sureincidentally that's why I do not like RWRP middle pickup on a strat
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Yeah, you lose a very particular tone in that range.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
As far as neck pickups being lower, I do find neck pickups sound "best" (personal opinion, of course) low because the higher you have them, the boomier and more exaggerated "neck-y" they get.
That being said, for me, it's about finding a balance. If I'm using high-ish or mid-high output bridge pickups (like the JB or the Custom) and vintage output neck pickups (like the Jazz or the '59), I almost always end up having them at roughly the same distance from the strings for them to balance output-wise at first, and then lower the neck a couple nudges in the mounting screw for it not to sound like boom boom mud.
But yeah, for me, I adjust neck pickups for them to work better with the bridge. Never the other way around. But my reasoning for that is I'm 95% of the time in the bridge, so squeezing the most from that position is my priority.
That being said, for me, it's about finding a balance. If I'm using high-ish or mid-high output bridge pickups (like the JB or the Custom) and vintage output neck pickups (like the Jazz or the '59), I almost always end up having them at roughly the same distance from the strings for them to balance output-wise at first, and then lower the neck a couple nudges in the mounting screw for it not to sound like boom boom mud.
But yeah, for me, I adjust neck pickups for them to work better with the bridge. Never the other way around. But my reasoning for that is I'm 95% of the time in the bridge, so squeezing the most from that position is my priority.
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
I tend to find that it's easier to get a good bridge sound than a good neck sound, and adjust the neck pickup first. Then balance the bridge to the neck. But I tend to use the neck pretty often compared to some - maybe 75% of the time on that pickup with a strat and 50% with a LP.
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