Does height really matter???

[mrfunnyman]

aiight people I need some help here
I have a PRS SE singlecut that I have tuned in E with the low E dropped to D, the orginal bridge pickup was not a very hot pickup so I swapped it out for a SD SH-5 custom b/c brandon at SD recommended this pickup for a guitar that is tuned down, the SH-5 sounds great playing power chords when the guitar is tuned in standard E but when I play power chords in drop D tuning nothing sounds right, the intonation is dead on and I'm using 11-48 string's. 1 thing I've noticed is that the humbucker mounting ring on the bridge pup is the same mounting ring that the neck pickup uses which leaves a pretty big gap between the top of the pickup and the strings, could it possibly be my pickup needs to be closer to the strings to get things sounding right?

 

[SFW]

Re: Does height really matter???

To adjust a good balance between the two pickups do the following:

Press the low E string down on the last fret (the one closest to the pickups. Adjust your bass side of both pickups to 3/32.

Next, press the high e string down on the last fret and set the treble side of both pickups to 1/16.

This will put the treble side slightly higher than the bass side. It will also give you a good balance across the strings, and between both pickups. This is not a set in stone hight, but will get you in the ballpark for fine tuning.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Does height really matter???

Yes. I typically fret the E strings at the highest fret, get the pickup as close as it will go without touching, then start backing it down until I find the sweet spot.

Also, try setting the height of the pole pieces to match the radius of the strings, then tweak them if one string seems louder than the others.

 

[mrfunnyman]

Re: Does height really matter???

so this height problem could possibly be why I'm having trouble with everything not sounding good in drop D

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Does height really matter???

It will make your pickup a bit louder, and might solve the drop D thing.

I just reread your post, and don't know why it doesn't sound good in drop D. Try adjusting and see what happens. You might need to tweak your amp settings.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: Does height really matter???

Yeah, a low bridge pickup like that is going to have a weak signal unless it's at the appropriate height. Adjust the bridge humbucker until it's 1/8"-1/16" from the strings. Then adjust the neck humbucker until the volume is the same between it and the bridge humbucker.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Does height really matter???

One fine point, and a first step in my book... is to temporarily drop the neck pickup as low as it will go, then go about your bridge pickup height first. Then, adjust the neck pickup.

The magents of neck pickups tend to influence the natural movement strings than those in the bridge pickup. Too-high pickup/s add odd warbles/kills sustain/toys with the perceived string intonation (especially as you travel up the fretboard on the higher frets. The odd effects of a too-high neck pickup are better perceived without gain/distortion, so by all means, alternate between super clean and your maximum gain amp setting as you figure out your optimal preferences.

It is very common, but not mandatory, for the neck pickup to be a bit lower than the bridge pickup. I would have gone lower on the neck pickup than the image below, if it were possible.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Does height really matter???

I dont follow any stated specs, I just go with my ears.

I tend to prefer the pickups a little farther away from the strings than most people.

 

[dhooper89]

Re: Does height really matter???

One thing I have always noticed is that Edward Van Halen had his bridge pickup WAY LOW in his Frakenstrat compared to his Wolfgang guitars. He use to screw the thing straight into the body cavity. Anybody else tried a pickup this low?

 

[JB6464]

Re: Does height really matter???

My guess is that he had a low output pickup but a hot mag like the A8. Therefor you lower the pickup because the string pull is much greater with the more powerfull magnet. Since he liked the super70 pickups in his distroyer,their pretty close to a 59/A8 setup that i just started using and i do the same thing in my guitar now.

 

[dhooper89]

Re: Does height really matter???

What about a JB? Closer to the strings or farther away. I know this is a preference thing but just curious.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Does height really matter???

Height makes a big deal IMO. Too high gets the aforementioned warbles and kills sustain, yet the sound is hotter. Too low also kills sustain and you begin to lose sound. There are specs, but there is no "perfect height". at the end of the day it's your ears that decide. I will say, however, ever member of the "As high s possible without touching" crowd that I have helped out with this eventually comes to the concusion that as high as possible is n ot where it's at. Lower is almost always more toneful, clear, and sustaining IMO. especially true of uber hot pups.

 

[mrfunnyman]

Re: Does height really matter???

The pickup in eddie's frankie is not set low, it's set so close to the strings that the strings left grooves in the front of the pickup from years of divebombing. When I built my frankenstrat I set mine up with the pickup set low b/c that's how I thought eddie did it for a real long time until I saw and played the fender frankenstrat, what eddie had was a PAF pickup w/ long legs, then he bent the legs to the approximate height then screwed them into the wood, matter o fact on the low E side of the pickup he drilled another hole in the leg to put the screw in. On a lighter note I went out and bought a taller mounting ringer for my SH-5 bridge pickup WOW!!! What a huge difference in tone that made on my PRS SE I love the SH-5 it's got just what I was looking for. I'm thinking about putting either another SH-5 in my les paul custom or a pearly gates. Thanx guys.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Does height really matter???

Glad it worked for you

 

[Hellion]

Re: Does height really matter???

I think it varies between guitars and ears.