how "close" is too close? (pup height)

[SABOTAGE]

I was reading elsewhere that one player was using his bridge pup set almost touching the strings when fretting the last fret?
I had a conversation with him about this and asked what bands and tones he liked best.
turns out he is into the same players and bands as me.
I asked him if he has any problem getting the slayer,zakk wylde,old metallica tones with his pup set this way and he replied NOT AT ALL!
he uses a JB set this way and told me that it is very close to the sound of a 81.
I usually set my JB or whatever pup at least 2/16ths away as opposed to almost touching the strings?
is the any problems with setting a pup this close?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

2/16"? My gosh that's close! Try 1/8" next time. :laugh2:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

Just kidding! The only problem with having a bridge humbucker really close to the strings is if you pick hard enough that the string rattles against it. Otherwise, if you like the tone, go for it. When I hold the strings down at the highest fret, the polepieces of my bridge humbuckers are about 3/32" away from the underside of the strings on most of my humbucker guitars. Lew

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

Just kidding! The only problem with having a bridge humbucker really close to the strings is if you pick hard enough that the string rattles against it. Otherwise, if you like the tone, go for it. When I hold the strings down at the highest fret, the polepieces of my bridge humbuckers are about 3/32" away from the underside of the strings on most of my humbucker guitars. Lew

lew what is the tonal change when the pup is set real close?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

lew what is the tonal change when the pup is set real close?

I think it gets brighter and louder. Try it. You can move humbuckers closer to the strings than single coils, BTW. Lew

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

I think it gets brighter and louder. Try it. You can move humbuckers closer to the strings than single coils, BTW. Lew

thanks lew

 

[Davey]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

i have my JB set umm... when i fret it at the 22nd fret, it's about a mm away. i dont have such a heavy right hand attack so strings arent touching the polepieces (the screws follow the arch of the fretboard)

it's LOUD, very articulate and harmonics just jump out like crazy. IMO, the bass response is also a lot tighter

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

i have my JB set umm... when i fret it at the 22nd fret, it's about a mm away. i dont have such a heavy right hand attack so strings arent touching the polepieces (the screws follow the arch of the fretboard)

it's LOUD, very articulate and harmonics just jump out like crazy. IMO, the bass response is also a lot tighter

yeah i just tried it and love it! the only reason i never did it before is many said that the pickup will be muddy sounding when that close?
I find it to be more tight and clear if anything
:dance:
The JB never sounded this good before :smack:

 

[Davey]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

yeah i just tried it and love it! the only reason i never did it before is many said that the pickup will be muddy sounding when that close?
I find it to be more tight and clear if anything
:dance:

lol, it's quite the oposite

The JB never sounded this good before :smack:

welcome to the club

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

lol, it's quite the oposite

welcome to the club

now i know what all those metal players who use the JB did to get the JB to sound that metal! set it CLOSER!
:laugh2:

 

[Nightburst]

Re: how "close" is too close? (pup height)

That's how I set my JB too, it's so much fatter and more dynamic that way. I guess the JB's sweet spot for heavier music styles is as close to the strings as possible.