Masta' C
Well-known member
I start with my JB's backed way off and then adjust the bass and treble sides closer to the strings until I get the balance, response, and harmonic character I'm after. Then I adjust slightly past that point and back to it. You can really tell when you've got the adjustment "just right" this way.
I actually think a lot of "JB hate" on the internet stems from players not taking the time to fine-tune things like pickup height and the individual pole pieces. A lot of players take their guitars out of the box, plug it in, and assume that's just how the thing sounds, never touching the pickups at all. Similarly, a lot of players assume that when a shop does a pickup install that the pickups were properly set in their "sweet spot", but many shops just set them at a specific distance from the strings, regardless of the model.
FYI...I never adhere to a specific distance standard in my guitars, even when using the same pickup. For example, two different guitars loaded with JB's will likely end up with slightly different final adjustments and distances from the strings, but each guitar will sound its best when I'm done.
I actually think a lot of "JB hate" on the internet stems from players not taking the time to fine-tune things like pickup height and the individual pole pieces. A lot of players take their guitars out of the box, plug it in, and assume that's just how the thing sounds, never touching the pickups at all. Similarly, a lot of players assume that when a shop does a pickup install that the pickups were properly set in their "sweet spot", but many shops just set them at a specific distance from the strings, regardless of the model.
FYI...I never adhere to a specific distance standard in my guitars, even when using the same pickup. For example, two different guitars loaded with JB's will likely end up with slightly different final adjustments and distances from the strings, but each guitar will sound its best when I'm done.
