Re: Is there a such thing as pickups being to high?
Generally the whole "pickup too close to the strings" thing is a single coil issue. Like was perviously said, the pole pieces in most singles are actually the magnets and when they are too close to the strings they can dampen vibrations and casue "wolf tones" particularly on an unwound G string using the neck pickup with distortion.
Many modern pickup manufacturers (like DiMarzio) have updated the pole piece staggered heights (the G is the LOWEST now instead of the highest) which GREATLY decreases the problem.
Some singles are designed the same way humbuckers are in that there is a magnet underneath, and the pole pieces are merely "in contact" with it (if your polepieces are screws or Hex screws they are not magnets). There is much less magnetic pull this way, and it is not NEARLY as much of an issue.
The best way to adjust pickup height is to use your ears. 1st, start off with two pickups that compliment eachother output wise and tonally. Then, whichever pickup you use most (set your amp the way you will be playing it live) adjust the pickup height so that that the pickup is loud and clear but not unpleasantly distorted when you wack a chord. Also make sure that the string to string balance is even (the low E doesn't ring out twice as loud as the high E for instance).
Then do the same for the other pickup and make sure that when you switch between the two that one isn't too much louder than the other (unless you specifically want it that way).
It is not uncommon for the bridge pickup to me MUCH closer to the strings than the neck. Sometimes the neck needs to be set LOW because the bridge can only get so loud and so close to the strings. Try to avoid a neck pickup that is much warmer or louder than the bridge pickup. It can cause balance problems (example: don't use a Duncan Distortion neck and a '59 bridge). :wrf:
But the bottom line is your ears. Does it sound good? Balanced? Do both pickups sound good at the same amp settings?
Good luck! :smokin:
