Pickup height and output
- Thread starter Wayne27
- Start date
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
In my experience, you have to adjust pretty dramatically to get a dramatic change. In my opinion, for example, if I hate a pickup, it's very likely I won't like the pickup just by tweaking the height. I'm sure some will disagree, but that's me.
That being said, there is a noticeable difference in output and EQ from tweaking the height. I believe the closer you have the pickup to the strings, you get a fuller, louder sound with more bass and treble from the pickup. But there's a point where you'll start running into issues with clicky noises from the strings hitting the pickup itself or pitch-y-ness from magnet pull from very strong ceramic magnet or single coil pickups if they're too close.
I personally like my bridge pickups as close as I can get them to the strings without running into issues. I feel like I squeeze the most from them that way. But I suppose that's my approach because I always work with pickups I like in the first place and rarely ever attempt to "fix" a pickup I don't like by tweaking the height. I always set the neck pickup's height to match the volume of the bridge pickup as close as I can, and then slightly tweak down to find a sweet spot where it doesn't sound overly fat and/or attacky, but not to low so that it sticks out as not balanced anymore.
That's my own personal approach.
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NotDemanic
Active member
Depending on the pickup, if you get it too close to the strings, it won't necessarily sound it's best. Especially if it's a powerful magnet. I've found that raising the pickup to the point where it begins to sound somewhat distorted (assuming that you are playing clean) and then backing it off a bit, is the best way to find the sweet spot.
Wound_Up
New member
I've actually only ever heard 'issues' from pickups with alnico poles like Fender single coils. They're the only pole pieces strong enough to have that big of an effect. That's why you only hear strat-itis from alnico poled pickups. When you have steel pole pieces over a bar magnet, whether alnico or ceramic, there isn't enough magnetic pull for strat-itis or anything like it from other pickups to happen. This isn't my opinion. It's fact supported with data and testing. Not my data and testing, though.
No I can't point you to a certain test or person who tested it. I don't recall where all I read about it at. There's also the fact that I can put all of my pickups as close to the strings as possible and the only ones that will cause issues are the alnico Strat singles. They get Strat-itis BAD while there's absolutely no anything from any other pickup.
You can get this with any pickup that the poles are actual magnets. No matter what the magnets are made out of, too. Once you hear it, it will drive you crazy.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I did not know that, but to be honest, I don't disagree. I run into the problem where I'm too heavy handed and make the strings click against the polepieces way earlier than I ever felt things start sounding out of tune.
To be fair, though, I'm pretty sure something like the X2N has A LOT of magnet pull. Or a Black Winter or an Invader. I'd be surprised if the gauss at the top of the polepieces isn't at least as much as an A2 Fender single coil. Not that I have any data supporting it, however.
Artie
Peaveyologist
I agree completely. If it doesn't sound good to start with, I probably won't spend much time trying to tweak it to make bad, acceptable.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Beyond the very obvious difference in output, there's a pretty significant change to how a pickup feels under your fingers and sounds when you adjust height. Closer to the strings tends to be more immediate . . . too close leads to boomy/woofy bass and shrill/painful treble. Too far from the strings can sound ballsless with muted bass and indistinct highs. There's always a sweet spot, and it usually takes me a couple days to get it dialed in just perfectly.
FWIW, I usually like my neck pickup pretty far from the strings and my bridge pickup closer . . . but both further away than either Gibson or Fender factory specs.
FWIW, I usually like my neck pickup pretty far from the strings and my bridge pickup closer . . . but both further away than either Gibson or Fender factory specs.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
I've found the tone changes greater than the output changes with raising and lowering. But I've also found there's little point with most pickups because they only sound good in a certain spot. There are some pickups that were designed to be 'versatile' and can sound different raising and lowering, but usually those are just ok and aren't stellar sounding in any position (like the 498T/490R set).
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I actually just got a Les Paul Modern Lite, and I'm loving that 498T, LOL.
