Pickup Height for single coils (PDF)

[Robert Delahunt]

Yeah, I know, it's been hashed and rehashed several times.

How high should one install pickups to the strings?

I read one blurb on the Duncan website that gives this for neck, middle, and bridge. However, that versus the Fender recommended height gives interesting results. I'm adjusting height on my Lite Ash Strat (three Alnico II Pro Staggered single coils) and somehow the Duncan height makes it sound more "old school", while the Fender height results in punchiness, but with the neck too hot and the bridge too lean.

What I'd like to see is the PDF of the "how to install" that comes with the single coil pickups. I have the PDF for the one for humbuckers, and a physical copy of it that came with my Hot Rodded set originally. Does anyone happen to have a PDF of the "how to install" that comes with single coils? Thanks in advance!

By the way, what's the consensus on A2 mag pickups? Closer to the strings than others (A5, A8, Ceramic)? Chime in (hehe) if you want....

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Pickup Height for single coils (PDF)

I broke down and called Seymour Duncan on this one. I don't like calling them because I don't want to waste too much of their time. However, what I was told is that you should start at 1/16" pickup height and then back it off from there until you find the sweet spot, up to 1/8" away. The conversation was in relation to single coils, by the way. For humbuckers, I already have the specs....

Does anyone else in here find that Alnico II magnet pickups like to be closer to the strings, or at least can be before they get ugly?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickup Height for single coils (PDF)

I've found that string pull is cumulative, so, what I do, is that I install my bridge pickup almost kissing the strings, the middle pickup almost flush to the pickguard (for extra quack), and the neck pickup at a point where it's just a bit weaker than the bridge. this gives me a punchy, fat bridge, quacky in between positions, an almost acoustic #3 position, and a big, throaty neck strat sound.

BTW, I have an EB/MM Duncan Albert Lee set that's like an underwound, flat poled (smaller poles as well) APS pair in the neck and middle with what seems like an underwound proto-Twangbanger at the bridge.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Pickup Height for single coils (PDF)

Ok, the recommendation of 1/16" away works better. Again, Seymour Duncan rocks! I adjusted the treble side one penny away (1/16" roughly; 1.55mm) and the bass side a nickel away (1.95mm) and got a much better sound!