Pickup Height

[gemil]

Hi Room

I need your help, can anyone let me know the distance the pickups should be from the bottom of the strings....(in mm)

I have set mine to factory standard, so that the Neck pickup is level with the screw that adjusts the pickup.....

Any suggestions on how to adjust them so that i get the maximum output of the pickups

My neck pickup up is rated as 8.0 ohm and the Bridge is 16.0 ohm

Any help will be appreciated....

Cheers

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Pickup Height

It's recommended to start the bridge at 3/32in and adjust from there. If I the conversion is correct, that should be 2.38mm. Getting closer to the strings will give you more output, but if you get too close it will pull the strings out of tune.

Actually, they're always pulling on the strings. It just gets noticeable when you get the pup very close.

Once you get the bridge pup set, adjust the others to match its output appropriately to get the tone you're wanting.

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Pickup Height

I never take any notice of these published dimensions; they are meaningless.

If the pickup gets too close to the string you will get something called magnetic weighting where the pole piece pulls on the string and causes a false tone.

Bring the pickup up until you get magnetic weighting then back it off until it stops; then you'll have your pickup at the optimum height.

This will give you the most intense response, won't necessarily give you the best tone though...

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup Height

The screwsd on the ring have nothing to do with it. First, set the screws so they match the curve of the strings across the neck. Then adjust to the "generic" specs for whatever the axe. For a pual it's 5/16 neck and 3/16 for the bridge. After that, adjust the overall height to taste! However - get to close and you'll lose sustain (and tone) but get a really hot signal. Get too far away and you'll lose signal (and sustain, and tone). The "Factory specs" are just a good starting point so you know what it was "supposed" to sound like.

Obviously it depends on both the pup and your ears...

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Pickup Height

This is another one of those little tricks you can use to adjust your tone just a little bit.

A little closer to warm up a weak pickup, a little further away to smooth out a hot pickup. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.