Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

[ExplorersRock]

My tech recently pointed out that the pickups in my Les Paul were WAY too close to the strings. He said they should be 3/8" from the E strings on the bridge And then match the neck with it via volume level. I usually just adjust the bridge the to taste, then do what he said for the neck. But perhaps I have gone about this wrong? What do you guys do and what do you recommend?

BTW, the pickups in my LP are C/59 Hybrid and a 59.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I do it by sound. I've noticed I wanted more output out of my Tele, but bringing the pickups too close made the mid character odd. So I dropped them down quite a bit and just turned up, or run it through a boost. There's no hard and fast rule anyway. Just make sure your strings don't hit them, and don't catch on them either. If it sounds good, it is good.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I start about 3/16" and mess with it till I like it best (usually closer. All pickups are different.

That said, 3/8" is way too much.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

This was a thread I made about the method I use now
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...pup-two-nickels&highlight=one+pup+two+nickels


"The distance between pickup and string is a very important factor for output and sound.
As a general rule for the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on that string. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. Repeat the same with the low E string, but use two nickels on top of each other. If this gives you too much output, you can reduce the height slightly. Don't forget that twice the distance will reduce the output by about 60%, and the sound will lose some lows. NOW, you can adjust the neck pickup to match the output of the bridge pickup. For the sound test, use stage volume."


Long story short it worked wonders and drastically changed the feel and tone of my instrument. I lost a little bit of output but what I gained was clarity, punchiness, and way better dynamics and my low strings don't flub out or over power the high strings. My technique comes through much better on both clean and distorted settings and sounds much better through my Wah pedal.

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I've been using the "nickel method" as a starting point, then adjusting to taste from there.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

Eyeball it and fine tune by ear. It's going to vary depending on various factors (neck relief being one of them) so I don't have a predetermined measurement.

 

[LReese]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

7/32" treble 1/8" bass on single coils. A little closer on the bridge, especially if using a non-hot pickup, Then adjust the middle for best quack - should be slightly lower.

I don't really stray much on the above, but certain pickups I can hear a point on the neck pickup where the sound 'opens' up. Lace Hot Gold was one of those pickups.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I never measure anything. I just adjust them until they sound good and don't get in the way of the strings.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

3/8" Ha ha ha ha!

I keep my pickups far from the strings compared to most people...but 3/8" is ridiculous. Try taking 1/3 of that distance and using it as a starting point...and run like the wind from that tech!

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I start about 3/16" and mess with it till I like it best (usually closer. All pickups are different.

That said, 3/8" is way too much.

IIRC, 3/16" is what someone at Duncan said. Basically you're exact instructions.

This was a thread I made about the method I use now
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...pup-two-nickels&highlight=one+pup+two+nickels


"The distance between pickup and string is a very important factor for output and sound.
As a general rule for the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on th string. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. Repeat the same with the low E string, but use two nickels on top of each other. If this gives you too much output, you can reduce the height slightly. Don't forget that twice the distance will reduce the output by about 60%, and the sound will lose some lows. NOW, you can adjust the neck pickup to match the output of the bridge pickup. For the sound test, use stage volume."


Long story short it worked wonders and drastically changed the feel and tone of my instrument. I lost a little bit of output but what I gained was clarity, punchiness, and way better dynamics and my low strings don't flub out or over power the high strings. My technique comes through much better on both clean and distorted settings and sounds much better through my Wah pedal.

Thanks for posting this! Very helpful and I think I will try it.

I never measure anything. I just adjust them until they sound good and don't get in the way of the strings.

That's how I have been doing it. It seems yo be working OK.

3/8" Ha ha ha ha!

I keep my pickups far from the strings compared to most people...but 3/8" is ridiculous. Try taking 1/3 of that distance and using it as a starting point...and run like the wind from that tech!

He's actually pretty solid. I think he may hav meant 3/16" because he referenced the nickel trick as another way to get started. He was pointkng out the height because i thought my intonation was out. I had just switched pickups and hadnt yet tried to dial in the height. He pointed out that with the bridge HB that close, the strength of the magnetic field could be pulling it out of tune. I've heard of this before and I had noticed my sustain wasn't very good, so I already figured it might be too close. He has a tendency sometimes to say stuff backwards when is engrossed in something mentally. He once got the relationship of pot values backward. When k told him what he had just said he was like, "Huh? No I meant the other way around." I too thought 3/8" was high, hence the post. Thanks for all the input guys!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I've found that with buckers, if you get it closer you add thickness and crunch and biting top-end, and if you lower it you open the tone up a bit and round the top off. After a certain point the mojo seems to go and it then becomes weak and uninspiring. You just have to tweak to your own tastes between crunchier and more open.

Of course my experiences are mostly with PAF strength humbuckers.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

What about the majority of the world who Don't live in the usa and have no ides how thick a nickel is ?????

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

What about the majority of the world who Don't live in the usa and have no ides how thick a nickel is ?????

I guess if they are too stupid to just figure something out as an alternative, then they're just S.O.L.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

What about the majority of the world who Don't live in the usa and have no ides how thick a nickel is ?????

1.95mm

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

Start with what It says in the SD instructions and go from there.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk

 

[post toastie]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

where it sounds best for the pickup.

compromised by optimum overall balance of all pickups concerned.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

Start with what It says in the SD instructions and go from there.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk

What does it say in the SD instructions? It's been awhile since I looked at the box and didn't know they had instructions besides wiring.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

I know Gibson, Ibanez and G&L all publish a spec for pickup height; I think Fender does too. That's always a good place to start.

Bill

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

What does it say in the SD instructions? It's been awhile since I looked at the box and didn't know they had instructions besides wiring.

SD website should have the info.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk

 

[roglf1]

Re: Proper Pickup Height... How Do You Guys Decide?

every manufacturer has suggested starting points. usually they are the highest you should have them. just go to fender, gibson or other sights to find them. just ajusting them by ear is actually very difficult to the average ear. i have read where eric johnson spends a good bit of time and effort on this and very fanatic about it.