Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

[dpaterson]

Hello again.

Well. I've asked two questions around these parts tonight so figured it's time to reciprocate with a tip that I've never seen mentioned before.

Now yes I know (and keep getting told) that pickup height is subjective. However: it is said, which I agree with, that the manufacturer's specs. are a good place to start (and the manufacturer's specs. for three of my guitars are pretty much perfect for me to be honest). But: I find / found it very hard to use things like Stewmac's String Action Gauge (or any other such type of "device") (my eyes are "getting on" if nothing else). So on my quest to set my pickups to the EXACT height required / specced. I devised this method:

Before beginning: the assumption is made that EVERYTHING else on the guitar is perfectly set up!!!

Here we go then:

• Lower your pickups to make space for feeler gauges.
• Make up the desired pickup height out of individual feeler gauges (usually means seperating them individually from the holder that they're supplied in).
• Insert the feeler gauges between the pickup and the strings (obviously).
• You will notice that the feeler gauges are held in place real nice by the magnets in the pickups.

So far so good (nothing new above right). But here's the trick (my "technique"):

• Make sure your guitar is plugged in to your amp. on a nice distortion setting.
• Now start SLOWLY lifting the pickup with your screwdriver while GENTLY plucking the string in question.
• The MOMENT that the string stops ringing out: there you have it: 100% correct pickup height (to whatever spec. you're using) and it's NOT subjective at all.

Hope this helps some.

Regards,

Dale.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Er, I don't go by 'the string stopping ringing out'. I go by 'the tone I like best with the right balance of frequencies'.

So it IS subjective in my case.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Hello.

Well. Agreed. Just detailing a method that I use that I believe is pretty darn precise if you're inclined to want to start out with a certain measured / exact spec. is all. It's certainly more accurate than using string action gauges or rulers and the like.

But yeh: you may still not be happy and have to get your desired tone as you've stated (I'm just fortunate, as noted, that with three of my guitars the manufacturers spec. pleases me). I have another guitar that is custom / hand made. Took me WEEKS of SUBJECTIVITY to find "the tone I like best with the right balance of frequencies" (but I got there eventually)!!! LOL!!!

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

What if my guitar has a bad case of "sustain for days" and doesn't stop ringing out?

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Dale..... your subjectivity ISN'T.
Nobody cares about your opinion of perfection since they don't play your rig.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Many single coil pickups must be set very low to get near my preference.

 

[dave74]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I always just fret the strings at the highest fret, thereby being at their closest position to the magnet.
I set the pickup as close to the strings as possible without getting any interference at all. Done.

My goal is always getting the most output without any string-pull,,,,,,even at the highest fret.
It's very easy to hear the difference when you've moved it too close.

Dimarzio and BKP both advocate this method.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Dale..... your subjectivity ISN'T.
Nobody cares about your opinion of perfection since they don't play your rig.

I am going to assume you didn't intend for this to sound as jerky as it comes across.

There is no "perfection" in music, just what works best for that person.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Whoa there ICTGoober.

Maybe I used the incorrect title for the thread. Sorry. Not saying my setup is "perfect" at all. All I was trying to demonstrate was another method that I use to PRECISELY (maybe a better word to have used) set pickup height if you have a certain spec. or pickup height in mind (that is NOT subjective). Go to any number of articles on the main Seymour Duncan website on this topic and certain specs. / heights are given as starting points (to be used before SUBJECTIVITY and personal preference are exercised when adjusting pickup height). I just found this a very clean, easy, and very accurate method is all.

Christopher:

What if my guitar has a bad case of "sustain for days" and doesn't stop ringing out?

Let me know how you got it right!!! That'll do me!!! LOL!!! (Did I mention: when you're done then switch your amp. off and remove the feeler gauges!!! LOL!!!).

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

For the record, I fret the highest fret and adjust the pickups to 1/16" from the string bottom to the magnet and tweak from there.

Dale that is roughly 1.5875mm for you.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Hello (again).

"Roughly"??? See. There's my (your) problem right there!!! LOL!!! Only joking.

I SUPPOSE while we're on this topic:

I did read / hear that the "perfect" or "correct" height (better watch my choice of words here) is when you can hear a sort of natural vibrato ring / sound coming back from the strings when the sound decays. I spent WEEKS at this at one point and never heard the darn thing not even once (that's why I said somewhere above that after a time it all starts to sound the same).

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I ain't give an f about pup height spec.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I don't deal in exacts on guitar stuff because it is a futile chase. I try to start at the same point and adjust from there.

People spend waaaaay to much time getting worked up over dumb **** when they should be focused on making music.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Best point made on this thread yet:

People spend waaaaay to much time getting worked up over dumb **** when they should be focused on making music.

Yip. That did happen to me once!!! Pretty much got caught up in stuff like this (I just posted about it now because I was "sharing" after asking my questions on the other threads is all).

Regards,

Dale.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I don't deal in exacts on guitar stuff because it is a futile chase.

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

Only the Sith deal in absolutes.

One of my kids thinks that's a good movie. That line makes my head hurt.

When I was younger, I set all my pickups, which were ceramics like Distortions or Invaders as close to the strings as possible. Now, I use alnico single coils and PAFs, and set them to where they sound good. Ironically, they're all super far from the strings now.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I think when I gave up the pursuit of "perfect", I got a lot happier.

Stealing from Nike, but...

"Just Play It!"

Bill

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

It took me a minute to understand in the OP that he means the string will stop ringing because it has made contact with the stacked feeler gauges. Once I realized that the method made sense as a way of getting to a predetermined spec correctly.

Personally, I adjust by ear. And I find that the ideal spot for me can be very different from one pickup to another. Also, sometimes what I think is best at first turns out not to be quite ideal for me. My recommendation is to get it to where you think it's best and play the guitar that way for a few hours or a couple of sets. Then try backing them off a little and play it that way for a couple of sets, to see if you like that better. You can always raise 'em again, but sometimes it takes couple of hours play time to really get a sense of how an adjustment has affected the feel/tone/sustain/clarity at battle volume. I have often found that ideal isn't exactly where I first thought. And usually it's lower rather than higher.

I do concur that the mfrs recommendation is probably a pretty good place to start.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

I think when I gave up the pursuit of "perfect", I got a lot happier.

When I achieved my perfect ax I got a lot happier.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Setting Pickup Height "Perfectly"

^ but you'll never know that until the day you die......because you might find something better tomorrow.