So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Leveller

Leveller

New member
Just installed a FS set, and Im screwing around with the pickup height. When I have my action as low as possible (way lower than usual) and the pickup as high as possible, there is about half an inch space in between, but Ive seen people saying they have the pickups as close as 1/16" or something! Is there something I should've done when I installed it or why can't I get mine higher?
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Picture maybe? This is interesting, I don't know how someone can have 1/2 an inch space between strings and pickup. That's insane.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

wtf? how friggin high is your action? 1/2" is really far away from the strings, thats not a high output pup either. I can get my duncans in all my guitars to touch the strings and even raise them easily if i wanted to.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

what kind of guitar?

maybe he's got a directly screwed pickup with no springs.

Slade
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Sorry, it's more like 1/4" . I thought an inch was slighty less than 2 cm but it turns out it's about 2.5 cm. :smack:
The guitar model is a jackson slsmg, and I think the mounting rings are standard (springs and all). I've tightened it down as far as it'll go. Sorry can't give you a pic, havent got a digital camera at the moment.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

So it's about 6 - 6.5mm? You should measure the distance from the poles to the strings while fretting the string at the highest fret (21, 22, 24). If you set the pickup too close to the open strings, when you fret the higher notes the string may hit the pickup.

That said, you should be able to get closer than 1/4" (6.4mm) even on the open strings. Does your guitar have the really thin pickup rings? If so, some taller rings might help.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

That`s unreal,i need to do a seach on that guitar:outahere:
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

devastone said:
So it's about 6 - 6.5mm? You should measure the distance from the poles to the strings while fretting the string at the highest fret (21, 22, 24). If you set the pickup too close to the open strings, when you fret the higher notes the string may hit the pickup.

That said, you should be able to get closer than 1/4" (6.4mm) even on the open strings. Does your guitar have the really thin pickup rings? If so, some taller rings might help.
Click to expand...

Yep around 6.5. Yeah it might be the pickup rings, I hadnt thought about that.. the bridge ring is about 9 mm at the tallest point, is that normal or low?
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Also could be that the springs are too big and being compressed all the way, smaller springs might help but you probably need higher pickup rings.

As far as high pickups...I think I have the highest...it's a bit lower now...but still...haha

EMG_81_LFR.jpg
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Leveller said:
Sorry, it's more like 1/4" . I thought an inch was slighty less than 2 cm but it turns out it's about 2.5 cm. :smack:
The guitar model is a jackson slsmg, and I think the mounting rings are standard (springs and all). I've tightened it down as far as it'll go. Sorry can't give you a pic, havent got a digital camera at the moment.
Click to expand...

Pull the pickup out (still in pu ring) and look at the springs -- they're probably squished down as far as they can go. But the solution is dirt simple: Cut the springs in half.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

don't get em too close, or they will sound muddy and the low E starts to get all nasty sounding
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

True, but I bet his pu has the short legs which make it hard to crank a bridge pu reasonably close. Vintage long leg baseplates work better for the bridge position, if your guitar has routs deep enough, that is. But down-n-dirty way to fix it is just to cut the springs in half.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

I think Zhang is on the right path,check out your springs.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

I think I know the problem... ihave a similar situation.... my fixed bridge and andBolt on neck sit pretty high on the body... So I have to set the pups really high just like the EMG on D-EJ915 guitar.. infact D-EJ915's guiatar comes only close to it.. But Iguesss the best solution would be to ccut the springs bit.
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Ok guys thanks a lot I will try to cut the springs :)
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Adjusting the pole pieces higher might give you a little more height as well...
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

I just cut the springs in half and now I can adjust the height perfectly (yeah I'm a bit slow :chairfall )

Cheers
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

I guess it didnt bother you too bad :) Glad it worked out
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

Leveller said:
Just installed a FS set, and Im screwing around with the pickup height. When I have my action as low as possible (way lower than usual) and the pickup as high as possible, there is about half an inch space in between, but Ive seen people saying they have the pickups as close as 1/16" or something! Is there something I should've done when I installed it or why can't I get mine higher?
Click to expand...

Why higher? I just put them at the (minimum) distance from the strings that the SD installation guide recommends (or lower, i.e. farther away). I've never had issues. If you get the pickups too close to the strings, you get a distorted sound, and likewise if they're too far away you get lack of definition, etc. I have a web page on how to adjust them without needing a ruler, in case you're interested....
 
Re: So, how do you get your pups so close to the strings?

why would you want to have pups as high as possible?

thats going to produce a lot of "wavy" tones...not good!
 
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