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I was messing around tonight and I noticed that the pickups on
my guitar may be lowered or raised - what does this do? I can see
you get a different sound depending on the height, but is there a
standard height to have them set at? I have just been using what
they were set at when I got it 2 months ago.
Kevin
Kevin,
Its like stepping up to the microphone, or away, as the case may be.
Yes there is an optimuum distance from the strings, for each pickup.
Too close and the magnets will tend to inhibit the vibrations of the
string, too far away and your "hottness" will be diminished. You might
be able to find the recommended heights for your guitar by searching
google groups. It varies by model and pickup type.
John
--- In , "kkamphaus
<KEVIN_AND_JULIE_KAMPHAUS@H...>" <KEVIN_AND_JULIE_KAMPHAUS@H...> wrote:
>
> I was messing around tonight and I noticed that the pickups on
> my guitar may be lowered or raised - what does this do? I can see
> you get a different sound depending on the height, but is there a
> standard height to have them set at? I have just been using what
> they were set at when I got it 2 months ago.
>
> Kevin
Just last night I adjusted 2 of they 4 pickups on my 1960's Eko. I
wasn't getting the low-end response I wanted so I raised the section
of the pick-up under the bass strings up. I kept adjusting it until
it sounded right, and then did the tpo end to balance the sound. One
thing I would recommend is that you remember where the pick-ups were
set before you start in case things go "horribly" wrong. Count the
number of turns with your screwdriver.
Mike/USK
Kevin,
I typically go with my height as being equal to the width of a yellow
number 2 pencil, maybe a touch closer. String height has a couple of
different effects, the most obvious being tone. One word of warning...don't
get too close, because the magnets can begin to pull on the strings and this
has two effects:
1. It can make your tuning very unstable as it will actually pull the string
out of tune.
2. It KILLS your sustain if they get too close.
On my Jags, I keep both pups about equidistant from the strings, with the
bridge pup just a hair closer to the strings than the neck is. When I used
to play my Jazzmaster, I kept the bridge pup significantly closer to the
strings than the neck pup. Its all personal preference as far as how it will
effect each guitar and its tone through a given amp, but as long as you keep
in mind the two basic rules, you should be OK.
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
>From: "kkamphaus <>"
><>
>Reply-To:
>To:
>Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Pickup Height
>Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 03:39:50 -0000
>
>
> I was messing around tonight and I noticed that the pickups on
>my guitar may be lowered or raised - what does this do? I can see
>you get a different sound depending on the height, but is there a
>standard height to have them set at? I have just been using what
>they were set at when I got it 2 months ago.
>
>Kevin
>
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Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
i put them big o tires on my pickup
makes it real high up!
charlie
