Author Topic: Pickup causing unnatural decay? (Read 5855 times)

badgermark · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2008, 05:53:44 PM »

Well seems to be better now. Was sitting around 7mm from the strings (I know! I didn't realise how far away it was) Whapped it up to about 3mm now and it sounds better. Much clearer and thicker now. Sustain is a bit more natural too. All done while plugged into my amp too.

kellar · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2008, 06:00:43 PM »

Having the pickup low is not going to cause any harmonic problem. What will give you bad harmonics is having the pickup to close. So, that doesn't really make any sense to me and I am not sure how that would have solved your problem.
Also, overadjustment of your pickup can without a doubt create false harmonics from raising and lowering, which in fact disturbs the magnetic field between the strings and your pickups when plugged in.
Nonetheless, glad it worked out for you. Do what you think is best.

Doog · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:33:36 AM »

Quote from: kellar

I had a Seymour Duncan SH-1 about 5 years ago that I couldn't get adjusted right. I went through the process of raising it and lowering it a thousand times while plugged in over the course of a few days. Eventually, I got what sounded like a permanent out of phase tone. Some strings rang brighter than others and whatnot.
I took my guitar in and told them something was wrong with it. The guy plugged the guitar in and as soon as he hit a note he told me what was wrong. I had been adjusting while plugged in.
Due to that experience and the fact that just about every guitar website says to unplug before adjusting, I drew my conclusion.
Like you said, you adjusted it several times while plugged in and now you are getting a funny tone.
Just a thought.

I can't understand that conclusion to be honest - the way I see it the only possible way that adjusting pickup height whilst the guitar is plugged in would screw up the pickups is if they weren't grounded properly

indysmith · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:41:54 AM »

is it the same kind of noise when you're playing an octave and it's slightly out of tune? It could be just slightly out of tune - might be worth checking the intonation.

Kellar I don't understand :?

Fourth Feline · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:15:00 PM »

Just a thought, being a Telecaster - have you checked / eliminated the chance of it being the famous telecaster 'sitar' effect ?

On 3 saddle bridges a string can ride a bit too close to the protruding height adjusting screw of one saddle and thereby damp the string whilst sometimes giving a small almost sitar like vibration. I find that my B string can do that sometimes after a lot of note bending towards the G string. This can seem to occur between adjusting pickup heights because we play the guitar between adjustments to the pickup thereby disturbing other physical factors as we do so.

The problem does disappear naturally over time as the strings wear a groove in the brass saddles away from the adjusting screw.

like I said, just a thought...

kellar · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2008, 03:47:30 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

is it the same kind of noise when you're playing an octave and it's slightly out of tune? It could be just slightly out of tune - might be worth checking the intonation.

Kellar I don't understand :?

Not sure what's not to understand. Here's the website again, it tells you what you shouldn't do. I have seen several others with similar disclaimers. Most notable is that it is NOT a general disclaimer. It specifically states information related to the issue. Of course, one shouldn't take just one website as the gospel. So google it, it's not hard to find.
http://mediawebsource.com/guitar/pickupadjust.htm

I am only telling you what I have read, in my own personal experience. I mean, it's not like I made this stuff up. This information is fairly easy to find.
With that said, I have read information that says it is ok to adjust while plugged in. But, these were all threads in guitar forums.
If it's not true, then I ask myself why such a disclaimer is posted on nearly every website that posts pickup information?
As I am not an electrician and can tell you very little about magnetic fields, I am not going to pretend I can explain to you how it can damage a pickup. I am just going off of what I have read.
If I am misinformed, than that is quite alright with me. :D

Doog · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:06:05 PM »

I hate to be a pedant, but I'm not sure I'd pay too much attention to a site that can't spell "overdo"

edit: just read a bit futher down the page, and this quote is quite simply wrong

Quote

for the most part if you tighten the screws you'll lower the pickup and if you loosen the screws you'll raise the pickup

_tom_ · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:37:42 PM »

I always adjust my pickups with the guitar plugged in and I've never broken a pickup :?

Philly Q · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:51:54 PM »

:idea: Anyone want to start a poll?

Unplugging a guitar to adjust pickup height is

(a) necessary
(b) unnecessary

Ben, someone, please put this thread out of its misery! :?

gwEm · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:52:18 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

I always adjust my pickups with the guitar plugged in and I've never broken a pickup :?

+1

is this bollocks?

Lazy_McDoesnothing · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:35:36 PM »

From the site:

"One word of caution is not to overdue the pickup adjustment. Sometimes if you over adjust pickup height or poles pieces this can affect the intonation and tonality of your guitar. Basically, you will know if you over adjust due to the sound of your guitar for the most part. You would hear an out of phase type sound."

By over adjust I think they mean adjusting the pickup too high or too low. With the pickup too high you can effect the pitch of the strings with too much pull. I think that's what they mean by affecting the intonation. I think you're reading too much into it as moving a magnet very slowly up and down with rests inbetween to test out the sound would most likely do no damage to anything in my view.

kellar · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:42:52 PM »

That's an excellent point Lazy, as the article is badly worded.
Nonetheless, I don't understand the disclaimer regarding guitar electronics when we are talking about a simple height adjustment.

Finally some decent input instead of "WHAT!! Are you out of your mind!!" :lol:

kellar · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:43:45 PM »

That's an excellent point Lazy, as the article is badly worded.
Nonetheless, I don't understand the disclaimer regarding guitar electronics when we are talking about a simple height adjustment.

Finally some decent input instead of "WHAT!! Are you out of your mind!!" :lol:

lifted · « **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:14:23 PM »

Maybe it's dangerous cuz most screwdrivers are magnetic? I don't know just a thought

sambo · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:32:55 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

:idea: Anyone want to start a poll?

Unplugging a guitar to adjust pickup height is

(a) necessary
(b) unnecessary

Ben, someone, please put this thread out of its misery! :?

Bravooo! :?

Author Topic: Pickup causing unnatural decay? (Read 5855 times)

Fourth Feline