PICKUP HEIGHT!!!

[Canadian Steve]

After reading a VERY long post on pickup height, which considered many factors, here are the results.  These should only be taken as good starting points, lower or raise according to taste (and your ear)!  While fretting the last fret:

Bridge pickup:  Bass side - 2.5mm
                      Treble side - 2.8mm

Neck pickup:  Bass side - 2.9mm
                   Treble side - 2.7mm

[MDV]

Why those?

I just fiddle with it till I like it.

[Philly Q]

I don't mean to sound dismissive, but has anyone got a good enough eye to distinguish between 2.7 and 2.8, or 2.8 and 2.9mm? 

Even if they have, considering you've also got a variable string height depending on where it's fretted and how hard you hit it, plus a set of polepieces which can also be micro-adjusted if desired, plus magnets of different strengths, plus the effect of different string thickness, composition and tension, plus a bridge radius which could be anywhere from 7.25" to 16" or something.... I don't see how set-up can be narrowed down to the nearest tenth of a millimetre.   

Sorry, but that just seems crazy to me.   If it was "start around 2 to 3mm then adjust to taste", fair enough.

[Fourth Feline]

In fairness to Steve, he was only trying to be helpful / informative - in sharing what he must have spent a lot of time researching . The ( apparently ) overtly precise measurements probably being as a result of converting 'Imperial' measurements on an steel ruler - to Metric,  from a conversion table for the benefit of European readers.

He may of course have access to precise measuring methods / tools but in any case I am more concerned that we are in danger of disregarding the inherant good intentions of Steve's intial post.   

We have after all entertained lengthy posts on guitar wood resonance / amplified tone debates - and the aging effect of electrical components, to which we also could also have said  " It either works for you or it doesn't".

Lets leave being dismisive to the populace of 'The Gear Page '   ...  :)

[ailean]

That's a usful thing to have on a forum. It's all down to taste, but you have to start somewhere. I know the pup heights on our guitars vary widely and it takes weeks to dial them in.

Cheers for that Steve, although I would liek to know how the hell you managed to measure to .1 of a mm under the strings? Callipers?

[MDV]

I don't mean to sound dismissive, but has anyone got a good enough eye to distinguish between 2.7 and 2.8, or 2.8 and 2.9mm? 

Even if they have, considering you've also got a variable string height depending on where it's fretted and how hard you hit it, plus a set of polepieces which can also be micro-adjusted if desired, plus magnets of different strengths, plus the effect of different string thickness, composition and tension, plus a bridge radius which could be anywhere from 7.25" to 16" or something.... I don't see how set-up can be narrowed down to the nearest tenth of a millimetre.  

Sorry, but that just seems crazy to me.   If it was "start around 2 to 3mm then adjust to taste", fair enough.

Yes. The resolution of human vision is a bit better than 1/10th of a mil. You need a tool or a reference point, but you can see that accurately, yes.

[Fourth Feline]

That's a usful thing to have on a forum. It's all down to taste, but you have to start somewhere. I know the pup heights on our guitars vary widely and it takes weeks to dial them in.

Cheers for that Steve, although I would like to know how the hell you managed to measure to .1 of a mm under the strings? Callipers?

I echo what Ailean says, in that " you have to start somewhere" - and a researched / recommended " somewhere " is often helpfull if you have not already established your own favourite methods or settings.

I also would  love to know how such accurate measurements where taken though ; - as I would be interested in going back and ( out of curiosity and repeatability ) measuring things like the action at the 2nd fret / 12th fret / pickup heights on my favourite guitar e.t.c.  - as my own very specific preferences sit tantilisingly between the marks on the steel ruler.  I adjust to the nearest 'Gnat's testicle'  when setting the truss rod and lowest possible buzz free action - so knowing how to confirm / document / repeat my settings to that degree would be interesting.

To me this ( and the whole concept of precise measurements ) specifically helps me in setting up any  new / recently altered guitar quickly to my required specifications .  For those of us with a light touch - this is important, especially when  playing 14 - 56 gauge strings in standard tuning .    :)

[Canadian Steve]

I'm only passing on the information, as it might be of help to some fellow BKPers out there and I know I've spent ages looking for a good point to start from myself!  I just use a steel ruler and can easily measure within 1mm by eye!  As I've said, these are only starting points and adjust by EAR!  I didn't come up with the results, I took them from another site which was basically two people discussing pickup height very 'geek'-ely!

[Philly Q]

Lets leave being dismisive to the populace of 'The Gear Page '   ...  :)

Hmmm, I don't think I was stooping to "dude you sukkk you are talking ASS" level.....  :?

Sorry Steve, as I tried to say, it wasn't my intention to be dismissive or critical of you personally.  Profuse apologies.  I fully realise you were just reporting something you'd read, and I didn't mean to shoot the messenger.

I hope everyone will appreciate that I'm not given to just flaming people for the hell of it.

I still think talking in terms of the nearest 1/10th of a millimetre, trying to set a "general standard" for something as personal as setting up a musical instrument, makes no sense.  And I tried to set out my reasons for holding that opinion.  OK, I'm the bad guy.  But let's agree to disagree.

[HTH AMPS]

3mm (by eye) is my starting point then I plug the guitar into an amp and set the height to whatever sounds best by ear - hit an E5 and turn the height screw, easy peasy.

the Abraxas set I put in my Les Paul last week didn't sound right at first (especially the neck pickup) but a quick adjust of the height got them in the zone.

[MDV]

Lets leave being dismisive to the populace of 'The Gear Page '   ...  :)

Hmmm, I don't think I was stooping to "dude you sukkk you are talking ASS" level.....  :?

Sorry Steve, as I tried to say, it wasn't my intention to be dismissive or critical of you personally.  Profuse apologies.  I fully realise you were just reporting something you'd read, and I didn't mean to shoot the messenger.

I hope everyone will appreciate that I'm not given to just flaming people for the hell of it.

I still think talking in terms of the nearest 1/10th of a millimetre, trying to set a "general standard" for something as personal as setting up a musical instrument, makes no sense.  And I tried to set out my reasons for holding that opinion.  OK, I'm the bad guy.  But let's agree to disagree.

On the question of whether it needs that level of accuracy.....well, lets just say I've never set a pickup height with that level of accuracy. I set action that accurately, and neck relief that accurately, cut nuts that accurately....pickup height I've never even taken a ruler to. Like I said, I muck around till it sounds good.

I'm not really dissagreeing with you, you see....just pointing out that you can see that accurately.