Author Topic: Pickup Height... (Read 18415 times)

Canadian Steve · « **on:** December 14, 2006, 10:23:57 PM »

I just got my Rebel Yells installed this week and was wanting to know what pickup heights work for you guys and what are some good starting measurements to go by? :)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2006, 01:06:54 AM »

Here is one way that seems to work well and is easy to do

Hold the strings down at the highest fret
Take the thick BKP pick that came with the pickup set
Put it on top of the pickup being adjusted - first on treble side and then on the bass
Raise the pickup till the strings ONLY JUST touch the pick on top of the pickup

Repeat for the other pickup

This should give a very good sensitivity, with quite a hot response
Backing off the pickup seems to give a little less sizzle

Shag101 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2006, 12:14:58 AM »

How thick are the BKP picks you got? That seems really close. I could prolly stack 3 picks together when freting the last fret...lol

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2006, 07:42:02 AM »

The picks are pretty thick - probably 1.8mm or so?

By the way, I just checked my SG and I'd got the pickups as Feline says and I'd done it by ear. The pick method is a great starting point. Good tip Jonathan!

JamesHealey · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2006, 10:31:57 AM »

i have mine about 2mm away at the bridge when the 22nd fret is pressed down, the middle and neck adjusted according to volume balance there after.

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2006, 06:36:22 PM »

Thanks very much for that guys. I had the bridge at 1/16" then lowered it to 2mm and it sounds a lot better to me. I also lowered the neck from 3/32" to 5mm and liked the results better.

gingataff · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2006, 01:44:59 AM »

I take it you went metric somewhere during the procedure :D

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2006, 11:33:19 AM »

Quote from: gingataff

I take it you went metric somewhere during the procedure :D

:lol: LOL

Even though I'm of the (cough) older generation, I much prefer metric. If I see Imperial measurements I automatically start converting them into mm in my head anyway. And it avoids unfortunate accidents like drilling a 3/8" hole when it was meant to be 3/16" (Damn, I knew it was 3-something!)

Anyhow, I tried Jonathan's pick-thickness technique and found that I'd foolishly left my Riff Raff about half a mile away from the strings after fitting it (thought it was a bit quiet). After a bit of experimenting I ended up with about 2mm for the high E and about 2.5mm for the low E, which sounds good to me.

indysmith · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2006, 11:38:43 AM »

does anyone else palm mute too hard with their bridge pup too close the strings, and even up fretting the pickup, playing an F? lol - i need to be more gentle

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2006, 02:34:12 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

By the way, I just checked my SG and I'd got the pickups as Feline says and I'd done it by ear. The pick method is a great starting point. Good tip Jonathan!

Yes - its a starting point
Then adjust to taste- whatever sounds best!

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2006, 02:57:08 PM »

Quote from: gingataff

I take it you went metric somewhere during the procedure :D

LOL! I use both! :P

JJretroTONEGOD · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2006, 06:05:42 PM »

I have the pickups quite far away from the strings, because it brings out the nuances of the guitars natural tone, and the sound of the piece of wood (resonance). The key is to achieve the perfect balance!

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2006, 07:17:23 PM »

Quote from: JJretroTONEGOD

I have the pickups quite far away from the strings, because it brings out the nuances of the guitars natural tone, and the sound of the piece of wood (resonance). The key is to achieve the perfect balance!

How far would this be?

CJ · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2006, 08:41:25 PM »

here in the US we don't use the metric system very much at all. I don't get why not. Metric is obviously a much easier and overall better system. Who the hell ever thought of using feet, inches, and centimeters? i think milimeters, centimeters, and meters, are much easier to work with.

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2006, 06:17:47 PM »

What about pickup heights on single coils? I've heard they need to be set further away from the strings because of the more concentrated magnetic field.