Pickup Height Adjustment
Moderator: jingle_jangle
-
russmanuel
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2001 8:02 pm
Pickup Height Adjustment
On a RIC solidbody can you suggest ballpark distances between the top of the pickups and bottom of the strings ? Using Pyramid strings and working by ear I'm just looking for a reference as the foam surrounds don't appear to allow for much adjustment. Thanks
-
russmanuel
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2001 8:02 pm
What I do is this ,
the foam may be compressed and will not stand at it's 'tallest' ,so pressing ALL of the strings down at the last fret with your right hand (this is assuming you are right handed)loosen the center screws on the pickup ....this will raise the pickup .If it does not move ,and only the screw comes up ....pull up on the pickup .
Let it sit for a few minutes to see if the foam will expand to hold the pickup in the 'up' mode.
The pickup should not touch the strings .It should be no less than a 1/32" away from the cover
top on the treble side .The bass side (because of string size -larger)needs to be farther away.
Set the bridge pickup first .It has the least amount of string movement over it .
Now switch to the neck pickup .Again press ALL of the strings down at the last fret .(You are doing this so you will see that the string will NOT touch/hit the pickups when playing.)
Set the treble side first ,this will need to be audibly balanced with the bridge pickup.Just set the pickup at the same distance as the bridge pickup is away from the strings ...you will notice that it appears to be louder !
So this is why an audible is necessary.Set the treble side first ,then the bass.
If when you are done ..the sound is too crisp,lower the bridge pickup and reset the neck pickup .
Stevie Ray Vaughan had his neck pickup almost flat with the guard on his Strat ...this was to get a SMOOTH tone .
Jeff Beck has his coils up against the strings to get the crispness .
Check their tones against each other .
Think about that when you are setting your pickups height.
the foam may be compressed and will not stand at it's 'tallest' ,so pressing ALL of the strings down at the last fret with your right hand (this is assuming you are right handed)loosen the center screws on the pickup ....this will raise the pickup .If it does not move ,and only the screw comes up ....pull up on the pickup .
Let it sit for a few minutes to see if the foam will expand to hold the pickup in the 'up' mode.
The pickup should not touch the strings .It should be no less than a 1/32" away from the cover
top on the treble side .The bass side (because of string size -larger)needs to be farther away.
Set the bridge pickup first .It has the least amount of string movement over it .
Now switch to the neck pickup .Again press ALL of the strings down at the last fret .(You are doing this so you will see that the string will NOT touch/hit the pickups when playing.)
Set the treble side first ,this will need to be audibly balanced with the bridge pickup.Just set the pickup at the same distance as the bridge pickup is away from the strings ...you will notice that it appears to be louder !
So this is why an audible is necessary.Set the treble side first ,then the bass.
If when you are done ..the sound is too crisp,lower the bridge pickup and reset the neck pickup .
Stevie Ray Vaughan had his neck pickup almost flat with the guard on his Strat ...this was to get a SMOOTH tone .
Jeff Beck has his coils up against the strings to get the crispness .
Check their tones against each other .
Think about that when you are setting your pickups height.
So you too want yours "ALAPWOB"?!?!
-
russmanuel
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2001 8:02 pm