Neck Pickup height

[cassius987]

Fair warning about strength of magnetic field from the neck pickup, I have had problems in the past with this causing "setup problems" on fretless basses with low action. The strings are more pliable at this section of length and more susceptible to be pulled out of their normal vibration patterns by the pickup if it is too close or otherwise too strong.

I also find a neck pickup never seems to sound truly loud enough until you hear it through a PA system, then it sits in the mix just fine. There are a lot of frequencies coming through that a speaker cab usually doesn't reproduce well, even very expensive ones.

[bluewhale]

The strings are more pliable at this section of length and more susceptible to be pulled out of their normal vibration patterns by the pickup if it is too close or otherwise too strong...

How does one know when this is happening? What are the symptoms?

Thanks,
bluewhale

[DriftSpace]

The strings are more pliable at this section of length and more susceptible to be pulled out of their normal vibration patterns by the pickup if it is too close or otherwise too strong...

How does one know when this is happening? What are the symptoms?

One symptom would be that you don't get the note you want when you fret; the magnet actually pulls the string out-of-tune. If you listen closely: you might hear the pitch change as you hold the note, or a warbling sound; it's a little like what happens if your instrument is not properly intonated. Sustain is also another thing which can be affected; you'll have shorter sustain if the magnet is too close.

Don't be afraid to play with your pickup height to listen for these phenomena, as it can be pretty educational.

[Redstrand]

No out of tune notes with mine, just even tone between pickups with the neck and bridge retaining their characteristics. The new pickguard kept the pup too low, now I have that snarl and growl.