The best place to start for pickup height adjustment We’ve found 3/32 of an inch (2.381mm) is a good place to start . Depress all of the strings at the last fret. Before you start turning the screws on your guitar, we recommend placing some tape on the sides of each pickup and using a pen or pencil to mark the level of the pickguard on the tape. These are adjusted using the screws that secure them to the pickguard. Germany and is fascinated While you are doing this, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the following: In our methodical approach to pickup adjustment, we’re going to measure and record the starting positions of our pickups rather than use the tape-and-pencil method. Fender guitars and amps. He’s also a hardcore work surface. These measurements make a very good starting point for any Strat with standard Strat single-coils: Bridge pickup • Low-E string: 2.5 mm/0.0984" • High-E string: 2.0 mm/0.0787" Middle pickup • Low-E string: 3.0 mm/0.1181" • High-E string: 2.5 mm/0.0984" Neck pickup But every pickup and guitar manufacturer has their own specifications. to work every time. It consisted of a flat, black vulcanised fibre bottom and top plate held together via tension with six sandcast hand-bevelled alnico magnet slugs, fitted into each corresponding hole, around which a coil of 42-gauge formvar wire was wound by hand. This covers just about everything you need to know about adjusting your pickup height. Get the right kind—flat-head Finally, you need a screwdriver The neck pickup is based on a '54 Strat pickup with oversized alnico 3 magnets. Luckily, it is really easy on a Strat as each pickup has two screws (see image below). $2.19. this next month. The original screws were too short to back down the pups, these replacements worked great. But a Gisbon type guitar (Eclipse, and many guitar with a Tonepro tailpiece) has an angled fretboard, which is not parrallel to the body. guitar and amp DIY-er who runs an extensive Here at Sweetwater, our techs measure in increments of 32nds or 64ths of an inch. These screws are used to change the height of the pickup higher or lower … weak, vintage-flavored single-coils, Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. Adjust humbuckers I place the bar on top of the If you have your pickups too close to the strings the magnetic pull will cause the strings to vibrate in an elliptical pattern instead of a circular pattern which results in problems with the guitars tone and loss of harmonics. If you’re hearing crazy stuff you can’t explain, look to your pickup height. Hi E : 4.37mm / 0.172". Mesa/Boogie Badlander 50 & 100 Demos - Winter Gear Slam '21, 4. With a sharp pencil, Tightening the screw raises the height of the pickup, while loosening the screw will lower it into the body. Many players think their Strats Even though we mainly dealt with Strats in this article, you can take this information and apply it to just about any electric guitar. with this tool, you can also measure The best place to start for pickup height adjustment. Pickup Height Adjustment. most cases, our customers were Knowing all of this, setting you pickup height can be a bit unnerving. These screws are used to adjust the pickup height on vintage guitars where the hole is countersunk so that the screws sit in the pickguard, not on it. bands, works regularly as a you’re done. Tonal Characteristics. the heights I needed. Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Start by setting all of your guitar pickups to 3/32” (0.093”, 2.38mm) on the bass side and 2/32” (1/16”, 0.0625”, 1.98mm) on the treble side. screws. One example of this kind of confusing shorthand used to describe standard pickup arrangements: S-S-S, H-S-S, or H-H. Okay, here are the specs I use to set the heights for each Strat pickup. Active 1 year, 5 months ago. collected over the years working Most of the owners were So sweet-spotting is the process of finding this magical place. Fortunately, adjusting your Strat’s pickup height is something that anyone can do with a bit of guidance. $5.99 : RUBBER PICKUP TUBING: P-TUBING Rubber pickup screw height tubing. something, it’s time for some This step requires you to have adjusted the truss rod first. It can also add or subtract noise, change tone, and do a number of other things. Electric Guitar Pickups, Bass Guitar Pickups, Acoustic Guitar Pickups and Accessories - EMG Active & Passive Pickups - over 25 Years of Active Pickup Technology - The original active pickup. It’ll exist for your guitar and pickups. Remember, this is the space between the top of the pole piece and the bottom of the string, held down at the last fret. Once you’ve found a pickup placement that you are happy with, take one final check with your ruler and write the measurements down. Better yet, if you can find some low-adhesive masking tape The screw head goes through the pickguard, passes through a spring, and threads into the ear of the pickup. within seconds. precision ruler to measure the You might have strange intonation problems on some strings or in some areas. Gauge—part #0670 (inch) and Having done this, grab an appropriately sized screwdriver and start making some adjustments. In this article, we are going to help you to find the best pickup height for your specific needs. it. measurements detailed below. Everything you love about Sweetwater in the palm of your hand. Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been a guitar addict since age 5. Precise pickup height measurements are crucial for proper string clearance. Body dia ; 3.50 (0.137") Head dia : 7.00 (0.257") Length : 20.0 (0.787") Assy No. Knowing all of this, setting you pickup height can be a bit unnerving. When that’s ok, move on to the others. For Teles, 5/64" treble, 3/32" bass side also while fretted at the last fret. Okie dokie gang, this is kinda part three in this series which started with How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Stratocaster for ULTIMATE STRAT TONE! PU height will threfore slightly vary has there is more string height variation with a fender than with a gibson when pushing the string on the fret (chording). Tune your guitar and place it on a table or a workbench with a towel or blanket underneath.We measure pickup height from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string while the string is pressed against the highest fret (Photo 1). Learn More. Use your ears. Remember, this is just a guideline. These measurements So when it comes to your own guitar, some experimentation is often necessary to find the best sound for you. and more—it’s very versatile. The folks at. In typical Leo Fender fashion, the original 1954 Strat pickup was an ingeniously simple yet highly effective design. Over the years at our shop, Whether your dissatisfied with your tone, just looking to experiment, or you want to dial in Fender’s exact specifications, it’s always a good idea to try adjusting your pickup heights before swapping pickups. The Bottom Line. Gold plating looks good so far, not sure how thick it is. MR #6-32*20. This article will provide you with just that. So where to start? But if If you move your pickups around and decide that you don’t like the results, you can easily bring them right back to where you started. In this article, we are going to help you to find the best pickup height for your specific needs. Cut to desired length and slide over pickup height screws. When the vibrating string is within the magnetic field of the guitar pickups, it disrupts the field, generating a small electric current. It’s more prevalent on Strats but you can get these ‘wolf tones’ on other instruments too. strings, while others don’t. Viewed 6k times 5. strings, and, of course, your All Rights Reserved Middle Pickup: Low E: 4.75mm / 0.186" Hi E : 4.13mm / 0.163" Here, for me, it's all about making the middle pickup truly magical when combined with the neck or bridge pickup (positions 2 & 4). or your workbench, tune your Sweetwater Sound Each pickup is mounted onto the pickguard with a screw and spring on each side of the pickup. And then came How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Telecaster for ULTIMATE TELE TONE! The The individually hand-polished ¼” diameter alnico 5 magnets help to give it plenty of the high-end sparkle and upper midrange harmonics that make this pickup so special. Method #2: Wound string side down, plain string side up. OP . So, what about setting the height on humbucker equipped guitars like Les Paul Set your pickups to 3/32 on the bass side to start and see how it sounds! Neck and middle pickups. make a very good starting point Different pickups have varying degrees of magnetic pull (Refer to the specifications chart for the proper measurement). lives in Guitar Setup: How do I measure the action on my electric guitar? According to Dan Erlewine in his book "Guitar Player Repair Guide" he lists Fender's stock pickup height setting for Strats as 1/8" on the treble side and 3/32" on he bass side, measured while fretted at the last fret. the pickups. As you can see the process is fairly straightforward but there are a couple of points to keep in mind, which I have listed below. mark the current height of the Paul John Best from Radioshop Pickups UK gives you our guide to how to set your humbucker pickup height. While not "correct" to some, it is the fastest way to get the job done. These high output Strat pickups will give you big, beefy chords, and single notes will jump out in a way that no other pickup can deliver. The middle pickup, based on a '63 Strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is reverse wound to cancel hum when used with the neck or bridge pickup. "Height Adjustment (from Pickupology): The distance between pickup and string is a very important factor for output and sound. From vintage to ultra hot tone, six string to eight, Schecter has something for everyone.. output a bit. Some players like the pickguard. Correct height on an electric guitar pickup is essential for a guitar to play and sound its best. This happens because as you fret higher up the neck, the strings may lower far enough to hit the pole pieces and stop vibrating.