It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:17 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 7:29 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:58 pm
Posts: 53
I have a couple of questions about setting pickup height on an Am. Deluxe stratocaster. I'm following this guide. http://www2.fender.com/support/articles ... tup-guide/ . Maybe I can't read, or maybe I'm overthinking, but...

Based on the guide, it recommends 6/64ths on the treble side, and 8/64ths on the bass. Does this apply to all three pickups, or just one (neck, bridge?) and all other heights adjusted from this reference? I'm confused because instructions go on to imply that bass and treble heights vary from bridge to neck pups.

And the stupidest question of all, how do you measure? Instructions suggest a 150mm (6inch) ruler, but given space limitations, and the fact that I can't find a ruler with gradients all the way to the end, it seems unlikely to use a ruler to measure. Are feeler gauges or callipers a better option?

Thanks.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 7:46 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
I use a steel 6-inch rule with metric (millimeter) calibrations. I generally set my pickups (all three) at 1.6 millimeters for the treble side and 2.6 millimeters for the bass side. Some pickups are magnetically stronger than others and for those I'll add 0.2 millimeters to each of those measurements. A good example of this is Fender's SCN set. I suspect the newer N3's may be similar.

Arjay

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:24 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 10:21 pm
Posts: 394
Location: Oklahoma
I don't know about your particular pickups, but I think general rules apply. I have Fat Fifties and have found these settings to work well. Starting with the neck pickup, fret the low E at last fret and measure from the top of pole to bottom of string. I have the bass side at a little over 3MM and treble is a little over 2mm. The middle is about the same and the bridge is set about a millimeter closer to the strings. I set the pickups low enough to eliminate any "warble" from the low E fretted at the 12th or upper frets and the volume for each string is balanced.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
The general advice is sound for neck pickups.

For the bridge pickup, the strings are close enough that they don't vibrate a large distance. Because of that, I tend to raise the bass side of the bridge pickup to get more punch, as the bridge can sound rather tinny otherwise.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 9:00 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
I'm sure I'll be shot down for this, but I don't take much notice of the recommended measurements. I adjust them to where I think they sound the best. It's generally part of the several months it takes for me to get a new (to me) Strat set up to my liking!

I'm sure the Fender guidance is a good start, but you may prefer a different sound...

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Height
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:24 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
it recommends 6/64ths on the treble side, and 8/64ths on the bass. Does this apply to all three pickups, or just one (neck, bridge?)

All three..


they key, as was mentioned is.. Always measure while fretting the string at the last fret, a lot of people forget that, and they get really messed up results.

but as most people are eluding, this is not an exact science, these are ball parks, play around, experiment, may take you a few days (or weeks... etc) of tweaking and playing, but you'll find the spot.

Arth points one one great reason, and LawFlow confirms, why the "documented" settings, aren't always ideal.

The measurements for most pickups are all posted if you google around a bit.

There are few rules of them, the hotter the pickup, the further away you "might" find works better regardless of the suggested distance.

Another is to take care to not get em too close, 1, you will NOT like the sound and 2, they can pull your strings out of tune. I've tried this just to see, and yep, definitely, it happens.

the last rule of thumb, is be patient, and learn how to "listen" to hear the differences. Like Peter above mentions, it can take some time to really dial them in. Once you can recognize, or "hear" the sweet spot, you'll know right away.

Jason Loller has some very good videos to illustrate how to do this, he knows his stuff for sure. Google Jason Loller pickup adjustment, you should get a few hits.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: