Ive seen em all different ways.

I use the Nickel Method. I'm not sure if CA Feathers came up with it himself but he posted it in a discussion about pup height a month or 2 ago. I think it was CA. Do a search and you'll find it. Works very well for me. It gives you a good starting point then you can go from there. If it was someone other than CA I'm thinking about please forgive me.

Russ

I prefer Singles parallel but it varies with humbuckers.

Every pickup has a sweet spot that can take some time finding. In addition, there are so many factors that come into play when dialing in the proper pickup height ie: string pull, sustain, desired sound, pickups, pick attack, pickup articulation, chunk, harmonics, string type(composition & gauge), playing style and most of all dialing in that sweet spot to "your" ear.

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... and whispering pictures of home.

I think Chets old school like myself. I heard of the nickle method from my brothers guitar teacher in the late 60's. It's a great starting point. The important thing is not getting too close to create string pull.

I just did the nickel method. It is completely backwards from the way I had it before.

Yes, it was I who posted about the Nickel Method on here. I got it from Bill Lawrence ( www.billlawrence.com ) years ago. It makes an excellent starting point for all pickups. A little fine tuning is usually required.


Personally here lately I have been experimenting with pickup heights and have found I really like mine set low almost even with the body.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Unless the pickup unbalanced in volume, I have them parallel to all strings.

As far as height, it depends on the guitar, pickups and style of music. On my "metal" guitar, I have the Pro-pafs very high. On my strat with lace sensors and a jb jr, I have them a lot lower to give a different, grittier tone and feel.

In general, I like them a bit lower than normal. I don't need the extra little volume and pickup gain. I can do that with my amp. I want the tone to make my ears happy, and that usually ends up being with single coils set a bit lower.

On a side note, a good friend of mine in a university music teacher, a fantastic player, and tours regulary with various bands. Although "what" he's playing is great, his tone always just sucks to me. And he admittedly doesn't care as much about that, which completely baffles me. I'd actually rather listen to a much more laid back, less "perfect" player that has a great guitar tone. That's just me though...

It depends on the pickups and what sound I want to get. If the they are factory pickups in the guitar I will check manufacture specs. and set them there then adjust from that point. Newly installed pickups its all about the sound and balancing them to how I want them to sound. Most I think will agree you can strum and adjust the balance by ear to what you want between pickups and angle if any. Most are happy with my setups when doing it that way!!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

What#s the 'nickel method', does it ustilize the thickness of the coin in some way?

i've seen them all differnt ways also
hendrix like his low set.

It takes me months to set mine. My midboosted guitar has them set very low (flush to the pickguard). My guitars with SCN's have them around 5mm up from the guard. The neck pickup usually has the bass down from the reble side. The bridge pickup is usually treble lower than bass.

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No no and no

Check this thread out....made a huge difference in my guitar.
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... highlight=

slanted with the bass end higher

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

So the low E is the lower side? Thanks Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I'm also interested in Niki's SCN ajustment. Think I'll experiment with them a little. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.