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Post subject: pick-up adjustment
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:20 pm
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The volume on the high strings is lower than the others. The pick-ups are closer to the higher strings. What adjustments can I do to remedy this problem? I have never adjusted pick-ups before


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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 6:42 am
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Here are my parameters to get - IMHO - a good sound, sustain and balance. The distance is intended between the bottom high E and low E strings pressed at the last fret and the top of the pickup's pole: neck 5.5 mm and 4.5 mm, middle 5mm and 4.5 mm, bridge 5.5 mm and 4.5 mm . But much depends on the type of pickup, I suppose...


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Post subject: Re: pick-up adjustment
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:58 am
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tommybgood wrote:
The volume on the high strings is lower than the others. The pick-ups are closer to the higher strings. What adjustments can I do to remedy this problem? I have never adjusted pick-ups before

Hello and Welcome!

There could be a few reasons as to why there are volume differences across the strings. (The following is based on my experiences, yours and others may differ)

Magnetic Pull
It could be that the magnets in the pickups are pulling on the strings and preventing them from vibrating as much as the strings further away. Experiment with different pickup heights and see if the string volume balances out. Take a photo or measure the pickups height before you adjust so you can always return them to the orignial postion for comparison.

Wound and Unwound Strings
In my experience different pickups react differently to wound and unwound strings. The effect may not manifest in volume difference but in tonality. In Lace Sensors, for example I feel this is more noticeble. There is a review of the Lace Hot Golds on youtube which demonstrates this. I've used Nexus coated strings which i believe has solved this issue for me.

The Nut and Headstock
The string length between the machineheads/tuners and the nut can have an effect as I believe this is where the string resonance has more chance to dissipate.

The above is probably more info than you were after (but the coffee I had this morning was bloody stong and I felt like typing!)

Hope this helps

Andy

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Post subject: Re: pick-up adjustment
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:23 am
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tommybgood wrote:
The volume on the high strings is lower than the others. The pick-ups are closer to the higher strings. What adjustments can I do to remedy this problem? I have never adjusted pick-ups before


Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'll give it shot.


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Post subject: Re: pick-up adjustment
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:03 am
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tommybgood wrote:
The volume on the high strings is lower than the others. The pick-ups are closer to the higher strings. What adjustments can I do to remedy this problem? I have never adjusted pick-ups before


Do a search here on the Forum for my post on "Nickel Method".

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Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:03 pm
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From Fender...

PICKUPS
Set too high, pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena. Depress all the strings at the
last fret. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance from the bottom of the first and sixth
strings to the top of the pole piece. A good rule of thumb is that the distance should be greatest at
the sixth­string neck pickup position, and closest at the first­string bridge pickup position.
Follow the measurement guidelines in the chart below as starting points. The distance will vary
according to the amount of magnetic pull from the pickup.

Bass Side Treble Side
Texas Specials 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Vintage style 6/64" (2.4 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
NoiselessTM Series 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Standard Single­Coil 5/64" (2 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Humbuckers 4/64" (1.6 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Lace Sensors As close as desired (allowing for string vibration)

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