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Post subject: Pick Up Height
Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:19 am
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Does anyone know the recommended pick up height for tex-mex pickups? Its not in my manual and I would like to know.


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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:56 am
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There is no standard pickup height setting for any guitar. The rule of thumb is to make them as close to the strings as possible without the string vibrating into the pickup or being captured by the magnetic poles. The other rule is that the closer the pickups to the strings, the more the magnets impact the sustain (the magnets dampen the string's vibration more readily).

For single coils, I keeps them at about 5/32" from string to pickup (unfretted). Fender Strats typically have the single coils angled a couple degrees - closer at the thinner strings.

You should check any increase in height by fretting the strings at the highest fret to ensure that they are not impinging with the pickups.


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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:01 pm
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Try setting the height to 5/64 on bass side and 4/64 on treble side as a starting point. Then listen to see if the volume of each string. The goal is to try to get all the strings close to the same volume level.

BobV


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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:07 pm
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Start with the above space, but that tall pole piece for the G-string is the one to watch... I kept getting some pull from that magnet causing some buzz, and had to crank it down away from the string before it was happy.

They sound great by the way, have fun!


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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:07 pm
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Hey, I was just getting ready to set my pickup height when I saw your post... while holding the 6th string down at the top fret, about 1/8" on the bass side and about 1/32" less on the treble side. In the end, let your ears be your guide.

Caution... always check the sound of the neck pickup when playing at the 12th fret and up... this can be a problem are if the pickup is too close... you will get some false harmonics of the magnetic pull of the pickup is too strong for the string.

I'm off to set my pickups height now!


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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:21 pm
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Normally I would call this the Nickel Method, I will use actual measurements this time.
Fretting the E String (Bass side) at the last fret measure 5/64 between the top of the pole piece and the bottom of the string. Fretting the e string (Treble side) at the last fret measure 3/64 between the top of the pole piece and the bottom of the string. Do this for all pickups.
Now using a clean setting on your amp set to a low volume, turn the guitar volume all the way up. Select one pickup at a time and using the same amount of attack play the E and e strings. You want the volume of both strings to be the same, so adjust one side or the other up or down to achieve this. Repeat for all pickups.
Now comes the adjustments, make sure if you turn the treble side adjustment screw that you turn the bass side adjustment screw the same amount of turns.
Moving the pickup closer to the strings will give you more volume, more distortion, but less sustain. And of course moving the pickup farther from the strings will give you the exact opposite.

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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:05 pm
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Quote:
Does anyone know the recommended pick up height for tex-mex pickups? Its not in my manual and I would like to know.




Here's Fender's recommendations from the Strat Setup guide:

http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php


That's a starting point. Play with it until you like the sound.


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