Bridge pickup distance to strings for good tone

[BrockSamson]

Should a bridge pickup be closer or further away from the string for the best tone?

I know the question is loaded and subjective, but I'm just looking for general preferences.

I use a Livewire Classic II in my Jackson's neck position, and I just seem to get a lower-end thud when playing and when playing B or E string for example, I just sounds like the tone is muted and lacking.

Not sure if it's my setup or just a limitation of the setup that I'm running.

[AlexR]

For passives you lower the pickup and raise the polepieces to reduce boomy bass.....not sure at all with actives - they have no polepieces

[GuitarDoc]

"Closer" and "further" and "best tone" are certainly way too subjective to make any suggestion at all.

"Closer" than what? "Further" than what? These are comparitive terms, but you have given us nothing to compare to. "Best" is not only comparitive/relative and subjective, but it is too vague. "Best tone" for blues? Jazz? Funk? Metal? Clear/articulate? Full/rich/mushy?

And...what bridge pup are you referring to? Active? Passive? Ceramic mag? AlNiCo? High output? Low output?

Come on, let's get real.

Oh, and while we're at it....I've got a question:

Which is the best sounding guitar???

[BrockSamson]

Ok dick.

Thanks for the help. I'll just figure it out myself. ******.

"Closer" and "further" and "best tone" are certainly way too subjective to make any suggestion at all.

"Closer" than what? "Further" than what? These are comparitive terms, but you have given us nothing to compare to. "Best" is not only comparitive/relative and subjective, but it is too vague. "Best tone" for blues? Jazz? Funk? Metal? Clear/articulate? Full/rich/mushy?

And...what bridge pup are you referring to? Active? Passive? Ceramic mag? AlNiCo? High output? Low output?

Come on, let's get real.

Oh, and while we're at it....I've got a question:

Which is the best sounding guitar???

[Jessie's ghost]

For passives you lower the pickup and raise the polepieces to reduce boomy bass.....not sure at all with actives - they have no polepieces

I don't know about Duncans, but EMG recommends getting the pickups as close to the strings as possible with their active pickups. Two guitars with combinations of 81's, 85's, 89R's, and it seems to yield good results.

In general, though, I adjust pickups by ear until they sound perfect. Some of them are so far from the strings that they probably shouldn't be working at all. Others have just enough room to slide a quarter in there.

[Jessie's ghost]

Should a bridge pickup be closer or further away from the string for the best tone?

I know the question is loaded and subjective, but I'm just looking for general preferences.

I use a Livewire Classic II in my Jackson's neck position, and I just seem to get a lower-end thud when playing and when playing B or E string for example, I just sounds like the tone is muted and lacking.

Not sure if it's my setup or just a limitation of the setup that I'm running.

Wait a minute. Do you get that thud just on the neck pickup, or with the bridge pickup, too?

[GuitarDoc]

Ok dick.

Thanks for the help. I'll just figure it out myself. ******.

You might as well, because you have given us nothing to help you with.

We'd love to help you out, but you've got to give us some specifics to go by.


By the way...if you are going to be vulgar and insulting, don't count on getting much positive help here.

[majorob]

You might as well, because you have given us nothing to help you with.

We'd love to help you out, but you've got to give us some specifics to go by.


By the way...if you are going to be vulgar and insulting, don't count on getting much positive help here.

Hey Yoda Studmuffin (Guitardoc), the poor guy was asking a simple reference question. You do not have to be so hard headed, lighten up. Regarding the insulting bit, you asked for it.

[51501984]

Hey Yoda Studmuffin (Guitardoc), the poor guy was asking a simple reference question. You do not have to be so hard headed, lighten up. Regarding the insulting bit, you asked for it.

I'd say after two years everything was forgotten but welcome to the forums

[idsnowdog]

Capo at the twelfth fret and measure 3/32 on bass and 2/32 on treble strings. Adjust by ear after initial setting.

[ToneScavenger]

This article from Premier Guitar was of great help to me... The way they did the pickup's height worked for me flawlessly! Some othe good info in that article about setting up a guitar.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazin...atocaster.aspx

[metalmachine]

Hey Yoda Studmuffin (Guitardoc), the poor guy was asking a simple reference question. You do not have to be so hard headed, lighten up. Regarding the insulting bit, you asked for it.

lol that is your first post.......... doc is old but means well leave him be

[Myaccount876]

I run my pickups LOW. Just the way I roll.

[KRKBAB]

lol that is your first post.......... doc is old but means well leave him be

???- it's not his first, but his 338th post.

[KRKBAB]

You might as well, because you have given us nothing to help you with.

We'd love to help you out, but you've got to give us some specifics to go by.


By the way...if you are going to be vulgar and insulting, don't count on getting much positive help here.

uhhhh, vulgar and insulting doesn't just happen- it's usually a reaction to something

I like to be vulgar and insulting (to a degree)- some people need it. Be vulgar and insulting to me sometime- if you think it's warranted.