Pickup Height Adjust

[Guitar Toad]

Can you use a multimeter to fine tune pickup height? Has anyone actually done this?

Is the pickup output directly proportional to string to mag distance?

Does the standard book specs for Standard Single-Coil 5/64" 4/64" take full advantange of the pickups designed output? Is it possible that the 7.0K pup in your strat at 5/64" is not generating the designed output?

Or do you simply adjust the pup to the best tone to your ear not necessarily the highest output?

Do new pups come with a specified string to magnet distance?

Thanks again guys.

[Johtosotku]

There is a definite difference in the sound between pickup-string distance that is very easily heard. I don't think that one needs a multimeter for it. Ears are more important than technical specs, always. Go for tone, not output.

There are certain pickups, EMG for example, and some rail designs if I've understood them correctly, where you can place the pickups closer to the strings (and create more output) because of their lesser string pull.

I think that the general idea when starting to adjust height is to first put them as close as possible, and then go down until you find your sweet spot. It's all personal preference, no one can do it better than you.

[Bluesman75]

I adjust pickup height by ear. I generally set them high (close to strings) first, then lower them till I get the best tone/sustain.

Using a multimeter? What would you measure? The resistance reading won;t change as the pickup is raised or lowered.

Also, keep in mind that Hendrix had his pickups set LOWER under the treble strings and HIGHER under the bass strings - so there are a lot of possiblities as far as setting pickup height.

[Guitar Toad]

Using a multimeter? What would you measure? The resistance reading won;t change as the pickup is raised or lowered.

I that I thought a milli-amp or milli-volt reading could be made from the pickup.

[Luke Duke]

There are general outlines for height put out by Fender, Gibson etc. I start with my pups level and below normal height and raise them as far as I can, before they hamper sustain, or playability.

Luke

[Quencho092]

whats a good distance for staggered surfers?

And which pickup disturbs sustain the most? I'd think the neck since its distance x force that equals torque, neck pup is further away from the fulcrum which would be the bridge.

[Guitar Toad]

bump

[Lewguitar]

Pretty much everything I know about Stratocasters is right here: http://seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24908

I use the Surfers.

I hold the high E string down at the highest fret and adjust all three pickups to be about 1/16" ( or a little further ) away from the bottem of the high E string.

Then I hold the low E string down at the highest fret and adjust all three pickups to be about 1/8" away from the bottem of the string. Usually I can get away with moving the bridge pickup (only!) a little closer than that if I want to.

Then I plug in and play up above the 12th fret on the low E and see if the magnets are pulling the string out of tune.

If they are, I start by adjusting the middle pickup a little further away on the low E side only.

Then I play up above the 12th fret on the low E again and see if the problem is cured.

If it's not, then I move the neck pickup a little further away on the low E side too.

I just keep monkeying with it until everything sounds "right".

Lew

[Guitar Toad]

Well, I saw that Dimarzio gives their pups an output rating in mV. and I guess that got me thinking about the multi meter thing. I thought that there might be something to it.?

Yes, I said thinking! Please tell me to stop!

Thanks Lew. I'll try that this weekend and see how tweaks my JV's tone.

[Bluesman75]

Well, I saw that Dimarzio gives their pups an output rating in mV. and I guess that got me thinking about the multi meter thing. I thought that there might be something to it.?

Yes, I said thinking! Please tell me to stop!

Okay - STOP THINKING! (just play)

[Guitar Toad]

Okay - STOP THINKING! (just play)

thanks.

[Aceman]

I say go with the factory specs as a starting point. They are usually referenced against holding the E strings down at the last fret. After that, it's all about the ears. And I don't think the pull/tone/distance thing is linear. It really doesn't take much of a change too close to really zap sustain, or much of a turn too far to lose tone. Plan on spending some time too really experiment with this. And as always - go with what Lew says!