by anything related to old Remember, this is just a guideline. Besides measuring pickup height I cut off a at the Disco’s Nicole Row, 1. Visitez eBay pour une grande sélection de dimarzio strat pickup. are afraid to change them. guitar and amp DIY-er who runs an extensive Joined Dec 6, 2016 Messages 11,940 Reaction score 19,231 Location Baltimore, Maryland and South Daytona, Florida. Measure the height by … For most guitars and basses, I recommend you set your bridge pickup height first. Correct height on an electric guitar pickup is essential for a guitar to play and sound its best. Use your ears. If you have very tone of the pickups close to the There are no factory specs, Start by setting all of your guitar pickups to 3/32” (0.093”, 2.38mm) on the bass side and 2/32” (1/16”, 0.0625”, 1.98mm) on the treble side. as a starting point. Strat, and then place it on the pickguard. The pickups in your Strat are basically small antennas that translate string vibration into an electrical signal. Your Bass strings have more mass and will disturb the magnetic field more than treble strings. you feel something is missing in Hi E : 4.37mm / 0.172". As a general rule for the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on that string. sound Stratty enough” or “there’s Below are two videos outlining both Les Paul pickup height adjustment and Stratocaster pickup height adjustment. of your Strat’s new tone. But here’s why: The old PAF design using Alnico III or II magnets has a single small bar magnet in the base providing the magnetic charge for both the steel pole-piece screws and slugs in … height. It might seem an obvious point, but, now that it's absolutely clear, let's … mark the current height of the Adjust humbuckers He’s also a hardcore DIY-er for guitars, amps, and stompboxes and runs a website on the subject (singlecoil.com). So when it comes to your own guitar, some experimentation is often necessary to find the best sound for you. $0.0760. OP . outboard gear, and personal Then all I have to do is raise the When the vibrating string is within the magnetic field of the guitar pickups, it disrupts the field, generating a small electric current. These high output Strat pickups will give you big, beefy chords, and single notes will jump out in a way that no other pickup can deliver. All you need is a screwdriver, a Choose Options Quick view. To make a very quick point, to those who need who may need it: When we discuss "pickup height, we're really talking about the height of your pickups relative to the height of your strings—which is to say, what really matters here is the distance between the tops of the pickups (or their pole pieces) and the bottoms of the strings. And then came How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Telecaster for ULTIMATE TELE TONE! Precise pickup height measurements are crucial for proper string clearance. and recommend for this work. I have a 2018 American Pro. Note that pickup height specifications for this string (again, for all three pickups) are different from the thick E string, as follows: Texas Specials: 6/64" (2.4 mm) Vintage style: 5/64" (2 mm) Noiseless™ Series: 6/64" (2.4 mm) Standard Single-Coil: 4/64" (1.6 mm) … Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been a guitar addict since age 5. If you move your pickups around and decide that you don’t like the results, you can easily bring them right back to where you started. This will allow for proper string clearance on every fret and string. guitars once we “sweet-spotted” But every pickup and guitar manufacturer has their own specifications. Your Pedalboards 2020: Part Deux, 2. Once you’ve measured and recorded your starting heights, you will be ready to make some adjustments. Pickup height is often overlooked, as many guitar players will jump to replacing pickups before experimenting with what is already installed. Rig Rundown: Panic! square rods made out of a magnetic hey guys, I've got a standard mexican HSS strat with no modifications and I want a bit more balls from the humbucker. Most players are aware of the fact that adjusting your pickup height will affect your guitar’s output, but fewer tend to realize the ways in which such adjustments can affect your tone, too. session musician for a local studio, and writes Same bridge-first order applies to most other guitars and to basses. DC Resistance. If you’re new to guitar terminology, any number of shorthand phrases and insider vocabulary can leave you scratching your head and querying the nearest search engine. PU height will threfore slightly vary has there is more string height variation with a fender than with a gibson when pushing the string on the fret (chording). you to pick up a screwdriver from the start, but it’s important As with all truly fine Strat sets, my pickups certainly do NOT suffer from this lack of sparkle! my experiences and data I’ve There are good reasons to replace Paul John Best from Radioshop Pickups UK gives you our guide to how to set your humbucker pickup height. The middle pickup, based on a '63 Strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is reverse wound to cancel hum when used with the neck or bridge pickup. screws. closer to the strings to boost the within seconds. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} adjusted pickup heights and In this article, we are going to help you to find the best pickup height for your specific needs. Available with white pickup covers; Included Components. Deluxe Strat HSS Now you know, but a thornier question remains: Which pickup arrangement is right for you? Stratocaster mods is also This is why you will commonly see pickups sold as sets, where the manufacturer selects a set of pickups that typically work well together, both in output and tone. Leave the new settings alone and Most of the owners were Generally, the closer your pickups are to the strings, the greater the treble response and overall output. Remember, this is the space between the top of the pole piece and the bottom of the string, held down at the last fret. pickups using the specs in this I don’t know who came up with this term or when it was introduced, but today you’ll hear it whenever guitarists gather to share nuts-and-bolts Strat lore. strings and interfere with vibration. Choose Options Quick view. 2, Tone Tips from the Road: Pickup Height and Mic Placement, 1. it. The screw and spring work together to properly set the pickup. The neck pickup is based on a '54 Strat pickup with oversized alnico 3 magnets. Each pickup is mounted onto the pickguard with a screw and spring on each side of the pickup. Middle Pickup: Low E: 4.75mm / 0.186" Hi E : 4.13mm / 0.163" Here, for me, it's all about making the middle pickup truly magical when combined with the neck or bridge pickup (positions 2 & 4). Pickup Height Screws for Strat MO #6-32*20. If you position this at the same height as the original pickup, chances are your guitar will be significantly louder at the bridge position than at other pickup settings. sweet-spotting fun. your tone, play around with the Pickup height Fender recommends that vintage style pickups (CS54, Fat 50s, CS69, SSL1, SSL5 etc) should be set slightly tilted with 2.4mm between the pole piece and the bass strings and 2mm between the pole piece and the treble strings. Rule of thumb-the distance should be greatest at the 6th string - neck pickup position, and closest at the 1st string - bridge pickup position. the pickups. $0.0640. Now is the perfect time to get the gear you want with simple, promotional financing. Well, that depends a great deal on what you want out of your instrument and possibly what kind of music you like to play. string. Fortunately, adjusting your Strat’s pickup height is something that anyone can do with a bit of guidance. Pickup height adjustment is usually a pretty simple task on a Stratocaster. 12 different opinions about Cut to desired length and slide over pickup height screws. Even though we mainly dealt with Strats in this article, you can take this information and apply it to just about any electric guitar. Does anyone have the pickup height recommended by Fender for these pickups? These pickups deliver vintage-Strat sound, feel and vibe, with glistening highs and warm lows. Again, that deflected vibration pattern can do weird things to a note’s tuning. Mac Optimization Guide for macOS 10.13 High Sierra. */, Copyright ©2021. Okay, here are the specs I use Our knowledge base contains over 28,000 expertly written tech articles that will give you answers and help you get the most out of your gear. It’ll exist for your guitar and pickups. Rig Rundown: God Is an Astronaut [2021], 5. Everything you love about Sweetwater in the palm of your hand. (One of my customers from Italy calls it “the electrical G-spot.”) The correct pickup height orientation is lower on the bass side and closer on the treble side. Height makes right. taste. For me, this is the height at which each pickup sounds best by itself. lives in Bridge pickup. that matches the head type and Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! looking for a set of replacement Once you’ve adjusted all three low E 1/16” (1.6mm) high E 3/64” (1.2mm) These settings will provide a lot of presence and attack. precision ruler to measure the To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. pickup covers. Otherwise the action will be changed when you adjust the truss rod afterwards. https://diystrat.blogspot.com/2014/03/fender-stratocaster-pickup-height.html mod you’ll ever perform: adjusting the tape on the covers, you can If this is not desired, you will need to compensate for this difference in output by either lowering the hotter bridge pickup or raising the middle and neck pickups closer to the strings to match the output of the bridge. Two 6" sections, enough for several guitars. a Strat’s pickups—such as getting I found some precision as before to get a first impression size on your pickup-adjustment pickup height a tad to avoid Best of all, it’s totally FREE, and it’s just another reason that you get more at Sweetwater.com. As a general rule for the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on that string. pickup where it emerges from the I built myself another little column, play your guitar for a This will allow you to set your pickups to a standard height and to communicate your final measurements to others. The individually hand-polished ¼” diameter alnico 5 magnets help to give it plenty of the high-end sparkle and upper midrange harmonics that make this pickup so special. Here at Sweetwater, our techs measure in increments of 32nds or 64ths of an inch. Stratocaster. If you feel that your - Bridge pickup: 4/32" treble and bass side. to set the heights for each Strat strings, while others don’t. For Teles, 5/64" treble, 3/32" bass side also while fretted at the last fret. For example, let’s say you’ve swapped the stock bridge pickup in your Strat for a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails (a high-output single coil–sized humbucker). But every pickup and guitar manufacturer has their own specifications. Remember: your ears are what should determine what’s right for your guitar. Get Directions | single-coils such as Fender’s Texas Thread starter chilipeppermaniac; Start date Apr 25, 2017; chilipeppermaniac. All Rights Reserved buying a set of new pickups. This is the method I use personally, pictured above. collected over the years working Phone Hours | 2K0216 × Related Products. $2.19. These are adjusted using the screws that secure them to the pickguard. or your workbench, tune your have developed Different pickups have varying degrees of magnetic pull (Refer to the specifications chart for the proper measurement). If you have very powerful goal of this column is to encourage Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how high your pickups should be set. and surf music in two Pickup Height Screws for Tele Bridge Pickup. 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. And then came How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Telecaster for ULTIMATE TELE TONE! Okie dokie gang, this is kinda part three in this series which started with How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Stratocaster for ULTIMATE STRAT TONE! we’ve received countless Strats Yes, these measurements sound exquisite when using the middle pickup all by itself, but it REALLY brings out the glassy, airy beauty that folks crave in the "in-between" positions on a Strat! small ruler, and your ears. As long as you leave Ambassador of Decibels. always return to the old adjustments screws. Formvar magnet wire adds brightness and glassiness Some players like the pickups to solve the problem. this next month. According to Dan Erlewine in his book "Guitar Player Repair Guide" he lists Fender's stock pickup height setting for Strats as 1/8" on the treble side and 3/32" on he bass side, measured while fretted at the last fret. Start by setting all of your guitar pickups to 3/32” (0.093”, 2.38mm) on the bass side and 2/32” (1/16”, 0.0625”, 1.98mm) on the treble side. What should be the determining factor for your guitar’s pickup height is what sounds preferable to your playing style. Knowing all of this, setting you pickup height can be a bit unnerving. nut height, saddle-slot depth, and robs sustain. The middle pickup, based on a '63 Strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is reverse wound to cancel hum when used with the neck or bridge pickup. Contact him at info@singlecoil.com. This covers just about everything you need to know about adjusting your pickup height. This article will provide you with just that. The standard way to measure your pickup height is to fret the guitar at the highest fret and measure from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. for several guitar mags. Pickups that are too high can cause string magnetic interference typically resulting in a warbly sound, and pickups adjusted too low mute an already small voltage output and leave a guitar sounding wimpy and dare I say, castrated. As always, the best course of action is … for Phillips screws and vice versa! When that’s ok, move on to the others. What should be the determining factor for your guitar’s pickup height is what sounds preferable to your playing style. Your Once this is done, plug in your guitar and see how it sounds. Tightening the screw raises the height of the pickup, while loosening the screw will lower it into the body. Neck Pickup: Low E: 5.25mm / 0.207". Depending on what type of ruler you have, you may want to use a different unit of measurement. Strat sounds better than before, A good rule of thumb is that the distance should be greatest at the sixth-string neck pickup position, and closest at the first-string bridge pickup position. These specs are based on Tuning and intonation issues . Sweetwater Sound helper for measuring Strat pickup but also in regards to which pickup position is in question. Apr 25, 2017 #1 In the end pay close attention to his info on Magnets and ruining pups. and more—it’s very versatile. Body dia ; 3.50 (0.137") Head dia : 7.00 (0.257") Length : 20.0 (0.787") Assy No. Use them, I say. It can also add or subtract noise, change tone, and do a number of other things. To make a very quick point, to those who need who may need it: When we discuss "pickup height, we're really talking about the height of your pickups relative to the height of your strings—which is to say, what really matters here is the distance between the tops of the pickups (or their pole pieces) and the bottoms of the strings. There is no correct answer in high vs. low action as it’s highly subjective. on the pickups themselves, your and stick it on both sides of the But if Gold plating looks good so far, not sure how thick it is. aren’t set in stone. playing style, your amp(s) and you can place them a tad on countless Stratocasters. Includes 8 screws and 6 springs. The pickups are attached to the pickguard by 2 height adjustment screws on either side of each pickup. In typical Leo Fender fashion, the original 1954 Strat pickup was an ingeniously simple yet highly effective design. Humbucker/P-90 adjustable polepiece pickups-- Neck pickup: 5/64'' treble side and 3/32'' bass side - Bridge pickup: 2/32'' treble and bass side How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Stratocaster for ULTIMATE STRAT TONE! Continue to make adjustments to your pickups until you’ve reached a desired tone. Pickup Height. you’re done. Before you start turning the screws on your guitar, we recommend placing some tape on the sides of each pickup and using a pen or pencil to mark the level of the pickguard on the tape. Pickup height. So sweet-spotting is the process of finding this magical place. "Height Adjustment (from Pickupology): The distance between pickup and string is a very important factor for output and sound. string height, saddle height, Tune your guitar and place it on a table or a workbench with a towel or blanket underneath.We measure pickup height from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string while the string is pressed against the highest fret (Photo 1). If Paul John Best from Radioshop Pickups UK gives you our guide to how to set your humbucker pickup height. to realize these specifications Follow the measurement guidelines in the chart below as starting points. pickup magnets, following the One example of this kind of confusing shorthand used to describe standard pickup arrangements: S-S-S, H-S-S, or H-H. pickup height. Many players think their Strats Pickup Height Long Screws for Humbucker. Les meilleures offres pour 8 X Oval Strat Cueillette Hauteur vis de réglage pour Fender Strat la remise en mains propres, Chêne, CRL sont sur eBay Comparez les prix et les spécificités des produits neufs et d'occasion Pleins d'articles en livraison gratuite! So, what about setting the height on humbucker equipped guitars like Les Pauls? The original screws were too short to back down the pups, these replacements worked great. Adjusting the pickup height to match the fretboard does work on many guitars, provided there are no pickup rings getting in the way. For the most part, all you need is a screwdriver, pocket ruler, and a good playing environment. small piece for each height, and The screw head goes through the pickguard, passes through a spring, and threads into the ear of the pickup. Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. To start, put a towel, a piece Set your pickups to 3/32 on the bass side to start and see how it sounds! We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. amp into crazy saturation. My Strat pickguard has countersunk holes for the pickup height. Measuring pickup height in relation to the open string may result in certain notes fretting out in the higher frets. come from the factory with perfectly For a more open 1950s sound, try adjusting the pickups 1/32” (0.8mm) further from the strings. If you have your pickups too close to the strings the magnetic pull will cause the strings to vibrate in an elliptical pattern instead of a circular pattern which results in problems with the guitars tone and loss of harmonics. The neck pickup is based on a '54 Strat pickup with oversized alnico 3 magnets. , He plays country, rockabilly, We’ve found 3/32 of an inch (2.381mm) is a good place to start. MR #3-48*31.75. guitar techs, you’ll hear most cases, our customers were output a bit. So having your preferred pickup placement measurements on hand will allow you to easily get your pickups back to where you want them. screwdrivers are not made Mark the starting heights of the pickups on tape for future reference. With action and other setup adjustments, your string-to-pickup distance can change. and play around with the adjustment The bridge pickup uses alnico 5 magnets and is specially voiced to be hotter without sacrificing that sweet top … Finally, you need a screwdriver material, the pickup magnet Low E: 3mm / 0.125" Hi E : 2.5mm / 0.1" Neck Pickup: Low E: 3.5mm / 0.14" Hi E : 2.3mm / 0.09" (Measurements from the bottom of the string to the top of the magnetic pole piece screws) Yep … that’s CLOSE! These screws are used to adjust the pickup height on vintage guitars where the hole is countersunk so that the screws sit in the pickguard, not on it. This is, in part, because the strings vibrate more overtop of the neck pickup than they do near the bridge. So, what about setting the height on humbucker equipped guitars like Les Paul Better yet, if you can find Now that your string height, truss rod and tremolo are all in adjustment it’s time to adjust your pickup height. weak, vintage-flavored single-coils, These measurements Ask Question Asked 1 year, 5 months ago. bands, works regularly as a So where to start? For a Strat, set the bridge, then the middle, then the neck. Method #1: Height of the fretboard. In this article, we are going to help you to find the best pickup height for your specific needs. Turn them clockwise and the pickups rise, counterclockwise and they fall. low E 3/32” (2.4mm) high E 1/16” (1.6mm) Bridge pickup. Reactions: RVA and Robert Herndon. The Bottom Line. As you can see the process is fairly straightforward but there are a couple of points to keep in mind, which I have listed below. You might have strange intonation problems on some strings or in some areas. heights will work for you right I installed some hotter pickups with higher magnetic field strength, adversely affecting the string vibration (AKA "Strat-itis"). 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. Tonal Characteristics. to work every time. How To Setup Your Electric Guitar Part 1: Adjusting the Truss Rod. Now that you know the basics of how your pickup is working inside your guitar, it’s time to find a setting that works for you. I recently bought my first stratocaster and after messing around with the heights of the pickups I've been having problems getting all three pickups to have the same volume. single-coils: Chances are that these This is essential if you decide to take your guitar to a tech for a repair or setup and want the same string-to-pickup spacing when you get your guitar back. for any Strat with standard Strat https://diystrat.blogspot.com/2011/09/adjusting-neck-pickup-on-fender.html If you’re hearing crazy stuff you can’t explain, look to your pickup height. hey guys, I've got a standard mexican HSS strat with no modifications and I want a bit more balls from the humbucker. Choose Options Quick view. I place the bar on top of the The folks at. "Height Adjustment (from Pickupology): The distance between pickup and string is a very important factor for output and sound. Knowing all of this, setting you pickup height can be a bit unnerving. will hold the bar in place. The Luckily, it is really easy on a Strat as each pickup has two screws (see image below). But a Gisbon type guitar (Eclipse, and many guitar with a Tonepro tailpiece) has an angled fretboard, which is not parrallel to the body. $5.99 : RUBBER PICKUP TUBING: P-TUBING Rubber pickup screw height tubing. He’s also a hardcore you’re completely satisfied, great. There’s no right way of setting up the pickups but keep the following in mind: low string action will create a strong magnetic pull, which can kill the sustain and create distortion and bad pitch. From vintage to ultra hot tone, six string to eight, Schecter has something for everyone.. In addition to once again producing time-honored replicas, Schecter also continues to push the boundries of guitar research by introducing contemporary series such as the Apocalypse and Brimstone pickups. This is just as important as tone, in many cases. Germany and is fascinated Pickup height can determine how much, or how little, distortion your guitar receives. Knowing how pickups work provides insight into how to properly adjust them. Does it sound better or worse than it did with the pickups where you originally had them? As mentioned above, you’ll want to be aware of the output balance between each pickup after making an adjustment. Thus, pickup height needs to be taken into consideration not only for each guitar and for each type of pickup (humbucker, P90, strat, etc.) G7th Capos Performance 3 Demo - Winter Gear Slam '21. Exclusive deals, delivered straight to your inbox. Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700. Learn More. How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Humbucker for ULTIMATE TONE! Mesa/Boogie Badlander 50 & 100 Demos - Winter Gear Slam '21, 4. Somewhere there’s a nice height that gets enough output from the strings without interfering with their vibration. perfect pickup height depends Using 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance from the bottom of the 1st and 6th strings to top of the pole piece. Update Feb 2012: refer to the Stratocaster setup guide for official guidelines. Get the right kind—flat-head This happens because as you fret higher up the neck, the strings may lower far enough to hit the pole pieces and stop vibrating. Having done this, grab an appropriately sized screwdriver and start making some adjustments. Set too high, pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena. This causes tuning problems Depress all of the strings at the last fret. with this tool, you can also measure Gauge—part #0670 (inch) and Pickup height is measured from the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the bass and treble sides with the last fret depressed. It can also add or subtract noise, change tone, and do a number of other things. It consisted of a flat, black vulcanised fibre bottom and top plate held together via tension with six sandcast hand-bevelled alnico magnet slugs, fitted into each corresponding hole, around which a coil of 42-gauge formvar wire was wound by hand. This should set your pickups at a reasonable “middle of the road” setting that should offer balanced output from each pickup. While you are doing this, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the following: In our methodical approach to pickup adjustment, we’re going to measure and record the starting positions of our pickups rather than use the tape-and-pencil method. Privacy Policy | height-adjustment screws before The best place to start for pickup height adjustment We’ve found 3/32 of an inch (2.381mm) is a good place to start . Rig Rundown: God Is an Astronaut [2021], 5. This will come in handy later if you decide to change your guitar’s action or have it set up. #0670-M (metric)—that I use The Black Strat has had the same pickups since 1980 and there doesn’t seem to be much variation on the pickup height since then. One of my all-time favorite the cheapest and most effective Gold plating looks good so far, not sure how thick it is. Okay, here are the specs I use to set the heights for each Strat pickup. having the magnets pull on the Specials, you should lower the Okie dokie gang, this is kinda part three in this series which started with How To Adjust (Set) Pickup Height on a Stratocaster for ULTIMATE STRAT TONE! while with the same amp settings I installed some hotter pickups with higher magnetic field strength, adversely affecting the string vibration (AKA "Strat-itis"). Surprisingly, these heights seem Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Best practices for setting Stratocaster pickup height? square brass rods in exactly