pickup height

[kael]

hey all,

got a few questions for y'all

1. does pickup height affect the tone of your pinch harmonic? or it is just the pickup itself that defines the tone?

2. higher pickup height = higher output. would it also affect playing dynamics? like say, make the picking sound more percussive?

3. does the overall tone of the guitar change drastically when adjusting pickup height?

was about to fiddle around of the heights of my pickups (dual humbuckers), but figured I should clear some questions/doubts in case I mess things up..

thanks in advance.

 

[ShredCow]

1. does pickup height affect the tone of your pinch harmonic? or it is just the pickup itself that defines the tone?

Yes, height matters and allows the pup to "pick up" the harmonics better.

Note that nearer to strings = more magnet pull, more bass, thicker tone (more mids), you'll get less tone off the wood/guitar and you'll get more output. Dynamics wise, you introduce more compression.

2. higher pickup height = higher output. would it also affect playing dynamics? like say, make the picking sound more percussive?

As above...

Making picking sound more percussive? That can be attained via bright settings... so lowering the pup could also get there.

3. does the overall tone of the guitar change drastically when adjusting pickup height?

It could, it might not. Depends on how much of a difference "drastic" means to you.

A muddy sound can be rectified by pup height adjustment.

 

[Dime]

pickup can also determine the treble of your tone.too low the height would make the tone very bassy too high makes it too trebly and annoying in some ways.

well this is part of guitar setup too.the height varies to the guitar setup.low or high action.

 

[bedokkids]

1. does pickup height affect the tone of your pinch harmonic? or it is just the pickup itself that defines the tone?

Yes, height matters and allows the pup to "pick up" the harmonics better.

Note that nearer to strings = more magnet pull, more bass, thicker tone (more mids), you'll get less tone off the wood/guitar and you'll get more output. Dynamics wise, you introduce more compression.

.

hmm who right? shrewcow or Dime?

 

[Dime]

hmmm.who's right?but i find it trebly when pup is nearer to string.

 

[peah000]

im trying to rectify this problem of mine. ever since i sent it up for set-up,my guitar has been less "warm/strong" sounding. and i also noticed that my pups have been lowered. so does lifting it up ensure that i'll get back that sound i used to have? lol.

need to be sure before i start fiddling.

 

[ShredCow]

hmmm.who's right?but i find it trebly when pup is nearer to string.

Is that an increase in brightness/treble?

Or is that an increase in volume?

 

[ShredCow]

im trying to rectify this problem of mine. ever since i sent it up for set-up,my guitar has been less "warm/strong" sounding. and i also noticed that my pups have been lowered. so does lifting it up ensure that i'll get back that sound i used to have? lol.

need to be sure before i start fiddling.

You can increase the height of the pickup.

Just remember the number of turns you make on the height adjustment screws. Simple to reverse.

Also, setup your bridge pickup 1st, then go to the neck, then the rest - maintain equal volume, unless you like volume/gain boosts in certain settings.

 

[Dime]

Is that an increase in brightness/treble?

Or is that an increase in volume?

the first one bro.

 

[kael]

hmm.. thx for the insights.. appreciate it.. :mrgreen:

 

[niteblade]

remember that your neck volume and bridge volume outputs should be similar unless you want either one to be louder/softer

 

[ShredCow]

the first one bro.

Nope.

Its volume.

Backing off a pickup takes away mids and bass and volume - which results in a "brighter" tone.

 

[Hydrofly]

Be esp. careful of certain pickups like the dimebucker and the X2N, I use the latter and when it gets too high the pickup's magnetic field will kill the sustain on your guitar.

 

[Dolwood]

Juz install a built-in Equilizer in your guitar to further play about your tone.Can????