How To Find Spot Height

Learning how to set your pickup's height correctly is probably the most overlooked step in purchasing a set of pickups. It would exist similar ownership a new auto and non inflating the tires. Pickup peak is a critical element of your guitar's tone. Set as well low, and your pickup is inefficient and weak. Set also high, and your pickup will crusade all sorts of problems for you. Allow's delve into why pickup height matters, and how to set it correctly!

Why Pickup Elevation Matters:

Set to the correct height, your pickup's magnets create a strong magnetic field that gives your guitar the tone that you love. Set too high, and your pickups can push and pull your strings out of tune. The Magnetic Field is not optimized when the pickup is ready too low.

This article focuses on pickups that feature Alnico Magnets – think Stratocaster or Telecaster. P90-Style pickups really do good from the entire pickup raised to the optimized pinnacle, and so fine-tuning the string balance with pole pieces. Split Blades are a different beast: cheque the video below to see Lindy conform some Split Blades.

How To Measure:

Start by pressing the Low Eastward String (Bass Side) down at the highest fret, and agree it while y'all measure out.
Measure the distance from the bottom of the cord to the top of the Low E Pole.
Do the same thing on the High Eastward String (Treble Side).

Correct Height:

Permit's clear something up: in that location is no 100% accurate height. That said, here is a great starting signal:

Correct Pickup Height Starting Point — Right starting point for setting pickup top

The reason why in that location is no "100% correct" height, is that every guitar, role player, and playing style differs. One guitarist may play harder than another guitarist, and ane guitar may have thicker and heavier estimate guitar strings than another!

Common Mistakes:

1.) Setting Pickup Elevation Too High:

Setting your pickup height too high volition cause your magnets to push button and pull your strings out of tune. Hither'due south a quick way to tell if this is happening to you: play the Low Due east string at a loftier fret (15th fret is a good ane to start at). Yous might hear a "warbling" sound. That sound is your magnet fighting your string. Back the cord away until the "warbling" audio disappears!

Setting the pickup height as well high can cause interference with your guitar strings

2.) Setting Pickup Height Also Low:

Setting your pickup height also low would cause your pickup not to be optimized for your guitar. Your magnetic field "floats" to a higher place the pickup, and if your strings are out of the field, you won't get a rich, full tone. That said, backing off on your pickup'due south height will cause your bass to sparse and your pickup to audio a bit "sweeter" – you might like information technology! Experiment!

Fralin Pickups Setting Pickup Height Too Low — Setting the pickup height as well low saps your pickups of ability

3.) Wrong Orientation:

The right pickup tiptop orientation is lower on the bass side and closer on the treble side. Your Bass strings take more than mass and volition disturb the magnetic field more treble strings. Reversing your pickup pinnacle orientation will provide y'all with "warbling" bass strings and sparse treble strings – non good.

Lindy's Have On it:

Every bit Lindy likes to explicate information technology, adjusting your pickup's height is not all about measuring, information technology's about listening as well!

Well, that about does information technology for this calendar month. Stay tuned for future articles!