P Bass Pickup Height

Muckaluck · #1 10-14-2011, 12:51 PM

I've looked at a few threads regarding pickup height but I was hoping people could chime in and clarify this for certain.

In Fender's Bass Guitar Setup Guide, it is stated that the bass side should measure 2.8mm and the treble side should measure 2mm. Bill Lawrence says 1 nickle touching the string to pickup on the high E and 2 nickles touching the string to pickup on the low E. Many others say just use your ear.

I interpret these instructions for a P bass to mean that I make the distance on the E string 2.8mm, A string 2mm and D string 2.8mm and G string 2mm. The problem with this is that I get a really loud A string with my Lakland. That being said, my P 46 Pickup seems to be very happy with this method.

When I do it the opposite way and make the E and A 2.8mm and the D and G 2mm, the D and G come off way louder than the E and A.

I have trouble doing it with my ears because I find it sounds good at home and is then all wonky at practice.

Does anyone have a tried and tested method for adjusting pickup height on a P bass?

eno50 · #2 10-14-2011, 01:46 PM

Try the old school way ,Two Nickles from the strings...

Muckaluck · #3 10-14-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eno50

Try the old school way ,Two Nickles from the strings...

Two nickels from every string?

walterw · #4 10-14-2011, 06:19 PM

spend 15 minutes at practice through the real rig with a screwdriver, tweaking until all 4 strings have equal volume.

that should mean G and D closer, A and E further away, with the inside ends steepled up a bit to follow string radius.

how close overall depends on you. i say close as you can get without the strings smacking into the pickup, and without it getting too boomy.

elgecko · #5 10-14-2011, 06:23 PM

I use my ear, not a ruler.

Turnaround · #6 10-14-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

how close overall depends on you. i say close as you can get without the strings smacking into the pickup, and without it getting too boomy.

Depends on what tone you are after. The closer you get to the strings the more the signal will distort. And the more strange overtones will be introduced by the effects of the magnetic pull on the strings.

But if you like that kind of thing, go for it. Certainly not for me.

walterw · #7 10-15-2011, 01:26 AM

well, that would be the "too boomy" i was referring to.

"as close as you can get where it still sounds clear" might have been a better way to put it.

Turnaround · #8 10-15-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

well, that would be the "too boomy" i was referring to.

"as close as you can get where it still sounds clear" might have been a better way to put it.

Wasn't trying to be picky, but I've dealt with lots of cases where the pickups were so close that the magnetic pull was causing bad overtones and "chorus" effects in the upper registers. In that case they don't sound clear - so I do prefer your edited version.

darkstorm · #9 10-15-2011, 09:09 PM

I adjust by ear. Adjsuting both individual pole peices and each pup half individually. No reason to go by some books measurements. Normally for P pup basses Ive had the pole peices are raised a little higher on the E&A string side compared to the D&G string half. With pup slant being mainly with curve of fretboard Most P pups basses Ive owned have been with neck and bridge P pup set. Bridge pup set frequently has ended up with the bass side slightly higher for bridge pup and treble side slightly higher for neck half.

Muckaluck · #10 10-17-2011, 10:18 AM

I'm trying the 2 nickel technique under each string. I'll tell you how it goes after this weeks practice.

walterw · #11 10-17-2011, 02:00 PM

It's fine to start with that, but from there you really should dial them in by ear for your rig and playing style, adjusting to where all 4 strings are the same volume.

frianbisher · #12 10-17-2011, 07:17 PM

Fret the strings at the last fret then measure the distance between the bottom of the string and the pole pieces. Shoot for about 4/32nds for the E and 3/32nds from the G. This will get you in the ballpark and you can tinker with the distance of course.

9mmMike · #13 12-15-2011, 02:58 PM

How would this change for the raised-pole '57 pups where only the A-string poles are higher? Just lower the pup at that point so the pup appears flat but the poles still follow the string arch?

walterw · #14 12-15-2011, 08:28 PM

that would be logical.

from there, you'd still adjust for equal volume by ear.

202dy · #15 12-16-2011, 06:39 AM

When measuring for distance between pickup and string bottom, the rule is placed on top of the pole piece. In the case of dual poles, the rule can be rotated 90 degrees to span both pole pieces. Fine tune by ear if necessary.

DeadHeadSF · #16 12-16-2011, 02:07 PM

Just remember if you get them too close, you'll have intonation problems - the pickup magnets are pulling your strings just a little bit. I just encountered that problem on my new 2011 P bass; I raised the pickups a bit and had to back them off again maybe 1/64" or so and it's fine.

jumbodbassman · #17 12-16-2011, 02:17 PM

i tend to set my p pups more linear with the closest to the string at the g and furthest at the e string. The way i play that seems to me to b the most even volume from each string. but i also tend to raise the e string to even with the a string even though the radius is not that way. except on older necks with a more rounded radius