If pickup height did not affect tone, everyone could just set their pups as close to the strings, without hitting, and adjust volume at the amp -- this, however, is rarely the case.
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Does pickup height affect tone?
- Thread starter monkeyfinger
- Start date
OP is right, it does affect tone. You get more treble with the pickups closer in addition to more output, at least IME. For some pickups that's a good thing (EMG JX), on others it isn't (DiMarzio Model P)
Have to say, like many things, "it depends"...
Depending on the shape of the magnetic field and its strength
the effect of height may be negligible or substantial - Lane Poor
Jazz pickups vs DiMarzio P Blocks for example. The field lobes
vary depending on magnet geometry humbucker/single , bar/poles,
you get the idea. For sure though - too close will interact with the strings
in a bad way ( if they are strong magnets) odd overtones and too hot a
signal. Playing style is the biggest issue - light touch players can run them
closer than slapping gorilla grabbers.
Depending on the shape of the magnetic field and its strength
the effect of height may be negligible or substantial - Lane Poor
Jazz pickups vs DiMarzio P Blocks for example. The field lobes
vary depending on magnet geometry humbucker/single , bar/poles,
you get the idea. For sure though - too close will interact with the strings
in a bad way ( if they are strong magnets) odd overtones and too hot a
signal. Playing style is the biggest issue - light touch players can run them
closer than slapping gorilla grabbers.
Yes and I will never adjust a pick up again! I'll gladly pay someone who has a special sheet, the right measuring tools and/or a perfect ear.
Sorry to hijack- there was a new vs used thread the other day: This is another benefit new basses-they are untouched by do it yourselfers who might not know what they're doing! Yes, I have been hearing about flash mobs of kids running around with little screwdrivers and they are intentionally messing up picky up heights at stores, particularly at GC... but I'll roll the dice on that one.
I enjoyed reading container codes through the deck mounted 100mm binoculars, and the concept of 16" nuclear artillery shells. Word around the port is she is ready for action if needed. But I cannot confirm or deny this. Big guns.
Yup no doubt distant from the string to the pole piece changes your tone best to go with the manufactures suggested height
Fender as a example:
Bass Side Treble Side
Vintage style 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Noiseless™ Series 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Standard "J" or "P" 7/64" (2.8 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Special Design Humbuckers 7/64" (2.8 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Fender as a example:
Bass Side Treble Side
Vintage style 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Noiseless™ Series 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Standard "J" or "P" 7/64" (2.8 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Special Design Humbuckers 7/64" (2.8 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Yes, In particular, my experience is with a G&L L2000 and those powerful pickups. They have such strong magnets, and I, at first, when having the strings too close to the pickup, got, what I would consider, a really really bad tone (almost sold the bass immediately) then.....I did two things....I lowered my pickups a lot first, and then went with flats. The sound is now more palatable.
In short, yes. Just like a microphone, proximity effect will give you different tonal options.
How many people who replace pickups do you think do so without adjusting the height of the ones they already have to see what a difference it makes?
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
I think that lowering the pickups doesn't give more bass, but you just seem to have more bass, because the treble and overall volume and sharpness drop. Everything goes up when you raise the pickups.
YES
it's another thing we can just adjust to our taste ... which is relative to our string choice , the tone we're looking for , amp , speaker , pickups , etc ...
the only problem is getting so close that the magnets pull on the strings , and you lose sustain .
we all hear different things in our given playing situations ... i play mainly in my studio now , using headphones most of the time ... so i do hear the slightest changes .. !
it's another thing we can just adjust to our taste ... which is relative to our string choice , the tone we're looking for , amp , speaker , pickups , etc ...
the only problem is getting so close that the magnets pull on the strings , and you lose sustain .
we all hear different things in our given playing situations ... i play mainly in my studio now , using headphones most of the time ... so i do hear the slightest changes .. !
I suspect the affect differs with pickup design too. When I was setting up the Roscoe Beck V, (dual humbuckers with parallel/sereis/single-coil modes for each pickup), I had the pickups in series mode. I choose this setting because it is the most difficult to get a good tone. Once I adjusted the tone for this mode, I found that the height also worked in parallel and single coil modes. I also noticed that the change in height had little affect on tone in SC mode. The humbuckers on the RBV are pretty wide. I wonder if this has something to do with aperture.
Especially if you use 2 different pickup models. A matched set might be harder to tell sometimes rather than 2 different voicings. but I use a boomy mid and bass packed neck pickup, and a trebly, bassy bridge pickup. Total opposites. But blended together sound nice and even when the pickup heights are right. Small adjustments (again to my ear) effect certain volumes and overtones. It's all about preference at that point.
I agree that pickup height has a big impact when mixing pickups. This is especially true of the RBV where there is a three way switch and single volume control.
I know guys who drop their p pickups all the way down to get a warmer Woodier sound. Definitely drops some of the treble out
