Fender Japan 50s P bass pick up height

[Craig Williams]

Did a bit of work on my bass tonight and from what Ive read the closer your PU to the strings the better providing the strings have at least an 1/8th of an inch or more when fretted. I set them around 3/16 or so at highest point and low e string distorts a bit if I dig in like the input into the amp is too hot. I can back them off of course. Is this a thing if your PU to close to the strings?

 

[Lo-E]

Yes, it’s a thing. What you’re experiencing is not unusual.

Lowering the pickup should help a lot.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

^^^
Not only hotter output, but also the "warble" effect, because too close and the magnetic pull on the string is now influincing the strings vibration pattern.

Just to clarify; we need to distinguish how you're measuring;
Typically, I measure my PU Clearance with the string pressed down at the last fret; I usually start with 7/64" clearance on the E - 6/64s on the G, and adjust "to taste" by ear.
(so assuming your action is set to ~5/64 that would equal 12/64 - or your 3/16 - if I'm "reading' this correctly...
But pressing the string down for this measurement takes (variable) action height out of the equation.

Does your 50s mij have the "raised A" poles?
On the 2 '57 reissues I have (with the "raised A") - I crank the "A" side WAY down to get and even response across strings.

Unless they're purposely high output pickups; I usually don't experience over-driving the input at those clearance heights

 

[Craig Williams]

^^^
Not only hotter output, but also the "warble" effect, because too close and the magnetic pull on the string is now influincing the strings vibration pattern.

Just to clarify; we need to distinguish how you're measuring;
Typically, I measure my PU Clearance with the string pressed down at the last fret; I usually start with 7/64" clearance on the E - 6/64s on the G, and adjust "to taste" by ear.
(so assuming your action is set to ~5/64 that would equal 12/64 - or your 3/16 - if I'm "reading' this correctly...
But pressing the string down for this measurement takes (variable) action height out of the equation.

Does your 50s mij have the "raised A" poles?
On the 2 '57 reissues I have (with the "raised A") - I crank the "A" side WAY down to get and even response across strings.

Unless they're purposely high output pickups; I usually don't experience over-driving the input at those clearance heights

As far as I know standard flat pole Japan PU. No raised A. To measure my clearance, and I don't get too pedantic about it and measure 64ths etc as its only a starting point....I hold the string down at one of the lowest frets and check clearance. I am a tradesperson so have a pretty good visual sense of measurements. I thought on a bass, particularly on low strings warble effect doesn't come into effect as the magnet not strong enough to pull on the heavier strings like a guitar? I also read the closer to the PU the strings the better on a Precision but thats clearly wrong too lol. I was getting a great tone out of it before I adjusted them up....only reason I did it thought I would get a bit more punch out if it..... so I will just adjust from ear from here on back to a happy medium. I am running flatwounds too btw if that is of any consequence.

One thing I did do and maybe causing some sort of harmonics was put springs on the PU screws to give a bit more push up. It has the foam pads under but as usually they become old and lose their spring. So maybe the PU only floating on the screw springs with no pad touching underneath? There is a plate thing under the pad right? Maybe the plate, pad and PU coil all need to be in contact?

 

[Craig Williams]

On further investigation starting to get a clearer picture of how the PU mounting system works ie foam. I thought putting springs on the screws would give the PU more upward push but due to the way these things are put together, the PU screw holes are only in the cover that goes over the PU and only hold down / push down / support the acual PU cover, they don't upwardly support the actual PU, so new foam under seems like the best solution to give them more upward spring. The foam that is under the PU now is old and no spring left in it so there is only so far the PU will raise. Wonder how a piece of brilo pad under would go?

 

[Lo-E]

On further investigation starting to get a clearer picture of how the PU mounting system works ie foam. I thought putting springs on the screws would give the PU more upward push but due to the way these things are put together, the PU screw holes are only in the cover that goes over the PU and only hold down / push down / support the acual PU cover, they don't upwardly support the actual PU, so new foam under seems like the best solution to give them more upward spring. The foam that is under the PU now is old and no spring left in it so there is only so far the PU will raise. Wonder how a piece of brilo pad under would go?

Don’t use a piece of Brillo pad. You shouldn’t put anything metallic under the pickup. Just use a piece of packing foam and you should be fine.