About how close to the strings do those of you with jazz basses set the pole pieces? I have Dimarzio model J's and I've adjusted the individual polepieces on each pickup to produce about the same output level from string to string with normal steady attack, and I've also tried to set them close enough to almost match the output from my P-bass so I don't have to readjust the gain level on the amp when I switch. Some of the polepieces are as close as 2/8" from the string, and unfortunately this is resulting in some very loud clipping and popping when I occasionally attack a string even a little bit harder than usual (especially higher up on the neck). Is 2/8" way too close (or just a little too close)?
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Jazz bass pickup height
- Thread starter ss81
- Start date
If the strings are hitting the poles then yes, they're too close.
I think if you go to the Mr. Gearhead site off the Fender webpage they have specs for the distance between the strings and the pickups, and that's a good place to start. But it's very easy to experiment - generally all it takes is a screwdriver unless you need to have more or less springy/spongy stuff (I use old mouse pad pieces) under the pickups, and that's even easy to do. Having them closer to the strings will mean more output... but can also reduce sustain (from the magnets pulling on the strings) if they get too close. Farther away will mean a weaker output, but the pickup will "see" more (or was it less?) of the string length, that can slightly alter the tone (in theory).
Anyway, it's easy to find a sweet spot (use your ears). I tend to have my bridge pickup a lot closer, then roll off the volume on it - but have the real twangy option if desired.
I don't worry at all about having a bass match another in terms of output - get each bass setup well in its own right, that's why amps have gain knobs.
I think if you go to the Mr. Gearhead site off the Fender webpage they have specs for the distance between the strings and the pickups, and that's a good place to start. But it's very easy to experiment - generally all it takes is a screwdriver unless you need to have more or less springy/spongy stuff (I use old mouse pad pieces) under the pickups, and that's even easy to do. Having them closer to the strings will mean more output... but can also reduce sustain (from the magnets pulling on the strings) if they get too close. Farther away will mean a weaker output, but the pickup will "see" more (or was it less?) of the string length, that can slightly alter the tone (in theory).
Anyway, it's easy to find a sweet spot (use your ears). I tend to have my bridge pickup a lot closer, then roll off the volume on it - but have the real twangy option if desired.
I don't worry at all about having a bass match another in terms of output - get each bass setup well in its own right, that's why amps have gain knobs.
Yeah, 1/4" maybe a better height.
There may be recommended pickup heights in the Dimarzio website.
Also you may wish to adjust the pickups from side to side. The E string tends to be louder than the G, so you can adjust the height closer to the G for a more balanced output.
American Standard and vintage specs call for 1/8" and 3/32" bass and treble respectively. When using a replacement pickup with different specifications the height will change. A high output pickup should not be placed as close to the strings unless one wishes to use the higher output to overdrive the preamp section of the amplifier, for instance. Adjusting pickup heights of bass and treble pickups (neck and bridge) so that the output of each is even is usually recommended.
Is the setup guide you are referring to this one? Invalid Link Removed
And is this guide's section about pickup height a good rule of thumb for non-fender basses too?
The guide mentions 4 different types of pickups: "Vintage style", "Noiseless Series", "Standard "J" or "P"" and "Special Design Humbuckers". My bass has EMG hz pickups so which of those 4 do they compare to?
I hope you dont think Im derailing your thread ss81
And is this guide's section about pickup height a good rule of thumb for non-fender basses too?
The guide mentions 4 different types of pickups: "Vintage style", "Noiseless Series", "Standard "J" or "P"" and "Special Design Humbuckers". My bass has EMG hz pickups so which of those 4 do they compare to?
I hope you dont think Im derailing your thread ss81
1/8" - 3/32" is about right. Any closer than that and you're going to get double-toning in the upper register due to the magnetic pull of the neck pickup, as well as wrecking the cases with string wear.
Scott in Dallas
Commercial User
- Aug 16, 2005
- 2,084
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- Builder and Owner: DJ Ash Guitars
I set mine to specs and it was still touching, causing popping noises on my processors. All the recommendations here were for me to lower the pickup and I resisted because I was worried about a drop in volume. Turns out there was no need to worry. I've got the stock SX neck pickup dropped all the way down and there's no noticable drop in volume and the popping is gone. It seemed overly simplistic to me at the time, but sometimes the simple answers are the best ones.
This has been my experience also.
There is a very broad range of adjustment in pup height where the change in volume is unhearable.
I realize this is an ancient thread, but reading some other replies, it seems to me this needs to be repeated: when Fender recommends setting the pickups at 1/8" and 3/32" (bass and treble respectively) the y mean with the string fretted at the last fret!
@pickles we’ll see if you’re still around this forum. What do you mean by double-toning?
I just bought a used Fender jazz bass and the bridge pickup is super high. I get a nasty chorus-like sound in the upper registers that is driving me crazy that made me think the sound waves are slightly out of phase. Is that what you mean by double-toning?
@pickles you’re still here! Yeah that might be what I’m experiencing. I have some other issues with the bass like string length and a buzz on the open A string so I’m going to do a full setup this weekend.
This is the current height of the pickups that the previous owner set them to. Bridge pickup is significantly higher overall which seemed weird to me.
This is the current height of the pickups that the previous owner set them to. Bridge pickup is significantly higher overall which seemed weird to me.
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Turnaround
Commercial User
That's normal. The strings have less movement over the bridge pickup than over the neck pickup, so the output is less. To counteract that and get a balance between the pickups the bridge one is moved closer to the strings. Or conversely the neck pickup is moved further from the strings.
@Turnaround Thanks for the that explanation. I know when you use two microphones to mic the same audio source, the combined audio waveform can be out of phase and cause a chorus-like sound effect. Do you know if that can happen with magnetic pickups as well? I'm just getting this super bright, chorus-like sound out of the Fender Jazz Bass that I never noticed on the Fender P-Bass I was playing on for a couple months. Might just be the sonic difference that comes out of a Jazz Bass though.
Turnaround
Commercial User
No, that’s a different phenomenon.
The strings are vibrating inside a magnetic field. The distance difference would result in a difference in level. The vibrations of the strings are arriving at the same time, but at different amplitudes.
I know and understand what’s going on, but I don’t know if I explain it very clearly.
@Geri O You explained that well and that makes sense about it being at a different amplitude but arriving at the same time so it's still in phase. Thanks for all the help.
