Metal ruler and pickups

[Jarkko Tapano]

Hi,

May be a stupid question, but here we go.
I’m using a metal ruler to measure pickup height. From polepiece to string.
Could that harm pickup anyway? For example If the ruler will magnetize from touching pole piece?

 

[digmeout]

Hi,

May be a stupid question, but here we go.
I’m using a metal ruler to measure pickup height. From polepiece to string.
Could that harm pickup anyway? For example If the ruler will magnetize from touching pole piece?

For years I've always used a metal ruler to measure pickup height, one of the small ones in 32nds and 64ths, never had a problem.

 

[Leo Thunder]

No. Extreme heat would however. Do not get a soldering iron too close.
A simple way to set the distance between pick-up and strings is with a set of Allen wrenches. Just get a 3mm one to run between both while fretting a string at the end of the neck and you'll have your "recommended nominal height", from which you can deviate as much as you like.
Or stack a few guitar picks of known thickness to the same effect. I used to measure string action this way.