How high should I adjust my pickups for the best sound? (2024)

FAQs

What height should pickups be set at? ›

While there isn't a magic number for guitar pickup height—every pickup and guitar manufacturer has their own pickup height specifications—we've found 3/32 of an inch (2.381mm) is a good place to start.

Setting your pickup height too high will cause your magnets to push and pull your strings out of tune. Here's a quick way to tell if this is happening to you: play the Low E string at a high fret (15th fret is a good one to start at). You might hear a “warbling” sound. That sound is your magnet fighting your string.

A larger diameter pipe can enhance the deepness of the sound by allowing exhaust gasses to flow with less restriction, creating a resonant, deeper tone. For a more aggressive approach, removing components like the catalytic converter or muffler will result in a much louder sound.

Typically, lowering a guitar's pickups will yield a woodier and more natural sound with great playing dynamics and clarity. This action will usually mellow out and clean up your guitar's output which can be beneficial because it gives us more tonal control after the signal gets to our amplifier.

I find that raising and lowering a pickup does several things. When I move my pickup closer to the strings I get more output and more attack. When lowering a pickup you get less output and a smoother sound. As the pickup is moved further away from the bridge the louder and fuller it sounds.

As well as the strings acting on the pickup's magnetic field, that magnetic field can also act on the string. Adjusted too close, the magnetic field can interfere with the strings' vibration.

For standard, full-size humbuckers, a reasonable starting point for the bridge pickup is at least 1/16" (1.5mm) from the high E and 5/64" (2 mm) from the low E. There are no recommended distances for the other 4 strings.

What makes a guitar pickup sound good? ›

Whether you choose single coil or humbucker, active or passive, the size, type and configuration of magnet/s used in your pickup all have a big influence on the sound that the pickup produces, as does the type of wire: how thick it is, how it's insulated, how it's wound around the bobbins, how many turns of wire.

The angle of the guitar pick in relation to the strings is the most discussed element when it comes to guitar pick noise. Basically, the less pick is in contact with your guitar strings, the less noise it produces. Angle the pick slightly to the strings. Try different angles when plucking your string.

Yes, same height for both pickups, measured from top of pickup to bottom of the string WHILE STRING IS DEPRESSED AT THE LAST FRET. That is why you see difference in height, measured from body surface.

The average length of a pickup truck can vary from 16 feet to over 20 feet, depending on the cab and bed configurations. This range is longer than most vehicles, including sedans and compact vehicles. The average width of a pickup truck can vary from 6.3 to 6.8 feet, while the height is between 5.5 to 6.2 feet.

Q: How close to the strings should the pickups on my Gibson Les Paul be? A: Gibson recommends 3/32″ on the bass string side and 1/16″ on the treble string side.

We suggest starting with a 3mm distance to the strings when fretting the last fret, and then make small adjustments to your preference. Raising the pickup will increase the output and lowering will decrease the output.