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texred
New Member
So, what is the ideal? To have the pickup flat on the neck, or to have it halfway to the strings, or what? How far do you want the pup from the strings?
Another One-NGD?
- Thread starter texred
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It's really a matter of just adjusting it until you get the sound you want. You'll generally get a thicker sound as you bring the pickup closer to the strings. A lot comes down to your personal tastes.
OP
texred
New Member
Thanks, Smitty, that's really helpful. And so, you can adjust as to the kind of music you want to play? Or should I say its sound? Like blues v. metal?
I wouldn't say it's as much a matter of adjusting for say, blues or metal, as it is a matter of getting the tonality you want. You won't turn a moderate output pickup into a high output pickup merely by adjusting the height. Though, you would want to get the pickup closer to the strings to get the most audio output from the pickup. Honestly, the most critical component in your sound and gain is not the guitar; it's your amplifier. You can do a lot with effects, also.
Sometimes, dropping the pickup further away from the strings is a good thing, though. Lowering a pickup can result in increased note clarity. In fact, it is possible to raise pickups too high. Depending on the magnetic strength of the pickup, it can have some effect on how the strings vibrate. That's why it really is a matter of just playing around with it. But, you really can't ruin anything. It's easily adjusted with a small, flat blade screwdriver.