Interesting Article On Pickup Adjustment:

I lowered the G a bit - the very top of the screw slot is about even with the top surface of the cover; the screw looks visibly below the cover at first glance.
First impression very good; seemed to balance better overall.

Only tried on a Guitarmadness 57 Special bridge pu / supposed to be similar to gibson 57 classic. Not sure if + or not.

Same here...I'm level too (on the 'G') but not below the bobbin surface. However, I am running really close to the diagram posted above...

Totally eliminated that 'sitar-like' 'jangle' on the 'g' string!!!!
 
Gets me thinking more to balance the gain on 5 and 6th sting power chords vs open d / treble strings.
I may try more of that alignment this evening.
 
we are supposed to ADJUST these things??????????????????

awh COME ON .......Im gonna need to call in sick ............for a week!
 
Seems fender all ready adjusted them for me ...............lol
0992236000_merch_frt_001_nr.jpg
 
Do what?
Why
Where
On not using a wound "g"

I always get a 'warble' on single coils when a plain 'g' is used because the stagger is designed for Leo's preference of a would g string. So, you have to drop the pickup further and further away from the string to offset the effect. Middle and neck are the most affected.
 
"As a general rule for the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on that string. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. Repeat the same with the low E string, but use two nickels on top of each other. If this gives you too much output, you can reduce the height slightly. Don't forget that twice the distance will reduce the output by about 60%, and the sound will lose some lows. NOW, you can adjust the neck pickup to match the output of the bridge pickup. For the sound test, use stage volume...." - Bill Lawrence
 
I thought P90 and HB generally sit even from bass to treble but single coils are angled often.
I can see dropping the bass side on of a neck pick up if muddy.
I will try this.
I am out of bread crumbs so finding my way back out of the tone chase rabbit hole is unlikely.
 
Whelp, I've been playing the Firebirds mostly as of late and no polepieces in sight...like everything else I do, I just turn the screws until I like what I hear. Incidentally, none of the pickup heights are close to one another from one guitar to the next.
 
• Listen up: There’s no hard and fast rule for where a pickup should be placed. If it sounds right to you, it’s right.

The single most meaningful statement in the Gibson Technical Note.

We're not tuning engines or building computers, here. We're adjusting things to our own personal tastes.
 
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The single most meaningful statement in the Gibson Technical Note.

We're not tuning engines or building computers, here. We're adjusting things to our own personal tastes.

If I adjust by ear or feel, my action will be .070" and my pickups will be 4/32".

I set everything now to those specs. Why waste time....????
 
Whelp, I've been playing the Firebirds mostly as of late and no polepieces in sight...like everything else I do, I just turn the screws until I like what I hear. Incidentally, none of the pickup heights are close to one another from one guitar to the next.

Mine are all within a few thousandths even when setup by ear...but all three of my guitars are nearly identical anyways...and I like that when I switch, the necks and action all feel the same.
 
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