Pickup Pole Heigth

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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What changes do you hear when moving the pickup closer to or farther away from the strings, other than volume????

For some reason, my humbuckers sound best to my ear between 8/32" and 12/32" between bottom of string and pole piece when fretted at the 22nd fret. However, Recently, I found more note clarity actually moving away the pickup further away than this...even though I lost output.

Thoughts???
 
Robert Herndon said:
However, Recently, I found more note clarity actually moving away the pickup further away than this...even though I lost output.
Click to expand...
That is how I understand it. Closer to the strings = louder, darker and, depending on the pickup, it could get muddy. Farther = clearer, lower output and less low end. Too close with a strong enoigh magnet could interfere with the vibration of the strings
 
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RVA said:
That is how I understand it. Closer to the strings = louder, darker and, depending on the pickup, it could get muddy. Farther = clearer, lower output and less low end. Too close with a strong enoigh magnet could interfere with the vibration of the strings
Click to expand...

I actually use this to my advantage in my Strat. I have the bridge pickup really close to the strings...as high as I can without getting wolftones. In addition to the greater output from setting it high, it takes just a bit of the edge off the brightness of the Stratocaster bridge pickup. It's not a lot, but just a little bit to tame some of the brightness. If it were a humbucker, it would probably sound pretty wooly, but the last thing the bridge pickup on Strat can be accused of is being muddy! I usually have to roll the tone back on that pickup, as well.

The sustain-robbing effect of the magnets on the strings is more pronounced the further you get from the bridge, so setting my bridge pickup high doesn't negatively affect my sustain too badly.

Besides, I saw a pretty well-researched study once (which I can't find right now) which tested this and it showed that finger pressure actually has more of an effect on sustain than the magnets.

I'll try to find that study and post it.
 
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smitty_p said:
Besides, I saw a pretty well-researched study once (which I can't find right now) which tested this and it showed that finger pressure actually has more of an effect on sustain than the magnets.

I'll try to find that study and post it.
Click to expand...
Yes please. That sounds very interesting
 
RVA said:
That is how I understand it. Closer to the strings = louder, darker and, depending on the pickup, it could get muddy. Farther = clearer, lower output and less low end. Too close with a strong enoigh magnet could interfere with the vibration of the strings
Click to expand...

This is where I find myself constantly searching....big low end without muddiness, great individual string clarity but fullness on the G/B/e strings too...
 
For my Epi Dot, I installed a SD Jazz neck pu and adjusted its height low...maybe a mm or less above the pickup ring. Then, I raised each pole piece relative to the height of its corresponding string...anywhere from ½ to a few full rotations, using my ears for fine adjustment. I get a much clearer sound without losing the low end. Now that I think of it, I only use the neck pu when playing that guitar!
 
RVA said:
Try a para EQ!

ParaEq

View attachment 8330
Click to expand...


Good idea for sure. I know the sound I want can be had with amp modeling, but I stay away from that because I want minimal gear that can be used live and in the studio. I have enjoyed some success with moving pickup heights, but I think the answer for me is a very high output pickup that I can run farther from the strings...

My SG and current rig totally nail "Long Way To The Top" tone, but the SG is a one trick pony in that regard. I don't want to be forced to constantly switch guitars....I recall how Brad Gillis always played that one 1962 Fender Strat H-S-S for everything from Night Ranger to Ozzy...That's what I am shooting for...
 
Robert Herndon said:
Good idea for sure. I know the sound I want can be had with amp modeling, but I stay away from that because I want minimal gear that can be used live and in the studio. I have enjoyed some success with moving pickup heights, but I think the answer for me is a very high output pickup that I can run farther from the strings...

My SG and current rig totally nail "Long Way To The Top" tone, but the SG is a one trick pony in that regard. I don't want to be forced to constantly switch guitars....I recall how Brad Gillis always played that one 1962 Fender Strat H-S-S for everything from Night Ranger to Ozzy...That's what I am shooting for...
Click to expand...
I own that EQ. You can hone in on specific frequencies and cut or boost them, and then expand the "Q" (sweep) in that range, etc. It is quite precise.
 
RVA said:
I own that EQ. You can hone in on specific frequencies and cut or boost them, and then expand the "Q" (sweep) in that range, etc. It is quite precise.
Click to expand...

looks like a good tool....I think the lead tone I like can only be had with amp modeling....

This is the lead tone I have been trying to get - I was blown away when I heard this tone. I've been chasing it for years.


Since I cannot seem to nail it without going MIDI/Rack Mount, I am shooting for something less difficult to obtain.

I am hearing what I perceive to be chorus, compression, digital delay and a few others I cannot quite put my finger on.

Thoughts???
 
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I'm not a Nita Strauss, but this is about as good as I can get out of my rig:


Here's the rhythm tone through the same rig with the delay switched off - same settings, just played on my old Squirecaster:


Kind of a one-trick pony tone...
 
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RVA said:
Yes please. That sounds very interesting
Click to expand...

Robert Herndon said:
Oh yes!
Click to expand...

Here it is. Look at the first post at this forum. They are discussing a portion of an english translation of the work, "Physik der Elektro Gitarre." In this particular post, they are talking about the test where decay rates are compared with just differing hand grips, versus magnets. The small translation is kind of rough and a little clumsy, but the graphs illustrate the point.

Manfred Zollner's Physik der Elektrogitarre, observations... | GuitarNutz 2
 
smitty_p said:
Here it is. Look at the first post at this forum. They are discussing a portion of an english translation of the work, "Physik der Elektro Gitarre." In this particular post, they are talking about the test where decay rates are compared with just differing hand grips, versus magnets. The small translation is kind of rough and a little clumsy, but the graphs illustrate the point.

Manfred Zollner's Physik der Elektrogitarre, observations... | GuitarNutz 2
Click to expand...

This I like mucho!!!!
 
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