Pickup to string distance

Posted by Lou Ellis on February 17, 2019 at 5:32pm

I am building my first electric CBG and have purchased the "Electric Delta" 3 pole pickup sold by CB Gitty. Is there a "rule of thumb" measurement for the distance between the strings and the pickup? The guitar is fretless, so the height of the strings off the neck runs about 5/16". Any suggestions out there will be appreciated. 

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Replies

  • Taffy Evans April 9, 2019 at 12:00am

    Hi Lou, 5/16 is very high, is that your preference? that's close the action for a lap steel played with a bar. If you are not fingering at all, it does not matter. I you lower the action to a more fingering friendly height at any time, measure the pickup distance to the string with the string fingered at the last few frets.  

    Taff

    • Lou Ellis > Taffy Evans April 9, 2019 at 1:25pm

      Thanks

  • Paul Craig April 8, 2019 at 2:11pm

    Closest to the strings gets you more volume and output, but not always the best tone and sometimes you get a overdriven mess.

    The best way on all pickups is to adjust them as low(far away from the strings) as you can get them. then raise them a little at a time while playing til you find the best height for good volume, good tone and good response to distortion and effects.

    • Lou Ellis > Paul Craig April 8, 2019 at 8:58pm

      Thanks, Paul. I appreciate the feedback.

  • BrianQ. February 17, 2019 at 7:56pm

    I could tell you a lot of things, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat, so I’ll let you in on how most pros do it? Cheers & good luck 

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ROML4xsQK60

    • Lou Ellis > BrianQ. February 18, 2019 at 1:01pm

      Thanks, Brian. I'm not sure how adjustable the pickup will be, but the video has some good info.

  • John Sawyer February 17, 2019 at 7:30pm

    The general rule with magnetic pickups is 3mm or 1/8" or so, and adjust from there... Too close to the poles and you might lose sustain, too far away and you won't have good tone/volume...   Every pickup is different, so adjust to what you like...

    • Lou Ellis > John Sawyer February 18, 2019 at 1:00pm

      Thanks, John. That helps a lot.

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