Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on February 17, 2019 at 1:30pm

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...

Permalink Reply by Lou Ellis on February 18, 2019 at 7:00am

Thanks, John. That helps a lot.

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on February 17, 2019 at 1:56pm

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

Permalink Reply by Lou Ellis on February 18, 2019 at 7:01am

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

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 8, 2019 at 7:11am

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.

Permalink Reply by Lou Ellis on April 8, 2019 at 1:58pm

Thanks, Paul. I appreciate the feedback.

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on April 8, 2019 at 5:00pm

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

Permalink Reply by Lou Ellis on April 9, 2019 at 6:25am

Thanks