Product Registration Customer Service Repair and Restoration Report Counterfeits Serial Number FAQ Gibson Guitar Specs (2015-2019) Dealer Resource Center Locate A Joined Feb 1, … as far as pickup height is concerned, humbuckers are a whole different animal from single-coils. How about information on setting pickup height for basses? In the 1950s, it was 1.6-millimeters for both pickups, which may have reflected the lower-output, unpotted standard of the day. Aug 12, 2017 #1 Is it the same as for humbuckers? Shouldn’t it say “Set too high, and your PICKUPS can push and pull your strings out of tune.”? Experiment!   Pasted as rich text. That's how you adjust the pickup height on a Gibson Les Paul. Vintage 80s Gibson Shaw Humbucking pickup Height Adjust SCREWS & SPRINGS . Set too low, and your pickup is inefficient and weak. Thread starter Rocco Crocco; Start date Aug 12, 2017; Rocco Crocco Senior Member. [email protected]. Your magnetic field “floats” above the pickup, and if your strings are out of the field, you won’t get a rich, full tone. I have 2 P 90s on a Jazzmaster. Ones with differing heights are called "staggered" or staggered-pole. Remember, it’s just a starting point. Those Split Blades sound awesome. I've owned other Gibson pickups. BTW, I’m already a satisfied split-coil J Bass pickup customer, currently eyeing a PJ set for my Fender American Vintage Reissue ’62 P Bass. Because the magnetic field, or the part of the string being sensed by the pickup, is soooo much smaller and more focused with a single-coil, even microscopic changes in pickup height make a perceivable sonic difference; humbuckers are different. Well, that about does it for this month. I double-checked the image and it is correct. Fret high E at 22nd fret, distance for both pickups should be 3/32". Hi there, The TL;DR story on pickup height is don’t put them too close to your pickups. I just installed Gibson Classic '57s (a regular model in the neck and a "Plus" in the bridge) in my 2004 R9 and it sounds pretty good. Along with managing the shop and working on this Website, I run my own website to provide free Jazz Guitar lessons. The pickup height is still set as it came from the factory (or maybe Guitar Center adjusted it). “To adjust the pickups, you hold both E strings down at the highest fret. I can give you the factory spec info. Split Blades are a different beast: check the video below to see Lindy adjust some Split Blades. $9.99. Pickup height “Next, adjust the pickups,” Jim advises. You can post now and register later. My … In the case of the Les Paul or an SG, that would be the 22nd fret. I am thinking of lowering the pickups. Bend High E string 1 and 1/2 steps, beginning at the sixth fret and ending at 22nd, checking for "choking" and to make sure string stays in nut notch. The 490r measures just above 8k ohms while the 498t measures between 13k and 14k ohms. Set to the correct height, your pickup’s magnets create a strong magnetic field that gives your guitar the tone that you love. Paul Reed Smith (PRS) McCarty. Bridge pickup should be 3/64" (I think the 3/64" is a typo, it should be 3/32") , neck pickup should be 4/32". Gibson claims that their factory spec pickup height for a bridge pickup is 1/16 inch from the top of the pickup to the strings. So, you're going to do the same thing with the bridge pickup. Learning how to set your pickup’s height correctly is probably the most overlooked step in purchasing a set of pickups. Pickup height adjustment is usually a pretty simple task on a Les Paul guitar. Gibson’s engineers recommend a 1.6-millimeter distance between the strings and the pickups for the bridge pickup, and 2.4 millimeters for the neck pickup. Thanks in advance. Paste as plain text instead, × Pickup Height. 6 watching. Privacy Policy | Measuring pickup height in relation to the open string may result in certain notes fretting out in the higher frets. Hello all at Fralin Your email address will not be published. Richmond VA 23227 | (804) 358-2699 | Most pickups have a number of ‘pole-pieces’. KAISH 20x USA Humbucker Pickup Height Screws Springs for Gibson/Seymour Duncan. I’m pretty sure this is BS because that’s about as high up as the pickup can go measuring from the top of the pickup and it sounds kind of shrill. Ibanez Factory Specs. Gibson factory specs for p90 pickup height. . Pickups: Fret low E at 22nd fret and measure pickup height from underside of string to point on pickup closest to string. Here's a very helpful reply by badbluesplayer to someone who posted the same question here today. Upload or insert images from URL. The pickup balance is an issue. Measurement is taken from the bottom of the string, to the top of the pickup bobbin or cover. × (Image credit: Future ) 5. Thank you. Just thought I’d point that out. Joined Feb 7, 2013 Messages 7,809 Reaction score 10,304. You might hear a “warbling” sound. You will need a mechanics rule to do this properly. Measurement for low and high E's should be the same as measurement taken at the 15th. We’ve found 3/32 of an inch (2.381mm) is a good place to start. I carried a small screwdriver to gigs for years to fine tune my Stratocaster on stage, resulting in a great well balanced and clear sound, for blues and country rock styles. To fit Gibson, Golden Age, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, EMG and many other humbucking pickups. The Magnetic Field is not optimized when the pickup is set too low. Corrected. With a set of Amber spirit of 59 pickups or the Gibson 490/498 pair among others I had no issues of that kind. That sound is your magnet fighting your string. Let’s clear something up: there is no 100% accurate height. Fret high E at 22nd fret, distance for both pickups should be 3/32". Now before continuing, staggered-pole is for all intents and purposes a "Fender thing", and I'll explain why in a moment. The standard way to measure your pickup height is to fret the guitar at the highest fret and measure from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string. Adjust the pickup height up for a hotter sound and down for cleaner tones. Now measure the string height at the nut; underside of the string to the top of the fret. About This Item. P90-Style pickups really benefit from the entire pickup raised to the optimized height, then fine-tuning the string balance with pole pieces. Display as a link instead, × Gibson Les Paul Pickup Screws Gold Mounting Guitar Parts 4 Screw Set Humbucker X. I've checked the internet and found different recommendations, but most seem to agree that a good starting place is 1/16" for the bridge pickup and 3/32" for the neck pickup. Your Bass strings have more mass and will disturb the magnetic field more than treble strings. Definitely put your bass through its paces and adjust as necessary. I haven't been able to find the spec for pickup height adjustment anywhere here on the Gibson site. Your magnetic field “floats” above the pickup, and if your strings are out of the field, you won’t get a rich, full tone. The Gibson ES-335 DOT is the cornerstone of the Gibson ES line-up. I have a Epiphone Riviera Custom and the spacers don’t seem to align exactly with the angle on the fretboard. Hey Tyler, I enjoyed this informative article, but at the beginning under the paragraph; “WHY PICKUP HEIGHT MATTERS: the second sentence says; “Set too high, and your strings can push and pull your strings out of tune.” You then use the same measurements for an incorrect height later on. Reversing your pickup height orientation will provide you with “warbling” bass strings and thin treble strings – not good. Check it, and perfect. ... Pickups height is just one small part of the hunt. I still find the neck pickup gorgeous sounding but the bridge a bit anemic. Copyright 2021 Gibson Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. . Please give us extra time to complete your order. Let’s delve into why pickup height matters, and how to set it correctly! Roger Sadowsky's Setup. For this, we recommend going to a local luthier or tech. Setting your pickup height too low would cause your pickup not to be optimized for your guitar. $20.00. Required fields are marked *, 2015 W. Laburnum Ave, 2nd Floor But every pickup and guitar manufacturer has their own specifications. I recently picked up a VOS 1960 Les Paul Special and wanted to check the heights. Here’s a quick way to tell if this is happening to you: play the Low E string at a high fret (15th fret is a good one to start at). Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > bigsnaketex New Member. However, there’s obviously a bit more nuance here and you should trust your ears. As Lindy likes to explain it, adjusting your pickup’s height is not all about measuring, it’s about listening as well! Back the string away until the “warbling” sound disappears! own website to provide free Jazz Guitar lessons. Terms & Conditions | Registered Trademarks. bigtone Senior Member. Setting Pickup Height Too Low: Setting your pickup height too low would cause your pickup not to be optimized for your guitar. $4.99 shipping. If string height at nut is correct, recheck string height at 12th fret with strings open. And getting your pickups to this ballpark setting is actually quite easy. The 57 Classic pickup is very similar to the original PAF specs, however, … Hi Les Paul folk! Greetings, I just purchased a new Les Paul Studio Deluxe from Guitar Center. Stay tuned for future articles! Author's Note: These blog posts are for educational and information purposes only. Gibson ES-350 T (short scale jazz archtop) Gibson Les Paul Gold Top ('54) Gibson Les Paul with Humbuckers ('59) Gibson Les Paul with P90 Pickups ('78) Gordon-Smith. November 12, 2010 in Gibson USA. We do not offer custom wiring diagrams or wiring help or troubleshooting. Yep – I firmly agree that using your ears as the final test of correct pickup heights is true! Is the “correct” height for the Neck and Bridge pickups the same? Thank you for your understanding. Your email address will not be published. Here's how Gibson - Memphis does the final setup on their instruments. The bridge pickup is set at 1/8" from the bottom of the strings (when pressing the string at the last fret) and the neck pickup is set at 1/32". The pickups on your new instrument are fully adjustable by turning the height adjustment screws at each end of the pickup. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. (no “stratitis”) Great.   You cannot paste images directly. This article focuses on pickups that feature Alnico Magnets – think Stratocaster or Telecaster. One guitarist may play harder than another guitarist, and one guitar may have thicker and heavier gauge guitar strings than another! Do the same with the high E, measurement should be 3/64". Update Feb 2012: refer to this Gibson.com post for official guidelines. Hey folks - new member here at the SG place. If your guitar has humbuckers or P-90 style pickups there is usually 2 height adjustment screws used to change the height of the pickup in relation to the strings to achieve the best tone. Its a post from Dave at Gibson: Hi I'm David the final inspector at Gibson Memphis. Low E and A should measure 2/64", D and G =1.5/64" and B and high E = 1/64". It would be like buying a new car and not inflating the tires. Can anyone tell me what the proper height of the pickups should be? on our setups. $3.50 shipping. It should be 5/64". Setting your pickup height too high will cause your magnets to push and pull your strings out of tune. 1/8″ from the top of the pole to the bottom of the low E string is double the height of the 1/16″ on the treble side. And so, setting the height on a P-90 is a lot more like setting a humbucker than it is a Strat/Tele pickup. Thanks, The first image showing the correct heights is incorrect. Height makes right. Adjusting Pickup Height on a Gibson Style Guitar (here, a 61 Reissue SG) Gibson guitars are much like Strats with two screws per pickup (see image below): loosening the screws lowers the pickup while tightening them brings it closer to the strings. To check neck relief: fret the low E at the first and 15th fret (not 12th) reach to the 7th fret and tap string. This is a common pickup configuration for Les Pauls as well. The correct pickup height orientation is lower on the bass side and closer on the treble side. rlconklin, Pickups: Fret low E at 22nd fret and measure pickup height from underside of string to point on pickup closest to string. I'm Tyler Delsack, the Manager of Fralin Pickups. Clear editor.   Your link has been automatically embedded. Play test: Play every string at every fret checking for buzzes. Gibson Accessories Burstbucker Type 2 Pickup - Nickel, Neck or Bridge, 2-Conductor 1957-Style Humbucker Bridge Pickup with "Vintage" Output and Nickel … Our Lead Times are slightly extended. Experiment, always. Paul John Best from Radioshop Pickups UK gives you our guide to how to set your humbucker pickup height. or Best Offer. The pearloid dot inlay rosewood fingerboard on a hand-rolled Rounded "C" mahogany neck remind players where it all started. What’s the correct setting for a single coil lap steel? Tune your guitar and place it on a table or a workbench with a towel or blanket underneath.We measure pickup height from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string while the string is pressed against the highest fret (Photo 1). From its inaugural appearance in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 set an unmatched standard. You want to do the same thing on the bridge pickup. Use the figures above as a guideline for minimum string-to-pickup distance and adjust things according to what you hear. Pickup height is a critical element of your guitar’s tone. Compared to the Burstbucker 2, I would say the 57 classic sounds a bit more mellow. Humbuckers can run a little closer to the strings (Gibson recommends 1/16th of an inch for the bridge pickup and 3/32nds of an inch for the neck) because their magnets aren’t as powerful as single-coils’. Gibson's Calibrated T-Type humbucking pickups are paired with our hand-wired control assembly. Played a gig last nite and the rhythm sound was a little distorted. Measuring from the pole to the bottom of the string to about 5/64. Setting the pickup height too high can cause interference with your guitar strings 2.) I find myself playing clean a lot more often when I'm playing my Epiphone now. Pickup Height Adjustment. Joined: Mar 12, 2014 Messages: 21 Likes Received: 18 Location: South Mississippi. Thanks, Tom! With the high and low E strings depressed at the last fret. Discussion in 'Gibson SG' started by bigsnaketex, Mar 12, 2014. × Humbucker/Soapbar Pickup Height Specifications. 1-1/4" (31.75mm) Phillips roundhead, 3-48 thread. Michael Stevens LJ. The same pickup height starting point described in this article also works for bass. Is there an easy way to adjust the height and alignment on dogear P90 pickups? Because the magnetic pull is fairly low (in the 300-Gauss range compared to 1100 for a typical Strat pickup), you can get by with placing the pole-screws very close to the strings without worry about it sacrificing string resonance. That said, backing off on your pickup’s height will cause your bass to thin and your pickup to sound a bit “sweeter” – you might like it! I know Lindy doesn’t measure pickup height but could someone at Fralin please measure Lindy’s Strat with split blade vintage pickups and publish the stats as a starting point.Thank you kindly That said, here is a great starting point: The reason why there is no “100% correct” height, is that every guitar, player, and playing style differs. Why yes it should! Measuring from the pole to the bottom of the string. There's a lot more to pickup height adjustment, however, than merely maximizing volume while avoiding problems, and a look at some of the other variables can provide a new tweaking tool in your tone arsenal. Hi, Regarding pickup height. This will allow for proper string clearance on every fret and string. Set too high, and your pickups can push and pull your strings out of tune. Gibson 57 Classic Pickup. Bridge pickup should be 3/64" (I think the 3/64" is a typo, it should be 3/32") , neck pickup should be 4/32". These aren't great for metal, but they sound great for classic rock, rockabilly and blues. By Set too high, and your pickup will cause all sorts of problems for you. Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Signature Model. The best place to start for pickup height adjustment. Please let me know if I missed something, or try clearing your browser cache and reloading the page? Measure the distance from the bottom of the string to the top of the. What does Gibson recommend? Does Gibson have a factory P-90 pickup height? Do the same with the high E. ACTION: fret low E at first fret and measure the distance from the bottom of the to the top of the 15th fret. For instance, the pickups in my Gibson ES-137 are the 490r in the neck and the 498t in the bridge.   Your previous content has been restored. Pickups in which all the pole pieces are the same height are called "flat" or flat-pole. These are are the screws or ‘slugs’ that you see in your instrument’s pickups. There should be a small space between string and fret - no thicker than a piece of paper. There is a bit of volume difference between the two pickups. Thanks for the reply, if only I'd read down a few posts, I wouldn't have to feel like such a dummy. You have the lower bass side marked as 1/8″ (which is closer) and the higher treble side marked as 1/16″( which is further away). For my barenuckle Stormy Monday pair, I played with pickup height and pole screws today and was able to improve it substantially. Thanks, Stuart. .I came over from the Les Paul folks where I normally hang out. Could someone please show a video on doing a setup on a Riviera?