Pickup Height

[matonanjin]

Who on here has adjusted the pickup height on your guitar?    If so, do you do it routinely?

I love playing the Gibson 325 in my profile photo.  Love playing it.  But the tone on it has always been a little bit "thin" to me.  I continually adjust settings on my amp and signal chain (pedals or multi-effects amp) and it's getting better.  And maybe I'm just getting to like it better.

But I had posted on a different forum about trying different pickups.  I still may consider that.  But several people suggested before doing that I try adjusting the pickup height.  It sounds like a really simple procedure with just a screwdriver.  It sounds so simple, in fact, I may be able to do it. 

Anyone else on here done this?  What kind of results have you seen? 

[ShadowBoxer86]

When Greg Vorus set up my 335 he adjusted the  pickups, truss rod and the bridge.  It was night and day different.  It went from hard to play to perfect.  If I remember correctly your 325 was set up by Greg before they shipped it to you and if Greg set it up it is most likely set up exactly to spec.  The neck, bridge and even the pickups have an affect on the strings since the magnets will actually pull the strings down from what I have read.  I would check with GV first because it makes such a difference in playability.  Plus don't forget the 325 did not come with standard size humbuckers.  I think they were a little smaller in size so you might have difficulty getting the right size to match yours.  Greg would know for sure though.

[matonanjin]

ShadowBoxer, thanks for the response.  And good point.  I failed to mention in my OP that it has mini humbuckers rather than regular humbuckers as in, say, a 335.

[Six String]

I say adjust them.  Take a measurement as they currently are, raise them until they are way too high then sink them in a 1/2 turn at a time and see if you find a sweet spot.  Beyond setting them far enough from the strings to avoid magnetic interference this is a totally subjective adjustment.  What sounds good to you is the “spec”. Don’t forget you may find a better sound angling the pickup slightly.  That can help clean up a muddy bass side and balance the output from top to bottom string.

If you find it makes no difference to your ear, you can return to the starting measurement and know that’s as good as it gets with the rig as is.

I concur that your options for replacement pickups will be far fewer than if you could use standard sized humbuckers.  Not sure if P90s might fit.

[matonanjin]

Thanks, six.  I will try that.

No, P90's will not fit.

[bwillard]

I adjust the pickup height in all of my guitars when I purchase them.  I also adjust the individual pole pieces to match the radius of the fret board.  I know you can't adjust pole pieces on the mini humbuckers but you can adjust them to factory specs at the high and low E strings.

Ben

[matonanjin]

16 minutes ago, bwillard said:

I adjust the pickup height in all of my guitars when I purchase them.  I also adjust the individual pole pieces to match the radius of the fret board.  I know you can't adjust pole pieces on the mini humbuckers but you can adjust them to factory specs at the high and low E strings.

Ben

You adjust the pickup height on all your guitars when you purchase them!  I guess that answers my question.  Wow.  I will take a look at trying this next week.  Thank you.

[ShadowBoxer86]

Matonanjin,  I read about this a few years ago on the Gibson site and one of their forums.  Dave Hunter is the final inspector there and wrote this one time about setup for humbuckers on the Gibson factory line.

Hi I'm David the final inspector at Gibson Memphis. I can give you the factory spec info. on our setups. You will need a mechanics rule to do this properly.

To check neck relief: fret the low E at the first and 15th fret (not 12th) reach to the 7th fret and tap string. There should be a small space between string and fret - no thicker than a piece of paper. 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. It should be 5/64". Do the same with the high E, measurement should be 3/64". Now measure the string height at the nut; underside of the string to the top of the fret. Low E and A should measure 2/64", D and G =1.5/64" and B and high E = 1/64". If string height at nut is correct, recheck string height at 12th fret with strings open. Measurement for low and high E's should be the same as measurement taken at the 15th.

Pickups: Fret low E at 22nd fret and measure pickup height from underside of string to point on pickup closest to string. 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". Fret high E at 22nd fret, distance for both pickups should be 3/32".

Play test: Play every string at every fret checking for buzzes. 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.

And this is interesting also:  http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/pickup-height.aspx

Besides, It not like your going to break it if you experiment with the pickup height.  And as Ben said you can't adjust the pole pieces on the minihumbers anyway.  I did see a 325 on Reverb yesterday that had the pups changed out.  Hope it works for you.

[bwillard]

Quote

You adjust the pickup height on all your guitars when you purchase them!

Yep.  It is part of the setup I do on them.  First thing I usually do when I get one home is change the strings, oil the fret board, and do a complete set up.  Thanks Greg Voros for the set up course!!!

I buy most of my guitars at Guitar Center.  I don't trust where most of those teenager's hands have been.

Edited January 26, 2018 by bwillard

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Raising them will make them sound hotter. 

Lowering them will make them a little cleaner.

Mini-humbucker are not a very fat sounding pickup