Is this pickup height normal for LP?

costumenationale · 03-05-2012, 04:49 PM

Hi,

So I just got in my new wiring harness and sheptone PAF tributes (7.58k & 8.09k neck and bridge respectively). This being my first pup swap, I was really surprised by how loud the neck was in comparison to the bridge.

I adjusted the pickup height and got the volume about the same for neck and bridge but the difference in the pickup heights seem too drastic ! Is this normal ? or do I have may be bad solder joint..?

Thanks for the help.

randelli · 03-05-2012, 04:54 PM

I have Sheptone Brian Kahanek Signature's and my neck is set flush with the rings.

River · 03-05-2012, 05:06 PM

Mine are more drastic than that, but I don't do it for volume - I do it for tone. The strings are "floppier" at the neck pickup, and more easily affected by the magnetism, apparently. I lower my neck pickups until they chime, and they're usually flush with or even lower than the ring by that time.

costumenationale · 03-05-2012, 05:11 PM

Thanks a lot guys ! I just needed to know that I didn't screw up somewhere. I'll play around with the heights to set the tone now I guess !

Tone search continues

rocknhorse1 · 03-05-2012, 07:45 PM

Just be careful when you get them really close, like your bridge pickup is. The magnets can start pulling the strings out of tune. They call it "Stratitis".....no joke.

dave1234 · 03-05-2012, 08:16 PM

i always have to end up messing with the height for a while after a pup change before im fully satisfied.

chipper · 03-06-2012, 01:17 AM

I know what you mean. The bridge does look a little high in the photo, but I set mine up similar to that. Maybe both a little lower so that the neck is about level with the rings.

rockstar232007 · 03-06-2012, 02:06 AM

Might be your perfered setup, but IMHO, your action may be a little high?

On every HB-equipped guitar I've ever owned, the neck pickup was/is just below the top of the fingerboard, then I adjust the bridge accordingly. It was a lot easier after I installed the Dimarzio pickup rings on my LP Classic, because they are vintage-height, so all I had to do was adjust the pickups to make them flush with the top of the rings.

dlmorley · 03-06-2012, 02:07 AM

It is quite common for neck pickups to be louder. Strings move much further at the neck.
I don't have as much difference as you though.
If it sounds good as is, then I say it is good!

335Reasons · 03-06-2012, 04:03 AM

If your neck pickup is too loud, you probably have too much bass on your amp. YMMV

335Reasons · 03-06-2012, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocknhorse1

Just be careful when you get them really close, like your bridge pickup is. The magnets can start pulling the strings out of tune. They call it "Stratitis".....no joke.

It happened to me recently. Although I was aware of this problem since day 1, I used it to shape my tone for lead bridge solos and the middle position. However, I played a cover song recently with a band and had to use the bridge pickup for open chords… disaster to say the least after watching the video

LtKojak · 03-06-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocknhorse1

Just be careful when you get them really close, like your bridge pickup is. The magnets can start pulling the strings out of tune. They call it "Stratitis".....no joke.

This is true with strat p'ups.

Bar magnets never get so close to the strings to provoke that.

HTH,

costumenationale · 03-06-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

Might be your perfered setup, but IMHO, your action may be a little high?

On every HB-equipped guitar I've ever owned, the neck pickup was/is just below the top of the fingerboard, then I adjust the bridge accordingly. It was a lot easier after I installed the Dimarzio pickup rings on my LP Classic, because they are vintage-height, so all I had to do was adjust the pickups to make them flush with the top of the rings.

So that's why people got new set of Pickup rings..! Can anyone recommend me a set of pickup rings and pickguard (if it is necessary) that is best bang for the buck while hidotrically accurate? I tried lowering the neck further and the adjustment screws started to lift off of the rings so I think I should definitely get new rings.

335Reasons · 03-06-2012, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LtKojak

This is true with strat p'ups.

Bar magnets never get so close to the strings to provoke that.

HTH,

This is in theory is true. In practice pure nickel strings that have been magnetized and picked hard by an aggressive player can produce out of tune results. YMMV

JohnnyN · 03-06-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335Reasons

If your neck pickup is too loud, you probably have too much bass on your amp. YMMV

I agree, but yes YMMV. No doubt though, that it does affect the balance between the neck and bridge pickups quite a bit.

03-05-2012, 04:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
costumenationale Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 47 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this pickup height normal for LP? Hi, So I just got in my new wiring harness and sheptone PAF tributes (7.58k & 8.09k neck and bridge respectively). This being my first pup swap, I was really surprised by how loud the neck was in comparison to the bridge. I adjusted the pickup height and got the volume about the same for neck and bridge but the difference in the pickup heights seem too drastic ! Is this normal ? or do I have may be bad solder joint..? Thanks for the help.

03-05-2012, 04:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
randelli MLP Vendor Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 4,722 Thanks: 113 Thanked 142 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? I have Sheptone Brian Kahanek Signature's and my neck is set flush with the rings. __________________ I never look at the drummer; it only encourages him ~randelli Website:www.RudeMoodAmp.com Questions:randy@rudemoodamp.com YouTube:www.youtube.com/user/RudeMoodAmp Facebook:www.facebook.com/RudeMoodAmp Twitter:www.twitter.com/@RudeMoodAmp

03-05-2012, 05:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
River Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rural Colorado, USA Posts: 54,476 Thanks: 744 Thanked 847 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? Mine are more drastic than that, but I don't do it for volume - I do it for tone. The strings are "floppier" at the neck pickup, and more easily affected by the magnetism, apparently. I lower my neck pickups until they chime, and they're usually flush with or even lower than the ring by that time. Shai`tan and AngryHatter like this. __________________ River Bottom Blues Band - Music Home of the River Bottom Blues Band

03-05-2012, 05:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
costumenationale Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 47 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? Thanks a lot guys ! I just needed to know that I didn't screw up somewhere. I'll play around with the heights to set the tone now I guess ! Tone search continues River likes this.

03-05-2012, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
rocknhorse1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Keene, Nh. Posts: 8,774 Thanks: 134 Thanked 237 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? Just be careful when you get them really close, like your bridge pickup is. The magnets can start pulling the strings out of tune. They call it "Stratitis".....no joke. __________________ "Distortion, bless it's fuzzy woolen socks" Dave Hunter "Yesterdays anger, is the sadness of today" Warren Haynes

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03-05-2012, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
dave1234 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? i always have to end up messing with the height for a while after a pup change before im fully satisfied. rocknhorse1 likes this. __________________ "Keep on shreddin in the free world"

03-06-2012, 01:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
chipper Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 375 Thanks: 21 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? I know what you mean. The bridge does look a little high in the photo, but I set mine up similar to that. Maybe both a little lower so that the neck is about level with the rings. __________________ "Life is like a sh1t sandwich, the more bread you have the less sh1t you have to eat" "HOW much did you pay for that CMI?"

03-06-2012, 02:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
rockstar232007 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Born and raised in South Detroit... Posts: 8,316 Thanks: 231 Thanked 79 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? Might be your perfered setup, but IMHO, your action may be a little high? On every HB-equipped guitar I've ever owned, the neck pickup was/is just below the top of the fingerboard, then I adjust the bridge accordingly. It was a lot easier after I installed the Dimarzio pickup rings on my LP Classic, because they are vintage-height, so all I had to do was adjust the pickups to make them flush with the top of the rings. __________________ "If LPs were women, Epis would be the gold-diggers; Most of them are beautiful, but just end up taking all of your money!" - Me (So, I quoted myself! Big whoop! Wanna fight about it?!)

03-06-2012, 02:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
dlmorley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,363 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? It is quite common for neck pickups to be louder. Strings move much further at the neck. I don't have as much difference as you though. If it sounds good as is, then I say it is good! rockstar232007 likes this. __________________ Guitars: Sid Poole LP and Telecaster, '81 Gibson LP, '91 CS Fender Strat, Jaydee Flying V, '81 Ibanez Lee Ritenour Amps: Laney TT20, Laney Supergroup 50w, Kingsley Deluxe 30, Musicman 65-112RD, Selmer Zodiac 30 www.davidmorley.com

03-06-2012, 04:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
335Reasons Banned Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 668 Thanks: 7 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Is this pickup height normal for LP? If your neck pickup is too loud, you probably have too much bass on your amp. YMMV

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