Pickup height

Dee · #1 08-11-2006, 05:29 PM

Just wondering how you guys prefer to set up your pickups, and I'm specifically interested in the Tone Zone as that's what my RG3120 has installed. How close to the strings do you think the TZ works best?

EDIT: Just to clarify, I'm not looking for setup guides.

bluealien · #2 08-11-2006, 06:15 PM

Have a look at these

http://www.jemsite.com/tech/1setup.htm#step5
http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/pickup_height.htm

Dee · #3 08-11-2006, 06:22 PM

Thanks, but I'm interested more in people's personal preference (if they have experience with the TZ, mainly). I know how to set 'em up. Cheers again.

brothersnowgone · #4 08-11-2006, 07:07 PM

I set mine about 2 mm from the string when it's fretted on the 24th. Though that's not an actual measurement, just a good guess.

sniperfrommars1 · #5 08-12-2006, 07:44 AM

The best way to do it for me is to do a full pullup on the bar (I turn the bar around to do this and push down on it) Then raise or lower the pickup with my other hand till it comes as close to the strings as possible without causing the string to waver due to magnetic pull

Dee · #6 08-12-2006, 01:47 PM

Good point, Sniper. I never really thought about the height of the pickups when doing pull-ups.

Ibanez-Mag · #7 08-13-2006, 12:08 PM

It is a good question, but hard to answer.
I find it to be different on all my 3120 guitars (and all other guitars to).
I think the best place for the pickup, and if I find I need to change just one string or two to get balance, depend on the density of the wood. Basically how the guitar sounds unplugged.
My personal preference is to get them as far away from the strings as possible but still get the drive that I want, on a guitar with good resonant wood can I get it a bit further away then one with less resonant wood.
I find that the closer it comes to the strings the less guitar sound, wood, do I get and more just the pickup, witch I find less open and lively.

I don’t have any numbers to give because I have noting to measure with here.

/Magnus

jallen · #8 08-13-2006, 02:12 PM

I back off my pickup height when using humbuckers (like the TZ) for the same reason that Mangus mentioned- I just think the character of the wood can be overtaken if a medium or high output pickup is too close to the strings. I also balance the volume of my pickups, so obviously the neck is lower than the bridge (in a HH setup). The only pickups I liked really close to the strings were the Lace Sensors in a strat I had, and they are designed to be set very close.

sniperfrommars1 · #9 08-13-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanez-Mag

It is a good question, but hard to answer.
I find it to be different on all my 3120 guitars (and all other guitars to).
I think the best place for the pickup, and if I find I need to change just one string or two to get balance, depend on the density of the wood. Basically how the guitar sounds unplugged.
My personal preference is to get them as far away from the strings as possible but still get the drive that I want, on a guitar with good resonant wood can I get it a bit further away then one with less resonant wood.
I find that the closer it comes to the strings the less guitar sound, wood, do I get and more just the pickup, witch I find less open and lively.

I don’t have any numbers to give because I have noting to measure with here.

/Magnus

After the pullup range is accounted for my pickups are actually quite far from the strings as well. When i say i dial them in so they dont pull on the strings this is the most important part of the setup, as this is the determing factor in your sustain to me :P.

CrossingStar · #10 08-13-2006, 02:55 PM

I put them as close to the strings as possible, while holding down the string at the 24th fret. Guitars with upward pullable trems need a bit more clearance though.

Dee · #11 08-13-2006, 05:04 PM

Do any of you guys adjust the individual poles? I tend to follow the radius of the bridge / neck, so the middle two poles are about 1mm higher than the outer poles.

sniperfrommars1 · #12 08-13-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Do any of you guys adjust the individual poles? I tend to follow the radius of the bridge / neck, so the middle two poles are about 1mm higher than the outer poles.

I adjust the poles somewhat but not very much. I specifically set my high e pole pieces so that i can fret against them. It makes something of a 29th fret with a little bit of pushing on most ibanez's.

Team J Crafter · #13 08-13-2006, 10:03 PM

I use Ton Zone/Air Norton's and there around 2.5-3mm when fretted on the 24th. A secondary test is done with a pull up so there is clearance. My strings are high-e at the 24th (just over if not on 1mm) and on the low-e at the 24th, top of string (just under 2mm if not on) this can vary slightly with each guitar.

Overall it's how the guitar sounds. I don't like the sharp attack when too close and find around 3mm gives it an open sound.