Bass pickup height setup

To raise the pickup, turn the screws clockwise. To lower it, go counterclockwise. For humbuckers that are mounted directly into the body, the process is similar, but clockwise lowers the pickup and counterclockwise raises it. Strat pickups are adjusted a lot like humbuckers. Turning the mounting screws on either side of the pickup will raise and lower them to taste.

Also, like ring-mounted humbuckers, be sure and not lower them too much or you risk dropping them into the pickup cavity. Standard Telecasters are not as simple as the previous two.

A Tele bridge pickup is suspended by three adjustment screws from a metal bridge plate. The two closest to the bridge balance the pickup from right to left, while the other screw is vital for keeping the surface of the pickup even with the strings. Tele neck pickups come in two varieties. Simply adjust it the way you would a Strat single-coil.

However, it is still possible and can be done with the tools you already have. Jazzmaster pickup screws are mainly for mounting , not adjusting. They rely on support — often a foam strip — placed underneath in the pickup cavity to push the pickups to the correct height.

This simple mod is a great way to get easier, more precise adjustment from this style of pickup. P90s come in two common forms, soapbars and dog-ears, each requiring different techniques to adjust.

The soapbar models share many similarities to Jazzmaster pickups, but have their mounting screws located down the middle of the pickup cover. Like the Jazzmaster pickups, these screws hold the pickup in place. If you want to get adventurous, there are spacers available that sit between the pickup and the body of the guitar, allowing them to sit a bit higher. Luckily, P90s — as well as humbucking pickups — have a trick up their sleeves.

While there may seem to be a lot to remember, the actual adjustment process is a piece of cake. The hardest — and most vital — part is learning to trust your own ears and playing style. But you will be surprised with how many tones are inside your pickups and how much better your guitar will perform. It may take a few tries to get it where you want. And, unlike soldering or a host of other mods, this one is easy to fix. Finally, remember that tone is a combination of a universe of different mechanical, and intangible elements, making each guitar unique.

Not comfortable with working on your guitar? We always recommend having an authorized luthier take care of the work. And as always, visit the Knowledge Base to find info on anything you need. They are powerful and any closer really drives my g string! I like a full big sound so that works for me.

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It Needs to be Just Nice Pickups that are too high can touch the strings when they vibrate, causing buzzing and other issues of the kind. We Recommend…. Secrets of Creative Bass Groove Creation. Our Exclusive Newsletter! If you've followed all the bass setup tutorials, you should be done!

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