If the neck is too convex (strings too close to the fingerboard), turn the truss rod nut counter-clockwise to allow the string tension to pull more relief into the neck. Even when they're not quite that high, though, the magnetic field can exert its force upon the strings and interfere with their ability to vibrate freely, which is heard as a slightly dissonant, atonal sound, like an out-of-tune harmonic that follows the root note, along with a lack of body and sustain. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. I would start low with the neck pickup's cover flush or just a hair above pickguard surface, middle 1/8" higher than neck, bridge 1/8" higher than middle...and then adjust to taste and balance volume, you might want to tilt them too so you get more bite on the high strings when … I'm 60 and always wanted to learn to play electric guitar and I am totally new to all this guitar stuff. https://diystrat.blogspot.com/2014/03/fender-stratocaster-pickup-height.html I just bought a Squier Strat the other day, I realize it's the "bottom of the barrel" but, I'd like to set it up, I've been reading the posts you've put up, here's the question: my guitar has pickups with pole pieces all different heights, almost as if the pole pieces are following the string radius, is this something special to this guitar, is it something that is wrong, or ... what? The squished foam problem. 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). Set too high, pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena. Adjusting the pickup height to match the fretboard does work on many guitars, provided there are no pickup rings getting in the way. Oh, and nothing wrong with Squiers! If you plan to change string gauges, you may need to adjust the specs somewhat to compensate for the changes in string sizes. Before measuring any pickup heights, press down on the low E string at the highest fret. Sorry if this has been answered before, but I have a stock 57 Reissue strat and have been playing with the 57/62 pickup height over the years. Check your tuning, then re-check the gap with the feeler gauge and re-adjust as needed. Note: For Jaguar/Jazzmaster tremolo systems, the individual string height is designed as a "fine tuning" height adjustment. It came with them pretty low but over time I've been adjusting them up and get a pretty nice classic rock tone from the bridge pickup (wired to tone pot) through my JTM 45 clone. However, with locking tuners, go past the note and tune down to pitch. It sounds like you have staggered pickups, which are adjusted in an effort to better balance each string's output ( whether or not this is better is debatable--see here: http://menga.net/understanding-flat-and-staggered-pole-pieces-in-pickups ). The following setup procedures and specifications are for your Stratocaster as equipped with the strings that come on the instrument as standard equipment from the factory. Hey Jeremiah, that's a GREAT question and I'm surprised no-one has asked it before. Essential info for several pickup heights in one spot. The pitch of the neck on your guitar has been preset at the factory and in most cases will not need to be adjusted. Bridge pickup: Low E: 4.46mm / 0.175". Move the third saddle back from the second saddle, using the gauge of the third string as a measurement. Since 1946, Fender's iconic Stratocasters, Telecasters and Precision & Jazz bass guitars have transformed nearly every music genre. Ive notice that the bridge has raised a bit say 1/8 inch is this normal. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart below, then re-tune. Hello everyone. Nov 15, 2007 Chicago. Modifications of the specs may also be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for your individual playing style or application (i.e., how hard you pick, finger, slap, pop or fret the bass). By some surprise I found the tune up instructions on Fender's website. What is a good pickup hight for a Strat with EMG DG 20 pickups? Note: Larger string gauges need wider vibrational allowances. Adjust the first-string bridge saddle to this scale length, measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the bridge saddle. If you find any of these, you should change your strings. Thanks for this. It had a few issues (more on that in a future post), but all in all it’s a dec... Today I’m going to show you how to set up a Fender Telecaster-style guitar. If sharp, lengthen the string by adjusting the saddle back. These are used to change the height of the pickup in relation to the strings to achieve the best tone. If the neck is too concave (action too high), turn the truss rod nut clockwise to remove excess relief. What should be the determining factor for your guitar’s pickup height is what sounds preferable to your playing style. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. There are a few other things that you can do to optimize your tuning stability that have more to do with playing and tuning habits. There have been countless solid body electric guitar designs over the years, but only one was first: the Fender Esquire. Reverse this—pickup raised, adjustable poles set to their lowest—for a warmer, thicker bridge tone. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. To properly shim a neck, the neck must be removed from the neck pocket of the body. After 3 days it was right on the money. While not "correct" to some, it is the fastest way to get the job done. They are available in long, medium and short scales; taper-wound; and top-loading or string-through-body types. Don’t set Fender-type pickups closer than 6/64” (2.4mm) Don’t set P-Bass closer than 6/64”(2.4mm) and J-Bass closer than 5/64” (2mm) Other pickups will probably be somewhere around these figures, although it’s worth noting that hotter pickups can have very powerful magnets and will often need to be a lot lower. A Modern Classic. as far as pickup height is concerned, humbuckers are a whole different animal from single-coils. There's noticeably a bundle to learn about this. Note: If you're using a taper-wound fourth string (and fifth if it's a five-string bass), use the actual gauge of the string for your measurement rather than the dimension of the tapered portion of the string. First, check your tuning. To check if your strings need changing, run a finger underneath the string and feel for dirt, rust or flat spots. Spinal Tapper. ... take your guitar to your local Fender Authorized Dealer. For Teles, 5/64" treble, 3/32" bass side also while fretted at … I recently bought a little electric guitar for my daughter. (thus reducing the distance from the pickup to the string), turn the Adjustments should be made after all of the above have been accomplished. thank you Stu, for the information you provided, it does help, now on to find a tuner, and get my guitar set up, Great article and very clear, I try to always read your set ups. Often people will place the bridge pickup too high (close to the strings), with a VINTAGE set this destroys the tone, making it … While not "correct" to some, it is the fastest way to get the job done. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. The need to adjust the pitch (raising the butt end of the neck in the pocket, thereby pitching the neck back) of the neck occurs in situations where the string height is high and the action adjustment is as low as the adjustment will allow. I've found my own ears to be the best guide. No one right answer. In this video we show how to set Telecaster pickup height in 90 seconds! Also a bazillion videos online by all manner of qualified and unqualified "professionals" offering opinions on everything pickup related. Note: In either case, if you meet excessive resistance when adjusting the truss rod, if your instrument needs constant adjustment, if adjusting the truss rod has no effect on the neck, or if you're simply not comfortable making this type of adjustment yourself, take your instrument to your local Fender Authorized Dealer. Don’t set Fender-type pickups closer than 6/64” (2.4mm) Don’t set P-Bass closer than 6/64”(2.4mm) and J-Bass closer than 5/64” (2mm) Other pickups will probably be somewhere around these figures, although it’s worth noting that hotter pickups can have very powerful magnets and will often need to be a lot lower. It’s a great help to use a capo on the top fret so you don’t have to press the strings while adjusting the pickups, but this isn’t possible on all guitars. Set the pickup selector switch (if your bass has one) in the middle position, and turn the volume and tone controls to their maximum settings. Can one be put on the Mini? Making 100% sure your Strat pickup's are properly height adjusted is essential however if you still don't like the tone/sound you may want to go out and play a Strat with … For strings to stay in tune, they should be changed regularly. They are close to the new pickups I just installed. However, as is the case on most Telecaster-style guitars, there are no height adju... Today we’re going to have a very quick Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > Sep 9, 2008 #1. If you plan to change string gauges, you may need to adjust the specs somewhat to compensate for the changes in string sizes. The distance will vary according to the amount of magnetic pull from the pickup. If the neck is too convex (strings too close to the fingerboard), turn the truss rod nut counter-clockwise to allow the string tension to pull more relief into the neck. The following setup procedures and specifications are for you Fender bass as equipped with the strings that come on the instrument as standard equipment from the factory. Depress all … Height makes right. Note that pickup height specifications for this string (again, for all three pickups) are different from the thick E string, as follows: DIY Strat (and other guitar & audio projects), How to set up a Gibson Les Paul style guitar, Setting up or adjusting a Fender Stratocaster tremolo, Fender Stratocaster pickup height adjustment and specifications, Making a simple DIY mini guitar amplifier, How to set up a Fender Telecaster-style guitar, How to wire up a Stomp Box / Effects Pedal, Building a quick Brian-May-style treble booster on Veroboard, Adjusting the neck pickup height on a Fender Telecaster style guitar. A shim is placed in the neck pocket, underneath the butt end of the neck. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. So is there a difference in height adjustment? Now adjust the distance of the second saddle back from the first saddle, using the gauge of the second string as a measurement. Method #1: Height of the fretboard. After the adjustment is made, re-tune the strings and re-check the gap with the feeler gauge. Hi E : 5.0mm / 0.198". Adjusting pickup height on Fender Jazz bass Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by Spinal Tapper, Sep 9, 2008. Check tuning. (Measurements from the bottom of the string to the top of the magnetic pole piece) As with Strats … but even MORE so with Telecasters, folks will often place the bridge pickup too high (close to the strings), with a VINTAGE set this destroys the tone, making it sound too narrow, … Follow the measurement guidelines from the chart below as starting points. On the other hand taking your pick ups to the deck gets a cleaner but thinner sound. The neck pickup on this Telecaster needs to be raised. https://diystrat.blogspot.com/2014/03/fender-stratocaster-pickup-height.html Shimming is a procedure used to adjust the pitch of the neck in relation to the body. Remember—with most tuning keys, it's preferable to tune up to pitch. Pickup Height Adjustment. The following setup procedures and specifications are for your Telecaster as equipped with the strings that come on the instrument as standard equipment from the factory. Here's our guide to how we set Telecaster pickup height in our pickup workshop here in South Wales in the UK. For this post, I’ll be setting up a “Burny Super Grade” guita... Today's blog post deals with setting up a Stratocaster tremolo unit only. This is the method I use personally, pictured above. Fender recommends the following distances from the thick E string to the pole pieces for all three pickups, depending on the type of pickup you have: If you need to adjust any of the pickup heights, then to raise the pickup