Distance between pickup and string

[jonunders]

Hi,

My pickup has become loose and I found when freting the 'G' string it was touching the pickup. I will have to adjust the screw , but what bdistance should it be set below the string. Is there a rule of thumb in these cases?

Thanks

Jon

[Kev]

Depends on the type of pickup really.

Generally, active pickups (EMG types) need to be as close to the strings as your technique will allow. Other pickups, back them away from the strings until you no longer feel the vibration is being impeded by the magnetic field.

[gjones]

The distance between pickup and strings makes a big difference to the sound and output of your bass. Use this as an opportunity to experiment with different heights. I personally recommend having the pickup as high as possible but not so high that the string or your fingers hit off it while playing. Also make sure that the output is even across the strings (i.e. Adjusting the pickup height so the pick up is considerably closer to the E string, will mean the E and A strings will sound much louder than the D and G strings and result in an unbalanced sound).

[BassTractor]

Is it a real G&L though, or one of those cheap copies by EBMM? If the latter, [b]nothing[/b] will help.

[thisnameistaken]

Bear in mind if you're adjusting the pickups to be close to the strings, you should play some stuff higher up the neck which will of course put your strings closer to the pickups.

Also bear in mind that sometimes if a string is too close to a pickup, the pickup can affect its vibration in weird ways - adding unusual overtones or even making the string sound out of tune. Especially with the thicker strings. So don't go too close.

[jonunders]

Is it a real G&L though, or one of those cheap copies by EBMM?

It's a G&L2500 Tribute

[BassTractor]

Sorry, Jonunders, I was only kidding.
I referred to the both mythical and real, and oft mentioned, unevenness of the output per string on Ernie Ball Music Man basses.