Ideal Jazz Bass pickup height

[basshead56]

Hey all, just wondering about pickup height/distance from strings.

I've noticed all my jazz basses seem to have the pickups set at different heights.

Is there a standard height? do people raise or lower them by much?

 

Noticed (what i would deem) a rather large gap in particular on my Victor Bailey Jazz

Also guessing this is why it seems much quieter than than the others lol

[Aidan63]

This is what Fender says in the 2011 version of the bass guitar manual - good starting point, then adjust to suit your playing style and to achieve the balance you like and the overall sound most pleasing to your ear

 

 

[tauzero]

In English, 8/64" = 3.175mm, 7/64" = 2.778mm, 6/64" = 2.38mm. CBA with these ludicrous foreign measurements.

[Hellzero]

And in the rest of the world, replace the point by a comma and do the opposite for the thousands.

[fretmeister]

Depends partly on the pickup. Exposed poles that stick out of the plastic can make a horrible clicking noise on the strings when playing hard.

Others have really strong magnet pull so if they are too close it can cause a warbling effect on the sound.

 

EMGs are smooth topped and have very low magnet pull so they can be as close as you want - for my J type I fret the strings at the 22nd fret and then raise the rear pickup so there is only 1mm clearance.

[basshead56]

Thank you all for your help.

 

Only the smallest of tweaks was required in the end.

The Victor Bailey Jazz is now ever so slightly sweeter again!