Question Albert Lee Pickup Height

[jamminjim]

Hey folks - For all the Albert Lee owners players here.

At what height do you like your pickups set on your Al(s)? Is there a sweet spot for any of the Albert Lee pickups. For instance, is the bridge pup better sounding when it is set closer to the strings or farther away? How about the middle and neck pups?

Thanks

 

[catdaddy]

PMed you Jim

 

[banjoplayer]

I personally like single coils rather high. The Bridge one is closest to the strings .the middle one is the lowest (to get not in the way of the pick). the neck one has similar height than bridge SC, a little lower as the strings sound naturally louder at this point. My pic gives you an idea of Albert Lee´s setting as it is his guitar and he is playing

 

[catdaddy]

That's a good close-up shot.

 

[jamminjim]

cool and informative pic. thanks

 

[catdaddy]

Banjo, is that one of the pics you took when you went to see him at the Bavarian honky tonk?

 

[banjoplayer]

Banjo, is that one of the pics you took when you went to see him at the Bavarian honky tonk?

Yes

 

[catdaddy]

You must have a nice camera. They look pretty even from bass to treble side and pretty high. The more I look at it the harder it is for me see any slant. Should be a little lower on the bass side. I guess adjust until they sound even from string to string or to taste.

 

[catdaddy]

There's a video on youtube called Pickup Adjustment with Jason Lollar. He doesn't need a ruler. At the very end he demonstrates what happens when you crank 'em up too high.

 

[tommyindelaware]

i think jason makes some of the finest pickups out there. his lollar blondes are very fine. he does know his stuff.
intonation goes out the window if your magnets are too close to the strings. especially on single coil pickups. i always lower the pickups all the way down when setting the intonation.......then put them back up when finished.

 

[catdaddy]

i think jason makes some of the finest pickups out there. his lollar blondes are very fine. he does know his stuff.
intonation goes out the window if your magnets are too close to the strings. especially on single coil pickups. i always lower the pickups all the way down when setting the intonation.......then put them back up when finished.

Thanks Tommy! That's a great idea and I'll try it next time. I did a strat yesterday and fiddled and fiddled with it before I was ever satisfied.

 

[pseudo1]

I decided to play around with the pickup height on my Al today and I have to say, I prefer them pretty low. Volume output is lower, but you get a nicer quack and everything is clearer.

I don't know how high, probably 5/16th inch for you yanks.

 

[catdaddy]

I decided to play around with the pickup height on my Al today and I have to say, I prefer them pretty low. Volume output is lower, but you get a nicer quack and everything is clearer.

I don't know how high, probably 5/16th inch for you yanks.

As long as you've got plenty of clean headroom left on your amp!

It's easier for me to read the millimeter side of the ruler when looking at small increments. My eyes can't see 64ths! F----r says 2.0 mm bass side and 1.6 mm treble and that's measured with the strings being fretted at the last fret.
They have a pretty good setup guide under "support" at their site.

 

[tommyindelaware]

personally....i don't use a ruler. i lower the pickups all the way..........then gradually raise them as i play fretted notes way up high on the bass and treble side..... til i hear the notes start to quiver from the magnetic pull.....then back them off just a little.that way i learn my maximum height with reguard to the particular magnets in that pickup. good tone is subjective...but nobody wants quiver. (no pete.....quiver..not queever)

bar magnet humbuckers are much more forgiving.

As long as you've got plenty of clean headroom left on your amp!

It's easier for me to read the millimeter side of the ruler when looking at small increments. My eyes can't see 64ths! F----r says 2.0 mm bass side and 1.6 mm treble and that's measured with the strings being fretted at the last fret.
They have a pretty good setup guide under "support" at their site.

 

[catdaddy]

I like mine as hot as I can get 'em so that ought to work for me too. Thanks for another good tip!

 

[tommyindelaware]

now these are low.....

 

[catdaddy]

Yep they are. Were you setting your intonation? I believe you have had a long and close relationship with that guitar.

 

[banjoplayer]

Yep they are. Were you setting your intonation? I believe you have had a long and close relationship with that guitar.

wow Tommy, thanks for this great shot! I totally dig this guitar. Glad you have the job (read it in the SM-mailing list). Feel free to post pics of #1 endless

 

[beej]

That's low alright ...

 

[jamminjim]

Hey tommy - have you got the pups on the Morse low like that for a reason? Do they sound good like that?

do you pick pretty hard on this guitar? curious.