Albert Lee's set-up

[dogross]

I was just watching an AL DVD and I noticed that he really has the pickups down low, especially the the neck and middle. The bridge was a little harder to see. Anybody know the particulars? The pups on my AL are really high as are the magnets, but if Albert runs them low, then low they go. Gotta copy the man.

 

[robelinda2]

hello to a fellow AL lover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yep i noticed he has his pickups really low, i do the same too. apart from the volume decrease it definitely sounds better to my ears. would like to know how they are set from the factory, all my AL's i bought used so i wouldnt know.

Albert rules!

 

[candid_x]

Higher makes 'em hotter, better distortion usually. Lower cleans it up, gives a more vintage vibe, better note separation, and naturally lowers the output/volume.

I like mine a bit on the low side. Sounds more natural, to my ears.

 

[uvacom]

^^ all good information. Keeping the pickups lower can also really improve intonation and prevent strange vibration patterns which can cause the string to become out of tune with itself, particularly if you play high up on the neck. Naturally, this is even more important if you use a really clean tone as Albert Lee does.

 

[uvacom]

Also, it should be noted that in general, you want all pickups to be the same height from the strings at the highest fret - meaning, if you fret a string at the 22nd fret, each pickup's polepiece should be equidistant from that string. When a string is not fretted, it will appear that the bridge pickup is closer to the strings than the neck pickup is, but that's okay because the string produces a lot more energy in the neck pickup's field than in the bridge pickup's field.

Bottom line, of course, is whatever sounds best to you - what's correct from a technical standpoint doesn't always mean much from a musical standpoint.

 

[glockaxis]

So do the Al's come from the factory w/ Albert's low pickup setup, or does he adjust that after receiving shipment of them?

 

[uvacom]

So do the Al's come from the factory w/ Albert's low pickup setup, or does he adjust that after receiving shipment of them?

Mine at least seemed to be set up pretty close to what you would see for a strat setup - probably roughly 5/64" on the treble side, 6/64" on the bass side - maybe? Somewhat closer than what you might expect, actually - but the AL pickups have relatively low string pull it seems, so it's not really a problem.

 

[67tele]

Also with the style of picking he uses it keeps his finger nails from catching on the pole pieces. Probably the main reason he lowers them.

 

[dogross]

Albert Lee set-up

In my original post I forgot to mention that the pole pieces,or magnets on AL's guitar seemed almost flush with the top of the pup. Mine didn't go nearly that low when I lowered the pup. How is the flushness achieved?

 

[candid_x]

In my original post I forgot to mention that the pole pieces,or magnets on AL's guitar seemed almost flush with the top of the pup. Mine didn't go nearly that low when I lowered the pup. How is the flushness achieved?

As far as I know, there's no way to adjust how far the poles protrude from the plastic cover. Could it just be the angle that the photo was taken or possibly the stage lights? The cover mounts flush with the top of the p'up, so I don't know why they'd be any different.

 

[jacobus]

bring this thread up again,

Recent i bought an al and i notice that the volume of the lower strings r higher then the high strings.
Reading this topic was the answer to my problem but then i saw this video
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj7oZY710cA"]YouTube - CRACKING THE CODE: Albert Lee[/ame]

It seems to me the poles from the low strings are not lowered, or maybe i don't see very well
Confused here

 

[sim]

In my original post I forgot to mention that the pole pieces,or magnets on AL's guitar seemed almost flush with the top of the pup. Mine didn't go nearly that low when I lowered the pup. How is the flushness achieved?

Ok I could be wrong about this but as far as I'm aware, pickups with pole pieces that look like little screws can be individually wound in and out. The pole pieces that are just flat (no screw head) can't be adjusted. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[guertzi]

Ok I could be wrong about this but as far as I'm aware, pickups with pole pieces that look like little screws can be individually wound in and out. The pole pieces that are just flat (no screw head) can't be adjusted. Can anyone confirm this?

Correct!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

The pickups are set low when they come from the factory. I'll see if any of my pictures show this.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Here's one if you click on it, it shows how the trem is removed !!


here's another but - I had raised them - they are back down now

 

[Colin]

all my AL's i bought used so i wouldnt know.

Um excuse me, have you forgotten about your one of a kind 2007 LE with rosewood fingerboard? That was new

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
Colin
I've been away, so excuse my ignorance!!

One of a kind ?? Any Pics Rob ??

 

[mbgreene]

Believe Rob's is the only rosewood board blue dawn AL that there be

 

[Spudmurphy]

Believe Rob's is the only rosewood board blue dawn AL that there be

It's confirmed then -I'm ignorant!! - I am failing in my duties!!
So the 07 LEAL didn't come with Rosewood like my 06 Leal ? - I guess not

 

[Colin]

allow me to share some pics, again thanks to BP for this guitar.