Cutlass HT pickup heights

[davidaxelbank]

I own a 2023 Cutlass HT in Showtime finish. I adore it. Easily the best playing guitar I’ve owned.

Mine came with the pickups set quite low and quite angled (to compensate for the bass strings.) I recently saw another Cutlass HT in my local GC with exactly the same pickup height and angle.

So I recently decide to set the pickups considerably closer: 3mm on bass side, 2.5mm on the treble side.

It sounds even better! So here’s the question - what does Ernie Ball Music Man suggest for pickup height on the Cutlass HT?

Thanks!!

 

[DrKev]

Hi David, welcome to the forum!

The EBMM document I have access to does not list specifications for the Cutlass HT but the Cutlass SSS is listed. Common to many EBMM guitars, it's what I call "the 6-5-4 setup" (it helps me remember it)...

Measuring from the bottom of the open low E string to the top of the pole pieces

Neck pickup - 6/32" (4.75 mm)
Middle Pickup - 5/32" (4.0 mm)
Bridge Pickup - 4/32" (3.2 mm)

and a just a little closer on the high E string (use your own ears to get the balance between the low and high e strings where it suits your rig best).
I have a request in with customer service to know if the Cutlass HT has different recommended specs. If I get a response I'll post it here but I don't think it will change much.

 

[Ted]

Congrats on the Cutlass. I came so close to pulling the trigger on a Showtime Cutlass HT a while back. You should post some pics.