Original Cutlass HSS pickup heights

[miketuritzin]

As of a week ago, I am the happy new owner of a Cutlass HSS RS. I had the guitar set up recently, and I am thinking about adjusting the height of the humbucker (raising it) and was curious what the original/factory settings are (and also where it is typically set relative to the single coils). For context, right now the humbucker feels a hair quieter than the single coils, whereas I would like it to be a tad louder.

I found this thread which contains this exact info for the Cutlass SSS: http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-b...ginal-recommended-pickup-heights-cutlass.html

Does anyone have the info for the HSS? I am guessing the single coil heights are the same, so mostly wondering about the humbucker.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Fro]

Measure your humbucker for a reference to go back to then grab a screwdriver and start adjusting on it until it sounds good. There is no right or wrong pickup height.

 

[DrKev]

Yup, there is no right or wrong. Some people like a loud humbucker, some like an even balance with the neck pickup. Factory setup is about consistency when guitars reach the stores much more than being any sort of optimum setting.

 

[miketuritzin]

Cool, I will try adjusting as suggested. Still interested to hear what the original heights are if anyone has access to that info (not that they are any sort of gospel).

One other question - how high would the humbucker have to be (relative to the bottom of the low E, say) before it started to negatively impact sustain?

 

[DrKev]

Trust your ears. If I recall correctly about 1/16" (~ 1.5 mm) is what DiMarzio recommend as a minimum distance. To my ears that's too loud compared to most single coils but that's just my ears.

 

[mikeller]

I have to Cutlass's, a first year SSS and a new RS HSS. Both guitars were purchased new untouched and remain at where the factory set them. I can tell, all 5 (not including the HB of course) differ from that link.

In the case of my HSS bridge - it measures (from the bottom of the open string) Low E: 5/32 High E: 3/32

As DrKev said, tweak and adjust to your ears, the above is only for a reference

 

[miketuritzin]

Excellent, thanks for taking those measurements mikeller! It sounds like the moral of the story is that I will have to (gasp) use my own judgment.

 

[Zer0ed]

This was from customer service via my request for factory setup specs for the Cutlass SSS:

Thanks for playing Ernie Ball Music man! We've attached the setup guidelines below that go over string heights, neck relief and stringing it. The pickup heights are measured from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the low and high "E" strings and are as follows.

Bridge
Treble Side: 4/32"
Bass Side: 6/32"

Middle
Treble Side: 5/32"
Bass Side: 7/32"

Neck
Treble Side: 6/32"
Bass Side: 8/32"

Thank you and let us know if you have any questions.

Music Man Modern Tremolo Setup Guideline
1. String the guitar
2. Set the bridge plate
a. Tune up the inner 4 strings (A,D,G,B) until some amount of string tension is placed on the trem system.
i. Having both spring and string tension will help keep the bridge from “jumping” on the pivot screws and closer to its natural resting place while performing the setup.
ii. Full string tension, tuned to exact pitch, is not necessary.
iii. Tension is only placed on the inner 4 strings as to not permanently nick the outer strings while adjusting the pivot screws.
b. Adjust the bass side of the bridge plate using the bass side pivot screw (4mm hex drive) until there is a small gap between the bridge plate and body at the front of the plate (front is nearest the pivot screw).
i. You should be able to slide a Post-It note between the plate (near the pivot screw) and body without it pinching.
c. Repeat step b on the treble side.
d. Adjust the pivot screws to allow both back corners (nearest the intonation screws) of the bridge plate to rest on the body.
i. Continue adjusting the treble side pivot screw and observe the corners of the plate.
ii. When the treble side screw is tightened into the body, it will reach a point where it levers the bass side corner upward. When the screw is raised out of the body, it will lift the treble side corner.
iii. Adjust the treble screw to where both corners of the plate rest firmly on the body.
iv. Re-check the bass side screw to ensure there is still a gap between the plate and body, and re-adjust if necessary.
e. Move the trem through its full range of motion. If the front edge of the plate contacts the face of the body near the pivot screws, raise the bridge slightly until it moves unimpeded.
3. Ensure the tremolo springs have enough tension so that when tuned to pitch, the bridge plate doesn't lift off the body.
a. If the plate lifts, tighten the tremolo claw screws too add appropriate spring tension.
4. Follow the instructions for a hardtail guitar setup.
5. Set the tremolo spring claw
a. From the factory, the tremolo is set to remain flat on the body if a note is bent a full step or less.
b. Bend the G note at the 12th fret to an A, and check if the bridge is lifting.
c. Adjust the spring claw so the bridge begins to lift when this note is bent beyond an A.
6. Double check the setup and enjoy!!
a. If experiencing fret buzz on the first few frets (1~4), the truss rod needs to be loosened. If experiencing buzz in the middle of the neck (frets 6~10) the truss rod needs to be tightened.
b. If experiencing fret buzz across the entire neck, the bridge saddles need to be raised.

Hard Tail Guitar Setup Guideline

First, check relief in the neck by holding the lowest (bass) string down on the second fret with your fretting hand, then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string in the middle to show how straight the string is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card. If there is no relief in the neck, applying a little pressure in the middle of the neck (downward) after adjusting the trussrod wheel should take care of it. If not, please contact us as it may be necessary to send the instrument in to the factory.
Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (1.59 mm) to 5/64" (1.98 mm) and the treble side is 3/64" (1.19 mm) to 2/32" (1.59 mm) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style.

Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.

Experiment a little to get the exact action you want.

 

[zimeng44]

This was from customer service via my request for factory setup specs for the Cutlass SSS:

Thanks for playing Ernie Ball Music man! We've attached the setup guidelines below that go over string heights, neck relief and stringing it. The pickup heights are measured from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the low and high "E" strings and are as follows.

Bridge
Treble Side: 4/32"
Bass Side: 6/32"

Middle
Treble Side: 5/32"
Bass Side: 7/32"

Neck
Treble Side: 6/32"
Bass Side: 8/32"

Thank you and let us know if you have any questions.

Music Man Modern Tremolo Setup Guideline
1. String the guitar
2. Set the bridge plate
a. Tune up the inner 4 strings (A,D,G,B) until some amount of string tension is placed on the trem system.
i. Having both spring and string tension will help keep the bridge from “jumping” on the pivot screws and closer to its natural resting place while performing the setup.
ii. Full string tension, tuned to exact pitch, is not necessary.
iii. Tension is only placed on the inner 4 strings as to not permanently nick the outer strings while adjusting the pivot screws.
b. Adjust the bass side of the bridge plate using the bass side pivot screw (4mm hex drive) until there is a small gap between the bridge plate and body at the front of the plate (front is nearest the pivot screw).
i. You should be able to slide a Post-It note between the plate (near the pivot screw) and body without it pinching.
c. Repeat step b on the treble side.
d. Adjust the pivot screws to allow both back corners (nearest the intonation screws) of the bridge plate to rest on the body.
i. Continue adjusting the treble side pivot screw and observe the corners of the plate.
ii. When the treble side screw is tightened into the body, it will reach a point where it levers the bass side corner upward. When the screw is raised out of the body, it will lift the treble side corner.
iii. Adjust the treble screw to where both corners of the plate rest firmly on the body.
iv. Re-check the bass side screw to ensure there is still a gap between the plate and body, and re-adjust if necessary.
e. Move the trem through its full range of motion. If the front edge of the plate contacts the face of the body near the pivot screws, raise the bridge slightly until it moves unimpeded.
3. Ensure the tremolo springs have enough tension so that when tuned to pitch, the bridge plate doesn't lift off the body.
a. If the plate lifts, tighten the tremolo claw screws too add appropriate spring tension.
4. Follow the instructions for a hardtail guitar setup.
5. Set the tremolo spring claw
a. From the factory, the tremolo is set to remain flat on the body if a note is bent a full step or less.
b. Bend the G note at the 12th fret to an A, and check if the bridge is lifting.
c. Adjust the spring claw so the bridge begins to lift when this note is bent beyond an A.
6. Double check the setup and enjoy!!
a. If experiencing fret buzz on the first few frets (1~4), the truss rod needs to be loosened. If experiencing buzz in the middle of the neck (frets 6~10) the truss rod needs to be tightened.
b. If experiencing fret buzz across the entire neck, the bridge saddles need to be raised.

Hard Tail Guitar Setup Guideline

First, check relief in the neck by holding the lowest (bass) string down on the second fret with your fretting hand, then hold it down on the 12th fret with your right thumb and tap on the string in the middle to show how straight the string is. It should be no more than the thickness of a thick business card. If there is no relief in the neck, applying a little pressure in the middle of the neck (downward) after adjusting the trussrod wheel should take care of it. If not, please contact us as it may be necessary to send the instrument in to the factory.
Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (1.59 mm) to 5/64" (1.98 mm) and the treble side is 3/64" (1.19 mm) to 2/32" (1.59 mm) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings. The top of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when you are looking at the strings in the playing position and by rotating the instrument while at the same time bringing strings into view one at a time. Remember, string height is ultimately determined by your preference and playing style.

Now, you are ready to play your guitar. If a string buzzes on an open string to the 5th fret and no higher, more relief is needed. If there is more buzz from the 5th to the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter. You should check the string height after every adjustment. If the buzzing happens throughout the neck, the string height needs to be increased.

Experiment a little to get the exact action you want.

This is really helpful!!