👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
StingRay 2026 Collection

Pickup Allignment

element

element

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2004
Messages
354
Location
Wales, UK
I was just looking down at my StingRay and noticed that the pickup is slightly higher at the end closest to the bridge. (See really well drawn picture below to see what I mean) Should the pickup be like this?
EDIT: I bought the bass second hand so I dont know if that is stock setup or not

PUP.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mine's the same way, but I thought it was purposefully that way. My bass is much louder when I have my pickups on the neck position than the bridge position or on a single coil, so I thought the tilt in the pickup was trying to adjust for that. I figured the difference in volume would be much more pronounced if it was perfectly parallel.

...Am I wrong?
 
IMO, the front and rear pole pieces on each pickup should be the same distance from the string. That will result in a very slight tilt of the pickup at the front, but not as pronounced as in the first post.

.
 
Rod Trussbroken said:
IMO, the front and rear pole pieces on each pickup should be the same distance from the string. That will result in a very slight tilt of the pickup at the front, but not as pronounced as in the first post.

.
Click to expand...

Just to be nerdy, I set mine so it's parallel with the string when I stop it at the fifth fret. I had a semi-logical reason for this, but it's probably BS.
 
Doogels said:
Mine's the same way, but I thought it was purposefully that way. My bass is much louder when I have my pickups on the neck position than the bridge position or on a single coil, so I thought the tilt in the pickup was trying to adjust for that. I figured the difference in volume would be much more pronounced if it was perfectly parallel.

...Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

No, I do not think you are wrong. I have had to tilt and adjust my pickups to compensate for G string not being as lound as the others.
 
I leveled mine out yesterday now it sounds alot better, i'd say it sounds a bit fuller than it did before.
 
Here's my take on it.

The pickup/s should be adjusted in the play position...seated with the Bass on your lap. Use a 6 inch steel rule. While depressing the E (or B)string at the last fret, measure the distance from the bottom of that string to the top of the pickup magnets for that string, both front and rear. Adjust for a distance of 4/32 inches. Do the same with the G string but, this time, aim for a distance of 3/32 inches. Final adjustment may have to be made to the G side by ear, so that the volume is even across all strings.

The above procedure applies to all pickups, if more than one.

The Ernie Ball method (for a one pickup Bass) is basically the same EXCEPT the procedure doesn't involve depressing strings at the last fret. Still in the play position, the height for the E (or B) string is 5/32 inches and for the G it's 4/32 inches. Again, the G may have to be adjusted for even volume ascross all strings.

After adjusting to EB's method, you'll find that the distances are exactly the same is in the first method.

The measurements are designed so that the magnets don't interfer with the string's vibrations should you venture up to the last fret while playing. You should be if you're practising your modal scales ;)

After adjustments, if you have two pickups, the front one (near the neck) is going to be lower than the rear (near the bridge).

Also, the pickup/s will tilt down slightly on the neck side due to the fact that the strings slope gently from the bridge saddles to where they meet the frets on the neck.

.
 
Rod Trussbroken said:
"..Here's my take on it.

The pickup/s should be adjusted in the play position...seated with the Bass on your lap. Use a 6 inch steel rule. While depressing the E (or B)string at the last fret, measure the distance from the bottom of that string to the top of the pickup magnets for that string, both front and rear. Adjust for a distance of 4/32 inches. Do the same with the G string but, this time, aim for a distance of 3/32 inches. Final adjustment may have to be made to the G side by ear, so that the volume is even across all strings.

The above procedure applies to all pickups, if more than one.

The Ernie Ball method (for a one pickup Bass) is basically the same EXCEPT the procedure doesn't involve depressing strings at the last fret. Still in the play position, the height for the E (or B) string is 5/32 inches and for the G it's 4/32 inches. Again, the G may have to be adjusted for even volume ascross all strings.."
Click to expand...

Hi..

Since I dont have the proper tools in "inches" to make the "EB" pickup set-up (as above).. in my SR4...

I wolud like to ask.. if someone could tell me the mesures ( 4/32; 3/32; 5/32 ).. in millimeters?!! :rolleyes:


My pickup also came like this:
PUP.jpg

I really like the way how it is sounding.... but since I read this topic.. I would like to experiment the "EB" pickup set-up (described by Rod).. to see how it sounds :) .

*I have a doubt: "..While depressing the E...."
This means what... that the string must be pressed while taking the mesures (my inglish isn't very good :o )?


Thanks in advance!..

:)
 
Last edited:
There's lots of good information here... And on one hand, there's really no "right" or "wrong"...


Rod Trussbroken said:
The measurements are designed so that the magnets don't interfer with the string's vibrations...
Click to expand...
On the other hand, there is a method to the madness! ;)
 
I use the front pickup on my Bongo 4 HH as a thumbrest. No matter how often I screw it down, it just pops right back up again in time. Any idea how to fix it? Not a huge problem obviously, if would be nice to get rid of without resorting to superglue though
 
my pickup is tilted slightly higher towards the E and A strings rather than the D and E strings where the pickup goes down slightly. I prefer it this way as it removes some of the punchyness from the higher strings, this may seem complete strange and wierd but i guess its just a personal preference. Will this affect my bass at all? I've been usuing it like that for a year and a bit now and hasn't showed any major signs of breakage.

thanks,
Jack x
 
GuelBass said:
"..Since I dont have the proper tools in "inches" to make the "EB" pickup set-up (as above).. in my SR4...

I would like to ask.. if someone could tell me the value of this measures ( 4/32; 3/32; 5/32)... but in millimeters?!! :rolleyes: .."
Click to expand...


Any one :rolleyes: ??..


:)
 
Last edited:
Mobay45,

Thank you very much.. I think that will solve very well my.. "conversion problem" :rolleyes: ..

Now I can put my hands on work :cool: .


Thanks ;) !..


:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Baritone Ukulele Strings
Back
Top