Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: toshikatsuboshi on August 29, 2003, 09:43:06 PM

Title: Epic 4 Pickup Height Adjustment.
Post by: toshikatsuboshi on August 29, 2003, 09:43:06 PM

I know how to adjust the height of the pickups, but don't know what the recommended clearance between the pickup and the strings are.  My G&L L-2000 has a specific  recommended clearance which is different for the bridge pickup vs. the neck pickup, and also different for the 1st string vs. the 4th string.  Does Alembic (or any Alembicans) have any recommendations?

Title: Epic 4 Pickup Height Adjustment.
Post by: whall on August 30, 2003, 03:18:58 AM

Hi
I always adjust the pickups as close as I can to the strings without the string hitting them.This depends on your style of play. Also if the pickups tilt I always adjust them closer to the small strings. Bill

Title: Epic 4 Pickup Height Adjustment.
Post by: David Houck on August 30, 2003, 06:13:04 AM

There have been some great threads on this subject.   Here's two of them:
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/3098.html (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=2723)
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/3207.html (http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/3207.html target=_top)
 
If you have the time and want to read more, click on Search in the top right corner of this page.  When the template loads, enter pickup height.
Hope that helps.

Title: Epic 4 Pickup Height Adjustment.
Post by: toshikatsuboshi on August 30, 2003, 10:50:32 PM

Dave . . . thanks for the info and the threads.
 
Tim

Title: Epic 4 Pickup Height Adjustment.
Post by: bigredbass on September 03, 2003, 10:07:52 PM

toshi:
 
The two threads Dave mentioned cover a lot that I won't have to repeat here.
 
I'd only suggest to be VERY careful in adjusting your heights. You MUST understand ALEMBIC's mounting system, or you can crack the pickup shells ( see 398/3098 ).
 
As for the suggested heights for your G & L:
 
These are the heights that G+L uses in their final set-up at the factory.  This is a 'can't go wrong with this' measurement to suit the vast majority of their players.  Bear in mind that this is dependent on the final setup:  You'd have to do these measurement AFTER the setup
   
(nut, neck relief, neck tilt, string height over the last fret, bridge saddle heights)
is complete.
 
Of course, put them where you want them to fine tune your sound.  You may want to fine tune the threaded polepiece adjustments to match output string to string, if your ears can hear any difference.  The polepiece heights adjust in just fractions of one turn, so don't get carried away.
 
There really is no technically 'right' height for pickups.  It all just depends if you want a little
cooler, open sound (lower in the body) or a hotter, firmer tone (closer to the strings).  It's your call.  As I said, the factory heights are a best-guestimate for the majority of players who will never experiment with this.
 
J o e y