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Author
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Topic: Pickup adjustment?
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Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 19 August 2004 11:28 AM
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Hey new player here,I've read about usin a quarter to measure the distance from the pickup to the strings as a good start, but what happens when you increase or decrease the distance? and do different pickups react differently?------------------
loveridehd@aol.com
Carter D-10/C6 & E9, Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap/C6, and two Resonators/open G |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 19 August 2004 11:44 AM
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Here's your answer:
http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/other/pickups/pickups.html
If your pickup is too close the magnets will interfere with the string vibration affecting tone and sustain. Also the signal may be too hot for the amp input.
Too far and the signal may be too weak, sustain may again be reduced; bottom line--look for "just right", using Carter's tutorial as a guide. [This message was edited by Jon Light on 19 August 2004 at 11:47 AM.]
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Morton Kellas
Member From: Chazy, NY, USA 12921
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posted 19 August 2004 11:53 AM
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Hi! Andy:
Using a Quarter is OK for George L pickups because the plastic over the magnets is about the thickness of a quarter and this makes it the same as if you had used two. On a single coil, two quarters on the high end and three on the low is a good starting point. If you decrease the distance,( pickup closer to the strings) you will get more volume. If you get too close, you may get distortion and may also loose sustain due to the magnetic pull on the strings. When you increase the distance(pickup further from the strings)you decrease volume and may increase sustain. There is a fine line not to cross. You want sustain, but you also want power. Just my opinion. Good Luck!
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Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 19 August 2004 01:41 PM
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Thanks guys...I've been experimenting some but it's hard for my ear to hear any big change. I'm gonna play with it some more and see if I can fine tune it some.------------------
loveridehd@aol.com
Carter D-10/C6 & E9, Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap/C6, and two Resonators/open G |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 19 August 2004 02:15 PM
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Andy, your ears aren't lying. There is no big change. If anyone tells you that the pickup-to-string distance is crucial, all you have to do is tell them to look at straight guitars! Also the theory that putting the pickups too close to the string causes a loss of sustain is highly overstated. If you don't believe it, try putting a magnet close to the string at the other end of the guitar (between the 1st and 2nd fret), and pick the string while moving the magnet closer to, and then farther from, the string. The difference in sustain is pretty insignificant. |
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