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Post new topic ZB pickup height question
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Author Topic:  ZB pickup height question
Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2003 11:35 am    
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How does a ZB pickup (3 tap white type) sound if it's raised up from below to make it closer to the strings? Right now it's pretty far down there, maybe 1/4" below the strings. I usually set my pickups about 1/8" or less from the strings. I've read that you can mount the pickup on silicone to help isolate it from the changer noises. The pole piece screws only go so high before they come unscrewed. Is the stock pickup height part of the ZB sound and would raising it take away from the magic? Anyone?

Thanks,



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Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis

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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2003 2:31 pm    
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Brad, mine are quite close to the strings. Two quarters.
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B. Greg Jones

 

From:
Middleport, Ohio USA
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2003 9:03 pm    
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Brad, the polepieces in the middle, go all the way through the pick-up bobbin. Alot of them screw into the metal plate on the bottom of the pickup. Others just simply rest on the plate and dont go through it. Get some surgical rubber tubing and mount it under the pick-up on the 4 screws that hold the p/u to the body. Then adjust your height with these 4 screws. Silicone under the pick-up will help with some of the noise. As far as pick-up heighth, I think alot of it is personal preference. If you get it too close to the strings you could end up with problems, too far away, weak sounding. Keep in mind that the ZB pick-up has alot of magnetic pull. Just adjust to what sounds best to YOUR ear!!!

Keep us posted!!!

Greg
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Larry Chung


From:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Post  Posted 24 Sep 2003 9:49 pm    
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Listen to what Greg say. He know ZB good.

MMMMMMmmmmmm...ZB.....goooood.

(:

Seriously, remember that if the pickups are too close to the strings, they can actually inhibit the vibrations by pulling too much on the strings. Or at least that's what I was always told for my old Telecaster. Backing off a bit adds something...

It's worked on all of my ZBs!
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 25 Sep 2003 7:07 am    
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Cool! Thanks for the advice. I'll try the rubber tubing thing. Just like on my strat. Yea I learned a long time ago that on Fenders (or any single coil pickup) that if the magnets get too close, then they will dampen the strings and especially certain overtones thus changing the tone and reducing sustain. The ZB just rings like a bell. I'd hate to inhibit that.

I'll keep y'all posted.



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Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis

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