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Topic: Pickup height |
Terry Hickey
From:
Arroyo Grande, California, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2006 6:53 pm |
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I have a Zum D10 and I was wondering if there is a rule of thumb for Pickup height in relation to the strings. I have True Tones and at present I can slide two stacked quarters under the strings. Does narrowing this height give a stronger brighter sound or is there something lost in decreasing the height?
Thanks Terry |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 3:45 am
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| Terry, I've always heard and used the two quarters rule of thumb. On my Carter D-10 with Truetones I've experimented with two quarters down to one quarter on the treble side and up to three quarters on the bass side and to tell you the truth if there's a difference, I can't hear it. I get the same sustain and great tone. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 25 Sep 2006 11:23 am
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The biggest difference you can hear is not in tone or sustain, but in signal to noise level. The single coil pickup has a constant noise level of 60 cycle hum. If the pickup is too far from the strings, the signal will be weaker compared to the hum. If you put the pickup closer to the strings, the hum noise level stays the same, but the signal will be louder in comparison. So placing the pickup as close as possible to the strings minimizes the single coil hum noise. However, supposedly if the strings are too close to the pickup, the magnetic fields of the magnets can place a drag on the strings and reduce sustain. I'm thinking that would have to be so close that picking caused string rattle. But the rule of thumb is two quarters distance for bare pickups, and one quarter distance for covered pickups. I can get within one quarter distance for the high strings with no noticeable loss of sustain. But my low strings have to be at least two quarters distance to avoid string rattle.
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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards
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Terry Hickey
From:
Arroyo Grande, California, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2006 5:33 pm
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Andy and David,
Thanks for the information. Sounds to me that my set-up is about right the way it sits. I appreciate you taking the time to reply and give me your advice.
Thanks, Terry |
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