hey Greg, thanks so much for your advice. I have a prs that justr didnt have the right tone, and after a month of messing with everything, was about to give up and sell it. then I saw your vid and started doing the screws on the pickups like you said. wow! now its one of the best tone monsters that i have.
Thank you for your reply. I think you are right on target. There is just a tiny bit of adjstment on these factory PU's. I did notice that the spacing block under the neck PU is a lot thicker (almost double) than the bridge PU spacing block. Maybe all I need to do is swap out the plastic spacing blocks? But, I do not know how to do that.
Hello again, I tried to raise the Bridge PU on my Gretsch G5120, and even the screws on the PU. But, I did not get anymore volume. What I noticed with my guitar is that raising or lowering the PU is very slight movement. Any suggestions?
@mailvilla I'm not familiar with that guitar but perhaps the pickup has a very limited range of up/down control or you already are getting maximum volume. But if you can get the pickup moving at least 1/16" to 1/8" you should be able to hear a volume fluctuation.
I loved your guitar solo intro. I most like would not have been as interested in what you had to say, if I did not hear how good you could play first. I have a Gretsch G5120 that needs PU setup ... MY bridge PU has very low volume compared to the neck PU ... Thanks for the Demo (Retired in Orlando FL USA).
hm, so you gently play consistantly up en down the strings at the position you normally would play. So does this mean, you play just above the bridgepickup normally? Seems like no matter what kind of pickup i select, I play far more to the bridge and use the rest as sort of touch for variation in sound according the feel of the song. You really play most of the time above the bridge pickup?
@finndesolace No I play all over the guitars pickups, never only one location, as you can see from the intro section. However, for adjusting the pickups, I recommend playing across the strings at one location to maintain an equal tonality and pick attack as you make adjustments. This allows you to hear the string-to-string details better and dial in the balance. Once you get the pickups balance, play where ever you'd like to achieve various tones and colors.
Hi, i just watched your video and it make sense though about not to full-up the volume while adjusting the pick-up heights... do you have an idea about adjusting the stop-bar tailpiece height on an SG?..it's like on your ES- Stop bar tailpiece..cause it's touching the bridge and few times broke my strings...
@pogi48 In general, I make sure to have the strings not touch the back edge of the bridge on stop-tailpiece guitars. So if you're breaking strings at the bridge try and raise the stop-tailpiece to give clearance across the bridge. It may make the guitars string tension be less but should help with breaking strings. If you are still breaking strings after that, check your saddles for sharp edges. If you are STILL breaking strings, try a heavier gauge string or a lighter pick or both.
@GregVmusic Also you could try changing the brand of strings you use, I find that can help. It's not that the brand of strings is bad, but rather, for that specific guitar another brand of strings might be better.
I've read about another approach to adjusting the individual pole piece heights so that they match the radius of the neck. Therory being that if you adjust the pole pieces to the same height (flat across), then they are in fact not the same distance from the strings. So, your high and low E strings would be lower than the other strings. I generally start with the pole pieces adjusted to a radius and then adjust the height of the entire pickup as you described. Just another approach.
Good info, Greg. Your comment about adjusting the pickups at a low volume level makes a lot of sense. I'd be interested to see a video on how you wrangle your amazing tones from your Tele.
I took your advise to task on my Godin LGX-SA with Seymour Duncan Jazz Neck and Custom Custom. The Jazz Neck was too bright and the the Custom Custom was too harsh. I dropped both pickups almost to the wood and raised the pole pieces as per your recommendations. I found the sweet spot - it jumped right out, especially on the neck. Bridge overdrive is much improved. Now my guitar is smoooth as buttah! Thank you for posting this vid. I never knew you could make adjustments like this!
@roknfnrol They were on there when I rcv'd the guitar used. Sometimes people put extra thumb-wheeles on to keep the bridge from leaning or help transfer tone to the top. This guitar has no bridge lean but I left the thumb-wheels in place since that's how the guitar came and it's sounding great.
the closer pickup pictures are taken outdoors and it's really beautiful to listo to your sweet music and look at the rfelections in the pickups: the clouds, the sky, the trees, the house...it all put me in a very poetical mood ja, ja, ja
i love your sound, could you maybe tell my wich pickups you are using? :)
chrmoosdorf 1 month ago
@chrmoosdorf Thanks! My Fatneck 335 has the stock '57 Classics but I have some Seymour Duncan Antiquities I may try in it.
GregVmusic 1 month ago
Very informative, most helpful. Answered all my questions. But man, that music in the background was annoying a heck.
kingpinboogie 1 month ago
@kingpinboogie Thanks! Sorry the music is a bit loud in the mix.
GregVmusic 1 month ago
That sustain at the begining would have Nigel Tufnel green with envy!
TheeReturn 3 months ago
@TheeReturn Ha-Ha!!!
GregVmusic 1 month ago
hey Greg, thanks so much for your advice. I have a prs that justr didnt have the right tone, and after a month of messing with everything, was about to give up and sell it. then I saw your vid and started doing the screws on the pickups like you said. wow! now its one of the best tone monsters that i have.
Thanks again,
jonnyh
jonnyhturbo 4 months ago
@jonnyhturbo Thanks! Glad you like the video!
GregVmusic 4 months ago
Thank you for your reply. I think you are right on target. There is just a tiny bit of adjstment on these factory PU's. I did notice that the spacing block under the neck PU is a lot thicker (almost double) than the bridge PU spacing block. Maybe all I need to do is swap out the plastic spacing blocks? But, I do not know how to do that.
mailvilla 5 months ago
Hello again, I tried to raise the Bridge PU on my Gretsch G5120, and even the screws on the PU. But, I did not get anymore volume. What I noticed with my guitar is that raising or lowering the PU is very slight movement. Any suggestions?
mailvilla 5 months ago
@mailvilla I'm not familiar with that guitar but perhaps the pickup has a very limited range of up/down control or you already are getting maximum volume. But if you can get the pickup moving at least 1/16" to 1/8" you should be able to hear a volume fluctuation.
GregVmusic 5 months ago
I loved your guitar solo intro. I most like would not have been as interested in what you had to say, if I did not hear how good you could play first. I have a Gretsch G5120 that needs PU setup ... MY bridge PU has very low volume compared to the neck PU ... Thanks for the Demo (Retired in Orlando FL USA).
mailvilla 5 months ago
@mailvilla Thanks for the good words, glad you like my playing!
GregVmusic 5 months ago
hm, so you gently play consistantly up en down the strings at the position you normally would play. So does this mean, you play just above the bridgepickup normally? Seems like no matter what kind of pickup i select, I play far more to the bridge and use the rest as sort of touch for variation in sound according the feel of the song. You really play most of the time above the bridge pickup?
finndesolace 6 months ago
@finndesolace No I play all over the guitars pickups, never only one location, as you can see from the intro section. However, for adjusting the pickups, I recommend playing across the strings at one location to maintain an equal tonality and pick attack as you make adjustments. This allows you to hear the string-to-string details better and dial in the balance. Once you get the pickups balance, play where ever you'd like to achieve various tones and colors.
GregVmusic 6 months ago
The backing track disturbs! VERY much.
MrJudgeSauter 8 months ago
could have done without the guitar solo intro
TunaCyanideCherry 1 year ago
Hi, i just watched your video and it make sense though about not to full-up the volume while adjusting the pick-up heights... do you have an idea about adjusting the stop-bar tailpiece height on an SG?..it's like on your ES- Stop bar tailpiece..cause it's touching the bridge and few times broke my strings...
joseph
netherlands
pogi48 1 year ago
@pogi48 In general, I make sure to have the strings not touch the back edge of the bridge on stop-tailpiece guitars. So if you're breaking strings at the bridge try and raise the stop-tailpiece to give clearance across the bridge. It may make the guitars string tension be less but should help with breaking strings. If you are still breaking strings after that, check your saddles for sharp edges. If you are STILL breaking strings, try a heavier gauge string or a lighter pick or both.
GregVmusic 5 months ago
@GregVmusic Also you could try changing the brand of strings you use, I find that can help. It's not that the brand of strings is bad, but rather, for that specific guitar another brand of strings might be better.
GregVmusic 5 months ago
This vid and jason lollars are the two best explanations of pickup height adjustment I've seen on youtube. Very informative and humbling playing.
cwhanna 1 year ago
@cwhanna Thank you, glad you like the video!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
I've read about another approach to adjusting the individual pole piece heights so that they match the radius of the neck. Therory being that if you adjust the pole pieces to the same height (flat across), then they are in fact not the same distance from the strings. So, your high and low E strings would be lower than the other strings. I generally start with the pole pieces adjusted to a radius and then adjust the height of the entire pickup as you described. Just another approach.
tommc49 1 year ago
@tommc49 Yes, that's a good approach and then dial it in for proper balance.
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Good info, Greg. Your comment about adjusting the pickups at a low volume level makes a lot of sense. I'd be interested to see a video on how you wrangle your amazing tones from your Tele.
davidp158 1 year ago
@davidp158 Thank you very much! For tones, I just plug in, turn knobs until it sounds good and play!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
I took your advise to task on my Godin LGX-SA with Seymour Duncan Jazz Neck and Custom Custom. The Jazz Neck was too bright and the the Custom Custom was too harsh. I dropped both pickups almost to the wood and raised the pole pieces as per your recommendations. I found the sweet spot - it jumped right out, especially on the neck. Bridge overdrive is much improved. Now my guitar is smoooth as buttah! Thank you for posting this vid. I never knew you could make adjustments like this!
ggman946 1 year ago
@ggman946 Thanks! Glad the video helped you out!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Great-sounding and great playing video. Very informative. Keep it up, man!
freepatriot 1 year ago
@freepatriot Thank you!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Hi Greg, can you tell us about the use of double thumb wheels on you ABR bridge?
roknfnrol 1 year ago
@roknfnrol They were on there when I rcv'd the guitar used. Sometimes people put extra thumb-wheeles on to keep the bridge from leaning or help transfer tone to the top. This guitar has no bridge lean but I left the thumb-wheels in place since that's how the guitar came and it's sounding great.
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Very informative video Greg. Thanks for sharing these tips!
Noitpure 1 year ago
@Noitpure I appreciate it, thanks!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Great video! I'd love to see more tips and tricks like this.
style54109 1 year ago
@style54109 Thanks!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
the closer pickup pictures are taken outdoors and it's really beautiful to listo to your sweet music and look at the rfelections in the pickups: the clouds, the sky, the trees, the house...it all put me in a very poetical mood ja, ja, ja
BluesPossessed 1 year ago
Wowww, Tks for the entire video and for the first two magic minutes....mmm....love and peace !
BluesPossessed 1 year ago
@BluesPossessed Thank you!
GregVmusic 1 year ago
Great tips Greg. Gonna try to adjust the pole heights on the McCarty. Thanks!!
JenisonShorty 1 year ago
@JenisonShorty Thanks, hope you get the pickups dialed in.
GregVmusic 1 year ago