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tele_wah_fuzz · July 5th, 2006, 11:38 PM

I just got a Harmonic design Super 90 and Vintage Plus, and the tone is just amazing. Nice big clear sound and then with a bit of distortion, they just scream. They seem to sound great at almost any height, but I would like to have them as close to the strings as possible for the fattest tone possible. How do I know if they are too close? What type of sounds should I listen for? Thanks, Kyle

rwbjr · July 5th, 2006, 11:49 PM

If you play single notes (esp on the high frets and plain strings) and you hear beats (sounds like the string is out of tune with itself) then they are too close. FYI they start sounding harsh not fat before you introduce discordant harmonics IMHO.

jumpnblues · July 5th, 2006, 11:57 PM

They'll sound too distorted and dark. You'll lose high end harmonics. And sustain will suffer due to the pull of the magnets in the pu's. There'll be a sweet spot where you can adjust each pu and get the best tone. But remember that distortion and good tone sometimes do not go hand-in-hand.

Tom

ac15 · July 6th, 2006, 01:48 PM

I use Harmonic Design pickups in all of my guitars and as far as I know (and I think Scott may have said something like this this also), the pickups you mentioned (Vintage Plus, S-90) will not affect string pull like pickups with magnetized pole pieces. His pickups (I'm pretty sure) do not have heavily magnetized pole pieces such as a standard Tele or Strat pickup does, since he designs them differently. So just base your pickup height decisions on whatever sounds good to you.

Wild Rice Chris · July 6th, 2006, 02:40 PM

If the strings hit the pickups...

Seriously, crank 'em all the way up and see if you like the sound.

benbo · July 6th, 2006, 03:10 PM

On the bridge, you want it as close to the strings as you can get it, the neck you can play with to get the proper volume balance or tone you need. A P90's design is a wide bobbin, you want the wider window in the string field.

July 5th, 2006, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
tele_wah_fuzz TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plainfield, IL Posts: 63	Pickup Height I just got a Harmonic design Super 90 and Vintage Plus, and the tone is just amazing. Nice big clear sound and then with a bit of distortion, they just scream. They seem to sound great at almost any height, but I would like to have them as close to the strings as possible for the fattest tone possible. How do I know if they are too close? What type of sounds should I listen for? Thanks, Kyle

July 5th, 2006, 11:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
rwbjr TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: MD Age: 43 Posts: 49	discordant harmonics If you play single notes (esp on the high frets and plain strings) and you hear beats (sounds like the string is out of tune with itself) then they are too close. FYI they start sounding harsh not fat before you introduce discordant harmonics IMHO.

July 5th, 2006, 11:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
jumpnblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 59 Posts: 1,914	They'll sound too distorted and dark. You'll lose high end harmonics. And sustain will suffer due to the pull of the magnets in the pu's. There'll be a sweet spot where you can adjust each pu and get the best tone. But remember that distortion and good tone sometimes do not go hand-in-hand. Tom __________________ jumpnblues "Heaven St." (Original Blues Instrumental): http://www.box.net/shared/static/z96atf0zn2.mp3 http://www.myspace.com/drbluezz

July 6th, 2006, 02:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wild Rice Chris Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rice Custom Dungeon Posts: 3,178 27 Photos	If the strings hit the pickups... Seriously, crank 'em all the way up and see if you like the sound. __________________ "The children need to learn how to build their own environment and make their own music that is inspired by their roots."--Eugene Hütz "All music turns out to be ethnic music."--Steve Reich

July 6th, 2006, 03:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
benbo Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hampton, Va Age: 45 Posts: 981	On the bridge, you want it as close to the strings as you can get it, the neck you can play with to get the proper volume balance or tone you need. A P90's design is a wide bobbin, you want the wider window in the string field. __________________ Benny Trevillian. So Many Guitars-So little Money DOH!!!!!

July 6th, 2006, 01:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
ac15 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: CHICAGO, IL. Posts: 1,111	I use Harmonic Design pickups in all of my guitars and as far as I know (and I think Scott may have said something like this this also), the pickups you mentioned (Vintage Plus, S-90) will not affect string pull like pickups with magnetized pole pieces. His pickups (I'm pretty sure) do not have heavily magnetized pole pieces such as a standard Tele or Strat pickup does, since he designs them differently. So just base your pickup height decisions on whatever sounds good to you.

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