Neck P/U adjustment...

Solman87 · March 3rd, 2007, 02:51 AM

Ok, so i was bothered by a "muddy" bass sound on my MIM 06 Standard tele when strumming, so i decided to adjust the pickups a little. on the bridge, i lowered the trebel side and raised the bass a little so my highs wouldnt be quite as thin and dominant, and i used the center screw to bring the whole thing up some to boost output, and all in all that sounded pretty good. but i still had the muddy problem, so i lowered the bass side of the neck pickup and raised the treble side. i love the tone, which i know should be the bottom line, but am i performing a tele abomination or something? ive looked as closely as possible to the pics in the gallery and can see no evidence of the kind of angle i did on the bridge, but of course i couldnt get any close up shots.

Comments? Questions? Threats?

Kurt · March 3rd, 2007, 07:25 AM

PUP height is a pretty personal thing. When you tweak and find the right sweet spot for your guitar/amp/playing style, then go with it. Takes some time to get it right but I wouldn't obsess over it. I usually start with the Bill Lawrence approach - 2 nickels between PUP and strings on bass side and 1 nickel on treble side and then work from there.

Durtdog · March 3rd, 2007, 07:41 AM

"...but am i performing a tele abomination or something?"

No way. That's why they're adjustable.

Solman87 · March 3rd, 2007, 08:29 AM

thought so, i had just never seen a neck pickup in anything but dead flat before.

chickenpicker · March 3rd, 2007, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solman87

thought so, i had just never seen a neck pickup in anything but dead flat before.

Then they've probably been set up wrong.

Thicker strings put more energy into the system than thin strings, so they sound louder unless you lower the bass side of the pickup.

maestrovert · March 3rd, 2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solman87

Ok, so i was bothered by a "muddy" bass sound on my MIM 06 Standard tele when strumming, so i decided to adjust the pickups a little...../.....but i still had the muddy problem, so i lowered the bass side of the neck pickup and raised the treble side. i love the tone
...../.....
Comments? Questions? Threats?

How fresh are your strings ?

Jes' m.h.o. here.....i find that setting the P-ups a bit lower than the 1 & 2 nickel rule of thumb gets me sweeter tone(s).....
Y.M.M.V.

woodman · March 3rd, 2007, 04:13 PM

if you find unconventional methods that work for you, don't worry about the conventional wisdom! every player is different, as every axe is different. go for what trips your trigger.

Solman87 · March 3rd, 2007, 05:57 PM

my main worry was that there dosnt appear to be any springs to keep tension on the P/U screws like on the bridge P/U.

oh well, it sounds great! thanks!

March 3rd, 2007, 02:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Solman87 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin Tx Age: 21 Posts: 66	Neck P/U adjustment... Ok, so i was bothered by a "muddy" bass sound on my MIM 06 Standard tele when strumming, so i decided to adjust the pickups a little. on the bridge, i lowered the trebel side and raised the bass a little so my highs wouldnt be quite as thin and dominant, and i used the center screw to bring the whole thing up some to boost output, and all in all that sounded pretty good. but i still had the muddy problem, so i lowered the bass side of the neck pickup and raised the treble side. i love the tone, which i know should be the bottom line, but am i performing a tele abomination or something? ive looked as closely as possible to the pics in the gallery and can see no evidence of the kind of angle i did on the bridge, but of course i couldnt get any close up shots. Comments? Questions? Threats? __________________ "good artists imitate, great artists steal" -Pablo Picasso

March 3rd, 2007, 08:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
Solman87 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin Tx Age: 21 Posts: 66	thought so, i had just never seen a neck pickup in anything but dead flat before. __________________ "good artists imitate, great artists steal" -Pablo Picasso

March 3rd, 2007, 04:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,791	if you find unconventional methods that work for you, don't worry about the conventional wisdom! every player is different, as every axe is different. go for what trips your trigger. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

March 3rd, 2007, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Solman87 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin Tx Age: 21 Posts: 66	my main worry was that there dosnt appear to be any springs to keep tension on the P/U screws like on the bridge P/U. oh well, it sounds great! thanks! __________________ "good artists imitate, great artists steal" -Pablo Picasso

March 3rd, 2007, 07:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kurt Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Posts: 359	PUP height is a pretty personal thing. When you tweak and find the right sweet spot for your guitar/amp/playing style, then go with it. Takes some time to get it right but I wouldn't obsess over it. I usually start with the Bill Lawrence approach - 2 nickels between PUP and strings on bass side and 1 nickel on treble side and then work from there.

March 3rd, 2007, 07:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Durtdog Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,237	"...but am i performing a tele abomination or something?" No way. That's why they're adjustable.