Pickups for dummies question
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:23 pm
In a double set up just like this, should the distance between the strings on both units be equal? AND, about how far from the strings should they be?

Pfloyd, (and thanks Dan) bear with me brother, but I never took lessons and I don't know anyone real well that plays. So I'm on my own here. What is the purpose of the two pickups? Why not just one? Are they identical (usually)? Why have I seen some setups where one is diagonal while the other horizontal? For the type of shit I wanna fuck around with (Pantera/Sabbath, etc.) what is the best setup with what I have as far as distance to strings? (dual parallel humbucker)Pflöyd wrote:Generally the bridge pickup is higher to compensate for the strings being higher near the bridge. But that's only if you want the output between the two pickups to be equal. A basic rule is that the closer the pickup is to the strings, the "louder" it is.
So if you want one pickup to be louder than the other either raise the one or lower the other.
For metal in general, youll want the bridge pickup closer to the strings. The purpose of two pickups simply is so you can get a wide array of different tones by just switching the pickup selector. I can't really describe why some people do the diagonal pickup things, cus it makes sense in my mind I just can't describe it with words, haha. Also, when doing rhythm playing put the selector on the bridge pickup, and when doing leads you'll generally want to use the neck pickup.Browns Town wrote:Pfloyd, (and thanks Dan) bear with me brother, but I never took lessons and I don't know anyone real well that plays. So I'm on my own here. What is the purpose of the two pickups? Why not just one? Are they identical (usually)? Why have I seen some setups where one is diagonal while the other horizontal? For the type of shit I wanna fuck around with (Pantera/Sabbath, etc.) what is the best setup with what I have as far as distance to strings? (dual parallel humbucker)Pflöyd wrote:Generally the bridge pickup is higher to compensate for the strings being higher near the bridge. But that's only if you want the output between the two pickups to be equal. A basic rule is that the closer the pickup is to the strings, the "louder" it is.
So if you want one pickup to be louder than the other either raise the one or lower the other.
http://www.cd-leo.com/yahoo/guitar/_ele ... 04_big.jpg
Not lefty though.
Aeon wrote:For metal in general, youll want the bridge pickup closer to the strings. The purpose of two pickups simply is so you can get a wide array of different tones by just switching the pickup selector. I can't really describe why some people do the diagonal pickup things, cus it makes sense in my mind I just can't describe it with words, haha. Also, when doing rhythm playing put the selector on the bridge pickup, and when doing leads you'll generally want to use the neck pickup.Browns Town wrote:Pfloyd, (and thanks Dan) bear with me brother, but I never took lessons and I don't know anyone real well that plays. So I'm on my own here. What is the purpose of the two pickups? Why not just one? Are they identical (usually)? Why have I seen some setups where one is diagonal while the other horizontal? For the type of shit I wanna fuck around with (Pantera/Sabbath, etc.) what is the best setup with what I have as far as distance to strings? (dual parallel humbucker)Pflöyd wrote:Generally the bridge pickup is higher to compensate for the strings being higher near the bridge. But that's only if you want the output between the two pickups to be equal. A basic rule is that the closer the pickup is to the strings, the "louder" it is.
So if you want one pickup to be louder than the other either raise the one or lower the other.
http://www.cd-leo.com/yahoo/guitar/_ele ... 04_big.jpg
Not lefty though.
PS - That guitar is as ugly as sin.
the other guys more or less nailed the question. For an aural example, pick the strings close to the bridge and then pick the same exact chord further away. Notice how the further from the bridge you pick the more "bass" in the tone. Well, that's kind of how pick-ups read the strings. The bridge pickup will have less "bass" but more note definition with distortion and the neck pickup will have more "bass" in the tone, but will sound muddier with lots of distortion when playing chords (though single note leads will pop out more).Browns Town wrote:
Pfloyd, (and thanks Dan) bear with me brother, but I never took lessons and I don't know anyone real well that plays. So I'm on my own here. What is the purpose of the two pickups? Why not just one? Are they identical (usually)? Why have I seen some setups where one is diagonal while the other horizontal? For the type of shit I wanna fuck around with (Pantera/Sabbath, etc.) what is the best setup with what I have as far as distance to strings? (dual parallel humbucker)
http://www.cd-leo.com/yahoo/guitar/_ele ... 04_big.jpg
Not lefty though.
No, he has it between his teeth like a flamenco dancer!Aeon wrote:The string poking you in the face.![]()