Pickup Height Adjustment

[rlconklin]

Greetings, I just purchased a new Les Paul Studio Deluxe from Guitar Center. I haven't been able to find the spec for pickup height adjustment anywhere here on the Gibson site. Can anyone tell me what the proper height of the pickups should be?

 

The pickup height is still set as it came from the factory (or maybe Guitar Center adjusted it). The bridge pickup is set at 1/8" from the bottom of the strings (when pressing the string at the last fret) and the neck pickup is set at 1/32". I've checked the internet and found different recommendations, but most seem to agree that a good starting place is 1/16" for the bridge pickup and 3/32" for the neck pickup. What does Gibson recommend?

[pippy]

Here's a very helpful reply by badbluesplayer to someone who posted the same question here today.

 

I hope he doesn't mind my cut-n-paste'ing his reply...

 

Here's how Gibson - Memphis does the final setup on their instruments. Its a post from Dave at Gibson:

 

Hi I'm David the final inspector at Gibson Memphis. I can give you the factory spec info. on our setups. You will need a mechanics rule to do this properly.

 

To check neck relief: fret the low E at the first and 15th fret (not 12th) reach to the 7th fret and tap string. There should be a small space between string and fret - no thicker than a piece of paper. Do the same with the high E.

ACTION: fret low E at first fret and measure the distance from the bottom of the to the top of the 15th fret. It should be 5/64". Do the same with the high E, measurement should be 3/64". Now measure the string height at the nut; underside of the string to the top of the fret. Low E and A should measure 2/64", D and G =1.5/64" and B and high E = 1/64". If string height at nut is correct, recheck string height at 12th fret with strings open. Measurement for low and high E's should be the same as measurement taken at the 15th.

 

Pickups: Fret low E at 22nd fret and measure pickup height from underside of string to point on pickup closest to string. Bridge pickup should be 3/64" (I think the 3/64" is a typo, it should be 3/32") , neck pickup should be 4/32". Fret high E at 22nd fret, distance for both pickups should be 3/32".

 

Play test: Play every string at every fret checking for buzzes. Bend High E string 1 and 1/2 steps, beginning at the sixth fret and ending at 22nd, checking for "choking" and to make sure string stays in nut notch.

[rlconklin]

Thanks for the reply, if only I'd read down a few posts, I wouldn't have to feel like such a dummy.