jdgm Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 On 3/15/2023 at 9:05 PM, Pinch said: I know, right? 4 and 3 mm sounds ludicrous but really, that's where THAT tone is with those pickups, for me at least (and you, apparently). I kept going back and forth thinking, this CAN'T be right. I'm losing it. But no. It's really strange because you'd think you'd lose something crucial at that height, but it's the opposite - that's where the fullest sound is with those pickups. They don't even sound like the same pickups! Crazy. I've never encountered anything like that with any other pickup. But, there you go. Happy I could help. Enjoy your guitar 🙂 So this is 4mm above the pickup ring? I must try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 9 hours ago, jdgm said: So this is 4mm above the pickup ring? I must try it! 4 mm between the string and the polepiece on the low E when pushed down on the last fret 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearomoon Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 Still lovin' it...but...on the classic you have the coil split options with the push/pull potentiometers... you have to forget that, it makes no difference whether they are pulled or not with this setting... but who uses that anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 58 minutes ago, Fearomoon said: Still lovin' it... Same here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearomoon Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 I optimized the whole thing a bit by adjusting the string-to-string output. I lowered the pole pieces on the loud strings and turned them up on the quiet strings. the g string needs to be lowest because it's the loudest. The whole thing now looks like the picture and sounds even better 😁😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 On 3/17/2023 at 7:29 AM, Pinch said: 4 mm between the string and the polepiece on the low E when pushed down on the last fret Thanks both to @Pinch and @Fearomoon. I have learned something here. Though my ES 139 has Burstbucker Pro pickups rather than the 61s, I set the height as above and there is a distinct improvement in clarity and tone...IMO. Thanks again to both, and best wishes! 🎸 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 45 minutes ago, jdgm said: Thanks both to @Pinch and @Fearomoon. I have learned something here. Though my ES 139 has Burstbucker Pro pickups rather than the 61s, I set the height as above and there is a distinct improvement in clarity and tone...IMO. Thanks again to both, and best wishes! 🎸 Wow, really? On BB Pros? They're a completely different animal. Well, if it sounds good, great. You're welcome. Overall, for not-too-gainy stuff, it's generally a good idea to set Gibson pickups lower than you'd think would work, at least if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fearomoon said: I optimized the whole thing a bit by adjusting the string-to-string output. I lowered the pole pieces on the loud strings and turned them up on the quiet strings. the g string needs to be lowest because it's the loudest. The whole thing now looks like the picture and sounds even better 😁😁 Cool. Yeah, I couldn't be happier with the tone. It just sounds... Les Paul. As opposed to how they sounded at their original height... Not very good. But set up right, they're pure magic. Edited March 18, 2023 by Pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 Glad to see a solution was found & agreed. I wont be so scared of BBs in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 I seem to have revolutionized rock and roll. Good for me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 1 hour ago, merciful-evans said: Glad to see a solution was found & agreed. I wont be so scared of BBs in future. Be sure to wear proper eye protection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 14 hours ago, Dub-T-123 said: Be sure to wear proper eye protection I got that wrong too?! I was wearing ear defenders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 Wow, what a great post! I've been battling for days and this is the best answer I've found. So thanks for that @Pinch and @Fearomoon Quick follow up question though (sorry if I missed that). What amps and settings did you use, like for your base tone? Did you turn the bass and treble EQs completely off, for example? Thanks! JB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, JBP said: Wow, what a great post! I've been battling for days and this is the best answer I've found. So thanks for that @Pinch and @Fearomoon Quick follow up question though (sorry if I missed that). What amps and settings did you use, like for your base tone? Did you turn the bass and treble EQs completely off, for example? Thanks! JB Several amps at other people's houses. Nothing drastic, maybe mids up a little and bass down a touch. Depends on the amp. Low gain! Happy to help. I love the pickups when they're set up right. If they're not... Not so much. Edited June 30, 2023 by Pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 3 hours ago, Pinch said: Several amps at other people's houses. Nothing drastic, maybe mids up a little and bass down a touch. Depends on the amp. Low gain! Happy to help. I love the pickups when they're set up right. If they're not... Not so much. Ok thanks! And, we are talking with the strings fretted at the 22nd, right? Just tried those measurements fretted and unfretted at 22nd. It's quite different. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted June 30, 2023 Share Posted June 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, JBP said: Ok thanks! And, we are talking with the strings fretted at the 22nd, right? Just tried those measurements fretted and unfretted at 22nd. It's quite different. Thanks again Yep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted July 1, 2023 Share Posted July 1, 2023 (edited) I have the 61R & T pickups in my SG. They're kind of hot and a little trebly. My bridge pickup is at about 2.5 mm on both sides, pretty level with the strings. My neck pickup is at 3.5 mm and 3.0 mm. Just a little closer on the treble side. They're not super articulate sounding. More of a chunky, creamy sound. I like them backed off a little to a lower height. Edited July 1, 2023 by badbluesplayer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted July 2, 2023 Share Posted July 2, 2023 I've always quite liked the options available on the latest Classic but I've never had the opportunity to play one. Last Friday I was in a guitar shop and picked up a couple of Classic's , I was absolutely shocked at the weight of them considering they are supposed to be weight relived. I have two solid Les Paul's and both are lighter than those and they dwarfed the weight of my Les Paul Classic Antique at 7lb 5oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 On 7/2/2023 at 8:32 PM, IanHenry said: I've always quite liked the options available on the latest Classic but I've never had the opportunity to play one. Last Friday I was in a guitar shop and picked up a couple of Classic's , I was absolutely shocked at the weight of them considering they are supposed to be weight relived. I have two solid Les Paul's and both are lighter than those and they dwarfed the weight of my Les Paul Classic Antique at 7lb 5oz I've seen them listed as pretty heavy too! Like 9lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloff Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 season to taste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 "Correction": 3.5 mm on the bass side of the neck pickup is even better. And a touch of EQ at 250Hz will get a more bell-like sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPA69 Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 On 3/17/2023 at 12:29 AM, Pinch said: 4 mm between the string and the polepiece on the low E when pushed down on the last fret So, I set the neck to 4mm(low) and between 3 and 4mm(high). After some minor fine adjusting, I have new love for these pickups(in my Classic) For a bit, I had a 490 in the neck position and with 11's, the instrument's tone resembled my 79 Custom's tone. Anyway I put the 61, back in the neck spot and followed your instructions... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 5 hours ago, JPA69 said: So, I set the neck to 4mm(low) and between 3 and 4mm(high). After some minor fine adjusting, I have new love for these pickups(in my Classic) For a bit, I had a 490 in the neck position and with 11's, the instrument's tone resembled my 79 Custom's tone. Anyway I put the 61, back in the neck spot and followed your instructions... Thanks! Happy to help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerwagonjohn Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 Then you will plug into a different amp and want to change your heights. Always count your turns of the screws and when you find your self going up and down and ending up in the same place, you know you've got it....maybe. Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 12 hours ago, powerwagonjohn said: Then you will plug into a different amp and want to change your heights. Always count your turns of the screws and when you find your self going up and down and ending up in the same place, you know you've got it....maybe. Thanks John This cannot be stated enough times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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