20_Gauge Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I set my action really low & there isn't much room(my opinion) between the strings & the pickup. The strings don't ring/sustain when plucked. Is lowering the p'up as simple as turning the 2 screws? Is there anything I need to specifically measure/pay attention to? Thanks! 20 ______________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemans335 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 When strings are too close to the PU's, the magnetic pull from the PU's will reduce sustain. The strings should be high enough off the frets to vibrate cleanly without fret buzz, as that's a tone killer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 1) Yes 2) No Like many other guitars things, play around with it to find what sounds best to your ear. Ok cool, thanks Joe! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna screw somethin' up. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 When strings are too close to the PU's, the magnetic pull from the PU's will reduce sustain. The strings should be high enough off the frets to vibrate cleanly without fret buzz, as that's a tone killer. Thanks for the info, Blue. That's why I think the I should lower the p'up, I feel like the strings don't ring or sustain long after plucked. Could be just me though. There's no rattling or buzzing off the frets, I got my action as low as it can w/o "noise". 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzing Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Yah, one might need to lower the PUPs, you don't want them too close to the strings, you should also consider checking the intonation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzing Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Yah, one might need to lower the PUPs, you don't want them too close to the strings, you should also consider checking the intonation too, its easy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 Thanks, dr. Not sure I wanna get that technical by messing with the intonation. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgruff Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Nothing to it: use a digital tuner to compare the 12th fret harmonic on each string to the fretted note and adjust the saddle until they match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Here's a pic of my p'up: 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgruff Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 That definitely looks too close to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Yeah, I think so too. Gonna work on it tomorrow. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemans335 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Not sure I wanna get that technical by messing with the intonation. The alternative is being out of tune as you play up and down the neck. 'Technical?' Geez. What do you call tying your shoes? All you need is a small flathead screwdriver and a tuner. Play the open string: if the 12th fret is sharp, the string is too short, so you move the saddle a little further back. If the note at the 12th fret is flat, the string is too long and you move the saddle a bit closer. This changes with the seasons (temp and humidity), so it's in your best interest to take a hands-on approach to your instruments. The best thing you can do is get Dan Erlewine's book: 'How to make your electric guitar play great', from StewMac. Most of it involves no skill or experience, and no special tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadedepi Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 20 Gauge, A good starting point would be 5/32" from top of the adjustable pole (screw slotted one) to bottom of the E 6th string and then again 5/32" from the pole top to the bottom of the E 1st string. That should put you in the ballpark. If necessary you can fine tune from there. Thom... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 The alternative is being out of tune as you play up and down the neck. 'Technical?' Geez. What do you call tying your shoes? All you need is a small flathead screwdriver and a tuner. Play the open string: if the 12th fret is sharp, the string is too short, so you move the saddle a little further back. If the note at the 12th fret is flat, the string is too long and you move the saddle a bit closer. This changes with the seasons (temp and humidity), so it's in your best interest to take a hands-on approach to your instruments. The best thing you can do is get Dan Erlewine's book: 'How to make your electric guitar play great', from StewMac. Most of it involves no skill or experience, and no special tools. "if the 12th fret is sharp, the string is too short, so you move the saddle a little further back. If the note at the 12th fret is flat, the string is too long and you move the saddle a bit closer." - that's technical to me, Blue. Will definitely look into gettin' that book. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 20 Gauge, A good starting point would be 5/32" from top of the adjustable pole (screw slotted one) to bottom of the E 6th string and then again 5/32" from the pole top to the bottom of the E 1st string. That should put you in the ballpark. If necessary you can fine tune from there. Thom... Thanks for the measurements, Thom. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Hey guys, don't got my ruler w/ me so I'm eyeballin' it, can I maybe get some pics of y'all's p'up height(in relation to the strings)? Or should I just wait 'til I have a ruler for exact measurements? 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Yeah I'd forgot 'bout ya sayin' that, Joe. I'm not good at readin' a ruler anyway haha. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20_Gauge Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Just dove in & lowered my p'up:. Big difference from where it was, huh? Haven't plugged it in yet but I can already hear & feel the strings vibrating more. Might need some minor raising but the "how to" articles I read said the lower the p'up, the more distortion & the Country Rock sound I'm goin' for is heavily distorted. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Rocker 59 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Adjusting the intonation on a Les Paul Jr. is much different than on a guitar with individual bridge saddles. Unless you have a bridge with separate saddles on it, the only way to set the intonation on a LP Jr. is to loosen the allen posts at the end of each side of the bridge one side at a time and hit the harmonic on the 12th fret on E string on each side of the neck and then hit the fret. Fron there, you would adjust the allen post until the intonation is set and then do the other side of the neck . As far as pickup height is concerned, too close to the strings will definately result in a loss of tone , so I would press down on all strings at the last fret and have the height on the Bass side at say 1 CM and then put the Treble side at 0.5 . Try that and see what happens. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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