How to Lower a Humbucker Pickup
- 1). Decide what sort of sound you want to create. Lowering the pickup and/or pickup poles produces a warmer sound with more character and greater range. It lends itself to styles of music requiring more complexity and greater dynamics. Raising the pickup close to the strings delivers a sharp, punchy effect more suitable for driving lead guitar work.
- 2). Locate the pickup height screws positioned on each side of the long end of the pickup. Tighten the screws using a small screwdriver to lower the humbucker pickup. Alternate between screws, incrementally tightening both screws the same amount.
- 3). Turn off the power to the pickup. Locate the two pickup poles beneath each individual string that have either screwdriver heads or Allen wrench heads. Rotate each pickup pole clockwise to tighten it and lower the pole. This is a lengthy trial-and-error procedure to achieve the desired sound by balancing the adjustment of both poles on each string. Make small adjustments, then power up the pickup and play the amplified string to evaluate the results. Continue readjusting until the desired sound is zeroed in.
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