With a pickup heightened, the string stops vibrating, due to the magnetism from the pole pieces. A string too close to the pickup poles can also distort or warble, and actually negatively affect the intonation. Sometimes, I wish I played a digital piano.
I'm fairly certain this is just a myth, someone on TH-cam tested it, even with magnets far greater than those on the guitar and the strings were fine. I don't remember the name of the video however
@@SIlly28 the string doesn't all together stop playing, it sounds generally the same just with a weird "gurgle", it's sounds like a accidental slow vibrato kind of
@@SIlly28 Not a myth at all, it just depends on the type of magnet. My strat has Fat 50's which are Alnico 5's. If the neck pickup is too close to the strings then I get the warble effect when the note sustains so i have to set them pretty low.
@@FRX67It is normal as single coils in particular need to be staggered from one another because the strings naturally obtain more space the closer u get to the bottom of the guitar (bridge). This simply helps with equal volume of all pickups, but adjusting is very tasteful and matters on what the player generally prefers.
I need to rewatch this some. I'm a googling newbie. Fresh from my butt: String cross section & so mass varies by radius squared, area = pi*r*r Magnetic flux varies by cube of distance, example 2*2*2= 8 and 3*3*3= 27 So small change in distance is large change in magnetic field strength. Mostly from other butts. The pickup magnet weakly magnetizes the strings. When you move a magnet (changing magnetic field, both increasing and decreasing) by a wire it generates an electric current in the wire. The weakly magnetized vibrating strings generate changing electric currents in the pickup coil. I have read a too strong magnetic field attraction pulls on and decreases string movement. It's a Goldilocks deal you may be able to optimize by ear or phone app spectrograph. I'm thinking the pole pieces (screws) should be set closer as string diameter decreases. With the pickup off the guitar use calipers to measure thickness over a screw, turn the screw 2 half turns and measure again, subtract the smaller measurement to find the distance change of a full turn and write it down for the pickups of that guitar. If you find a constant of your distances relative to string diameter for a pickup, know that for another pickup with a different strength magnet the best adjustment may have a different constant, and that induced magnetic strength of string is likely to vary too.
Great tip. Recently swapped my guitar's pickups and was somewhat unhappy with the result. But adjusting their height with your advice in mind made a huge difference. Now they sound amazing to me. Much more balanced and dynamic.
Been playing since 11. I’m 31. I’ve always taken my guitar to techs for anything but string changes. Then Gibson came out with a Guitar Maintenace Series during Covid and I learned how to do everything from checking and setting neck relief, string action height, pickup height, pole piece screw adjustment (humbuckers), intonation and so fourth. Now I’m working on all my guitars and my friends guitars because I love doing it so much. Everyone should take time to learn how to fully setup and adjust their instrument…. Also Sorry to all the techs who rely on us for your living. Lol
Thanks so much! Join guitar players from 37 countries for online #guitarlessonswith Berklee professor @TomoJustFunky at tomovhxtv.vhx.tv. Only $1.84/week! New video was posted today. Lesson 1 is available to all site visitors!
Finally found someone who made a video on this. Trying to explain this to some who say it has to be a certain measurement instead of no, it's how it sounds. Thank you.
Squier strats are really good instruments these days! I have a standard I got last year, it's very resonant and the pickups are alnico and fantastic, they don't even need to be changed. Great strat tone in all positions.
So nice to hear that! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
There's screws. How can you not know that they're adjustable when there screws? Also, in 10 years of guitar playing how did you never have the desire to adjust your pick up height? Lol
@@chrisking6695 You can’t knock someone for not knowing something, that’s the basic fundamentals of learning! Screws could be seen as basically holding the thing in place and not necessarily for adjusting so if you don’t know you simply don’t know and don’t really question it. I’ve been playing for nearly 50 years and knew this about 49 years ago but I wouldn’t choose to criticise someone for not knowing it.
I've watched a few videos about height pickups before this one. And of course, the best advices, explanations, and tone taste come from the Master Tomo Fujita. You're a wonderful teacher, thank you !!
Wow , I was just practicing today these chord progressions and It's interesting to mention how you combine those two scales together. Simply wonderful , you're a inspiration Tomo, keep up the good work !
Thanks so much!! I have much more detail video lessons at my "Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom" tomovhxtv.vhx.tv Just added more Backing Jam Tracks so you can jam with me! Join subscribers from 55 countries
Absolutely. Lowering the pickups from the strings especially on a brand new guitar always make it sound better because when they’re up to high, the magnetic field is to strong on the strings and the sustain is deadend.
I also think this is a great channel for educational purposes and entertainment. I don't want anyone to think I was bashing this channel, I think it is great and fully enjoy it!! Even at 75 years old now. Thanks!
That is how a stratocaster should sound - I usually don't like the sound of strats, but that's because the player doesn't know how to make them sound good. Simple is better, and having a great touch, tone, and feel, is more important than technical ability. Thank you for reminding us that lowering our pickup height can improve tone............................................!
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site. Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site. Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
By adjusting the pick up's like this you avoid the so called "string pull". The magnetic field has a negative influence on the the sustain of the string. So yes, lowering the pick up helps to avoid that!
I was just messing around with my guitar, taking it apart and cleaning it. just discovered I could higher and lower the bridge and it blew my mind. had no idea. I kinda already assumed how much doing that can improve the sound, but I found this great video and pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. after all these years, and all the videos I've watched and I never knew you could do this. very cool, and makes a lot of sense. thanks for making this video! you just got another subscriber
My recent experience with swapping a stock Jackson humbucker pickup with a Seymour Duncan sh6 distortion was exactly what you just described. When I installed the pickup and set the height to the recommended 1.6mm they sounded very full, compressed, crunchy because they are very high output pickups and sometimes have a bit of a Fizz in the top end. Lowering the pickup height greatly improved the versatility, Dynamic and overall tone of the pickups without losing any of the tight low-end that this particular pick up is known for. A pickup also responds to harmonics a lot better with the Lower height and are a lot more versatile and a lot more Clarity and Dynamics
Been playing Strats since 1963. I sink the neck PUP, with the treble strings up a bit. Middle is a little higher. Bridge is as close to the strings as I can get it without mashing the strings down onto the pickup. Pickups tend to interfere with the elipse of the strings, which interferes with the tone.
I've been using a similar method, but with a twist. I rarely use a clean tone because I'm primarily a MeTaL guitarist. So what I've been doing for a while with guitars that have 2 humbuckers is: I'll lower the Neck pickup for the Lower notes, and raise it for the highers notes, like you demonstrated in this video. That way it keeps my solos more clear and balanced sounding across all strings. And for the bridge pickup, I do the opposite. I'll optimize the pickup for the lower tones in drop tunings, and lower the pickup for the higher note strings. It serves two purposes. To keep the palm muted low notes from getting to muddy, and it also helps with muting the higher strings during rhythm sections. This is the first video I've seen someone actually using a different slanted pickup height \m/
Wow, thanks this is some helpful stuff! 5:25 and that's how my strat was already set up from the store which is nice. I prefer low pickup rather than high. And again thank you for the nice vid!
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom! Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Have done this for years,have tried other height adjustments to compare,but always come back to this,Eric Johnson does this too,as well as others,brings out the 2,and 4 positions nicely,less thin tone,good stuff
This man is responsible for the absolute BEST made, and sounding affordable guitarsever made. The AZES Ibanez guitars. Absolutely love them and thank you for getting Ibanez to make them.
You have to balance the volume between the pickups. The neck pickup will always be the loudest because that's where the string elipse is largest, so you have to dish it down. Middle needs to be a bit higher. Bridge should be highest of all as the string elipse is smallest.
You play very well! You are on the right track! The low waves are longer and that is why they probably go down on pickups ... and for the high ones, on the contrary, they are shorter in length wave and therefore the strings must be closer to pickup ...
Assuming you have a stratocaster with a 9.5 radius fretboard...Get a feeler gauge. Then put a capo on the first fret. Press the 6th string where the neck joins the body (typically on the 17th fret on a strat). Slip a .010 feeler gauge in between the 8th fret and the string. The feeler gauge must slip right in just right with barely a touch on the bottom of that string and the fret. That should give you a proper bow.
There's also each pole piece height problem, specially the D / G string, inherent to the Fender pickups, solution probably efficient at a time of wound G string and strong radius, not sure today with flatter radius
Subscribed. Real advice on set up from a real guitar player. Simple and straight forward. Going to do this to my Strat right now. Many thanks indeed my friend.
Cool video! Depending on what youre looking for in tone, the same is usually true for Bass guitar as well. Pickup height a little lower on thicker strings helps balance the frequency a bit more =]
Tomosan Konichiwa, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! I just subscribed to your channel and I will be a subscriber for life! I am honored to be your student Master Tomosan!
Something that also matters a lot is the location of the pickup in relation of how distant the bridge is from the fretboard. As mister Fujita mentioned, there is a treble area and low frequency area. This is something I mention of you're having a guitar build project. This is something very important to have in mind. Overall, experiment with the type of pickups and different ways to heighten them.
Fit Lace Sensor pickups, you can have them closer to the strings without losing sustain as they don’t rely on a strong magnetic field, great sounding pickups too, ask James Burton
That's good news! I think a lot of people are having "not that great" set up and working hard to get better tone!! That's much harder to do! You're welcome!!
Lowering the pickups will give more sustain because the magnets don't interfere the vibration of the strings that much. But It will lower the output which you can compensate with the amp or a boost pedal. Even more sustain if you have guitar with just one pickup because their will be even less magnetic pull on the strings. Allan Holdsworth for instance prefered guitars with just one pickup set very low.
@@TomoFujitaMusic I also love playing guitar. I will do my set up today and adjust pickups. And will do a short video. If you ever come to New Zealand, we should jam!
Long time guitarist, and Strat player., I always had a tendency to raise the pickups on my Strats, to increase volume, sustaIn , I thought, never really ask any of my guitar techs,, they would lower them, I would get it home and raise them I guess, i will try lowering lower side, Thanks for the advice, I have seen a couple of your videos, and seems like you are THE MAN, so I will subscribe, even an old dog like me can learn some new tricks. Thanks!
And what about the distance from the strings to a humbucker on the bridge..specifally a 500T gibson on the bridge of a strato fender , i play metal and rock ...more classics Thanks
First I adjust the front pickup for sweat tone, lower the lower string side a little bit more. Then I adjust the bridge pickup matching volume (not too loud) as the front pickup.
Nice playing. I heard Aeolian, like the progression, until the end, where I heard something like harmonic minor over the five (or phrygian dominant). I'd be curious to know if I missed something. Anyhow, nice video.
Dude, that was amazing, thank you so much! My Jazz Bass has been sounding weird since I changed the pickups, especially the E string, which is really boomy and resonant, and the whole instrument sounds a bit odd and metallic. The new pickups are taller than the old so it might be that they're too close to the strings. I'm going to try this as soon as I get home from work! (only 5hrs to go...)
You're welcome! Once I set my pickups so high... (I though it's better that way!) then I have learned this by doing it, by sound. Thanks for watching my video!
Funny, I've just lowered the pickup height on my Tokai Tele Thinline with flat wound stings, sound is much better. Very noticeable difference on your Squier Strat. Nice playing !
Thanks so much! So great to hear that! Good job!! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom! Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Tomo San!! Long time no see!! So glad to find your channel and subscribed. Will never forget your kindness in sending me lesson material and CDs. Hope all is well!!
I tried 4mm, 3mm, 2mm on treble side, 3mm, 2mm, 1mm on bass side. (From bridge to neck) and i now need to get my damn amp fixed so i can really hear it, ableton is shit at modelling amps i think. So much fret buzz comes through it
Also if you lift them as far as you can you will kinda feel the magnitism the tone is quite bright... lower them right down and you will feel like the strings are loosing tension try it ,it realy helps especialy on strats i use a squier affinity in practise, it realy helps if you are in a bedroom living with others as it takes slight touches of the string to get a good sound in fact some guitars it won't even look as if you're picking sometimes and it dampens the sound sometimes this is great especially when you're creativity shines in the later hours try it without a plectrum as you can get different textures I prefer lowering them
So nice to see a guitarist using proper technique, especially all four fingers and primarily one finger per fret. So many hackers use only three fingers. Very limiting.
I'm not sure if this would fit for this TFGD or not but I think it will be super awesome if you could share some guidelines on how to buy a new guitar! Like something we should be aware of or should carefully check when trying it out before buying it! Thank you so much for your awesome videos!
So nice to hear that! You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
I've had a recording studio for years. Played a dudes guitar and it was fabulous. His first cut was at 10 am and last at 5, 6, 10, idk but a long long time later. ONE CUT!!! Take after take for that part, because of tone, he said. I got paid by the hour so .... but finally had enough. We ended up using the first take!!!! Screw "tone'" settings, I have sweetners, pedals and controls for tone. Set it up when you first get the instrument then invest your time in practice and playing.after the first few notes NO ONE CARES!!
![[UNCUT] เก็บ "สจ.โต้ง" เอี่ยวมาเฟีย รู้ตัวคนบงการ ก่อนสั่งลั่นไก I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 13 ธ.ค.67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-J_p62D40w/mqdefault.jpg)
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With a pickup heightened, the string stops vibrating, due to the magnetism from the pole pieces. A string too close to the pickup poles can also distort or warble, and actually negatively affect the intonation. Sometimes, I wish I played a digital piano.
I'm fairly certain this is just a myth, someone on TH-cam tested it, even with magnets far greater than those on the guitar and the strings were fine. I don't remember the name of the video however
@@SIlly28 the string doesn't all together stop playing, it sounds generally the same just with a weird "gurgle", it's sounds like a accidental slow vibrato kind of
@@SIlly28 Not a myth at all, it just depends on the type of magnet. My strat has Fat 50's which are Alnico 5's. If the neck pickup is too close to the strings then I get the warble effect when the note sustains so i have to set them pretty low.
@@rydera9121 Fair enough, never really noticed on my own either, so you're probably right about the other magnets
I play keyboard, you don't, it's hours and hours of programming for good sounds before you can afford great plug-ins yet alone a great keyboard lol
1:20 High Pick Up, 3:30 Low Pick Up.
Awesome!
@@TomoFujitaMusic Excellent video. What about the bridge? That seemed quite a bit higher than the neck and middle
@@FRX67 that's normal. Standard even. Humbucking pickups can go much closer to the strings than single coils
@@FRX67It is normal as single coils in particular need to be staggered from one another because the strings naturally obtain more space the closer u get to the bottom of the guitar (bridge). This simply helps with equal volume of all pickups, but adjusting is very tasteful and matters on what the player generally prefers.
I need to rewatch this some. I'm a googling newbie. Fresh from my butt: String cross section & so mass varies by radius squared, area = pi*r*r
Magnetic flux varies by cube of distance, example 2*2*2= 8 and 3*3*3= 27 So small change in distance is large change in magnetic field strength. Mostly from other butts. The pickup magnet weakly magnetizes the strings. When you move a magnet (changing magnetic field, both increasing and decreasing) by a wire it generates an electric current in the wire. The weakly magnetized vibrating strings generate changing electric currents in the pickup coil. I have read a too strong magnetic field attraction pulls on and decreases string movement. It's a Goldilocks deal you may be able to optimize by ear or phone app spectrograph. I'm thinking the pole pieces (screws) should be set closer as string diameter decreases. With the pickup off the guitar use calipers to measure thickness over a screw, turn the screw 2 half turns and measure again, subtract the smaller measurement to find the distance change of a full turn and write it down for the pickups of that guitar. If you find a constant of your distances relative to string diameter for a pickup, know that for another pickup with a different strength magnet the best adjustment may have a different constant, and that induced magnetic strength of string is likely to vary too.
This is all true. You have to dial it in to get the right tone. It’s a tedious process, but well worth it.
Great tip. Recently swapped my guitar's pickups and was somewhat unhappy with the result. But adjusting their height with your advice in mind made a huge difference. Now they sound amazing to me. Much more balanced and dynamic.
Glad it helped!
Been playing since 11. I’m 31. I’ve always taken my guitar to techs for anything but string changes. Then Gibson came out with a Guitar Maintenace Series during Covid and I learned how to do everything from checking and setting neck relief, string action height, pickup height, pole piece screw adjustment (humbuckers), intonation and so fourth. Now I’m working on all my guitars and my friends guitars because I love doing it so much. Everyone should take time to learn how to fully setup and adjust their instrument…. Also Sorry to all the techs who rely on us for your living. Lol
Good job! Thank you for sharing!
Man I would give anything to have a year of weekly lessons with this man
Thanks so much!
Join guitar players from 37 countries for online #guitarlessonswith Berklee professor @TomoJustFunky at tomovhxtv.vhx.tv. Only $1.84/week! New video was posted today. Lesson 1 is available to all site visitors!
Finally found someone who made a video on this. Trying to explain this to some who say it has to be a certain measurement instead of no, it's how it sounds. Thank you.
Thanks so much!
Please visit new Tomo Fujita USA WebSite for signing up mailing list ( more information, giveaways etc )
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I went for the lesson and ended up loving the sound, riff and melodies! Keep it up! Thanks for this!
Thank you!
Lower pick up height creates less volume, but greater sustain. It's a trade off. I prefer the sustain.
Thank you!
Interesting. I like keeping the volume there cuz it gives me a wider range of attack response.
That's why there's a "10" on our amps. 🎩
🤘🏻😋 🤘🏻
🎸
👖
Crank your amp.
Riverdeepnwide imagine if there was an 11
Squier strats are really good instruments these days! I have a standard I got last year, it's very resonant and the pickups are alnico and fantastic, they don't even need to be changed. Great strat tone in all positions.
Tomo, you’re wonderful for taking time out of your busy day to instruct us. Thank you !!!!
Thank you!!
Had my strat for 10 years and never realised you could adjust the pickups 🤦♂️ My neck pickup sounds instantly better.
So nice to hear that! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Tbh I didn't knew until I bought my electric guitar last month
There's screws. How can you not know that they're adjustable when there screws? Also, in 10 years of guitar playing how did you never have the desire to adjust your pick up height? Lol
@@chrisking6695 because Jonathan is lying…. That’s why he never adjusted his pickups 🤣
@@chrisking6695 You can’t knock someone for not knowing something, that’s the basic fundamentals of learning! Screws could be seen as basically holding the thing in place and not necessarily for adjusting so if you don’t know you simply don’t know and don’t really question it. I’ve been playing for nearly 50 years and knew this about 49 years ago but I wouldn’t choose to criticise someone for not knowing it.
I've watched a few videos about height pickups before this one. And of course, the best advices, explanations, and tone taste come from the Master Tomo Fujita. You're a wonderful teacher, thank you !!
You're welcome! These setups are so important to in order to improve your playing! Thank you!
Wow ,
I was just practicing today these chord progressions and It's interesting to mention how you combine those two scales together.
Simply wonderful , you're a inspiration Tomo, keep up the good work !
Thanks so much!! I have much more detail video lessons at my "Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom"
tomovhxtv.vhx.tv
Just added more Backing Jam Tracks so you can jam with me!
Join subscribers from 55 countries
Absolutely. Lowering the pickups from the strings especially on a brand new guitar always make it sound better because when they’re up to high, the magnetic field is to strong on the strings and the sustain is deadend.
Thank you!
I also think this is a great channel for educational purposes and entertainment. I don't want anyone to think I was bashing this channel, I think it is great and fully enjoy it!! Even at 75 years old now. Thanks!
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much! You're very kind!
Lower pickups stop that spikey sharp sound and smoothes the tone between the bass and treble strings.
That is how a stratocaster should sound - I usually don't like the sound of strats, but that's because the player doesn't know how to make them sound good. Simple is better, and having a great touch, tone, and feel, is more important than technical ability.
Thank you for reminding us that lowering our pickup height can improve tone............................................!
That's so nice to hear that. Thanks so much!!
This is fundamental to getting balanced pickup height. Not sure if I'd consider it a secret, but it sure is important.
Very very important!
Well if it was a secret its not any more !
Let’s be honest Tomo is the guitar teacher we all need
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site.
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
This guy would make any guitar sound good
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site.
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
By adjusting the pick up's like this you avoid the so called "string pull". The magnetic field has a negative influence on the the sustain of the string. So yes, lowering the pick up helps to avoid that!
and HOW do we know when is too low or tooo High?
Not true, magnetic field from pickups is not that strong to pull strings at all, lol
@@CarpeDiem23
That is totally incorrect. They can DEFINITELY affect the string vibrations. This is a proven thing.
Excellent advice, sir. Thank you. Just did it on my Fender CS Esquire '59, and it sounds/feels MUCH more sweet & balanced.
Thanks so much!! Good job!!
Great tone. Love the pro reverb. That cheap strat sounds better than any I've heard. Amazing job.
Thanks so much!
Because the cheap guitar is in a maestro hands. Guitar does not play by itself.
Guitar is a tool for making music/noize depending on how you are using it. The players personality can be "heard" and the Guitar is portable!!
I was just messing around with my guitar, taking it apart and cleaning it. just discovered I could higher and lower the bridge and it blew my mind. had no idea. I kinda already assumed how much doing that can improve the sound, but I found this great video and pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. after all these years, and all the videos I've watched and I never knew you could do this. very cool, and makes a lot of sense. thanks for making this video! you just got another subscriber
Glad I could help! Thank you so much!
My recent experience with swapping a stock Jackson humbucker pickup with a Seymour Duncan sh6 distortion was exactly what you just described. When I installed the pickup and set the height to the recommended 1.6mm they sounded very full, compressed, crunchy because they are very high output pickups and sometimes have a bit of a Fizz in the top end. Lowering the pickup height greatly improved the versatility, Dynamic and overall tone of the pickups without losing any of the tight low-end that this particular pick up is known for. A pickup also responds to harmonics a lot better with the Lower height and are a lot more versatile and a lot more Clarity and Dynamics
Thanks for sharing! Pickup height really can change the overall tone!
I love red guitars! I love red Fender guitars! A good amp makes a cheap guitar sound good.
@@KRAZEEIZATION if you got a little soul and you hit those notes - you'll make a cheap one sound great !
Stevie Ray Vaughn had pickups set flush with pickguard - FYI
Using very heavy strings. 13 -56 can compensate for that somewhat.
Been playing Strats since 1963. I sink the neck PUP, with the treble strings up a bit. Middle is a little higher. Bridge is as close to the strings as I can get it without mashing the strings down onto the pickup. Pickups tend to interfere with the elipse of the strings, which interferes with the tone.
Thank you!
I've been using a similar method, but with a twist. I rarely use a clean tone because I'm primarily a MeTaL guitarist.
So what I've been doing for a while with guitars that have 2 humbuckers is: I'll lower the Neck pickup for the Lower notes, and raise it for the highers notes, like you demonstrated in this video. That way it keeps my solos more clear and balanced sounding across all strings.
And for the bridge pickup, I do the opposite. I'll optimize the pickup for the lower tones in drop tunings, and lower the pickup for the higher note strings. It serves two purposes. To keep the palm muted low notes from getting to muddy, and it also helps with muting the higher strings during rhythm sections. This is the first video I've seen someone actually using a different slanted pickup height \m/
Thank you for sharing! Good job!
Thank you!
asymmetrical set up to the pick ups makes so much sense to me.
Thank you again
Boaz
You're welcome! Thanks so much!
New Tomo Fujita USA WebSite
tomojustfunky.com
So glad I found you on TH-cam, very helpful. Nice playing Tomo was as well
Thanks so much!!
thank you sir. you're my fav guitar teacher on youtube
Thank you!!
Great demo learned a lot that's the great thing about these demos every day's a school day for guitar nerds like me keep up the great work
So nice to hear that! Thank you!!
Thank you for your advice and wisdom. The setup hight worked 100% for me. My pick harmonics are now easy to play.
You're very welcome! Good job!
Tomo Fuyita .. you are a guitar maestro. Respect !!!
Thank you!
Wow, thanks this is some helpful stuff! 5:25 and that's how my strat was already set up from the store which is nice. I prefer low pickup rather than high. And again thank you for the nice vid!
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom!
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
thank you very much! I'm coming from a classical guitar background and am only just getting an electric. These are the reasons I've hesitated so long
Great! I hope the video helps!
This is great! Professor Snapes explaining :D
Thanks!
Irie Republic j
Great pick-up height adjustment advice! I just lowered my strat pick-ups under the low e. Sustain and tone improved. Thx Tomo!
Glad it helped!
The Pro Reverb sounds beautiful great content
Thanks so much!
I love the Pro Reverbs!!
Tube output stage. Only the Princeton has that as well.
Great Information! Thank You Tomo
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!!
Have done this for years,have tried other height adjustments to compare,but always come back to this,Eric Johnson does this too,as well as others,brings out the 2,and 4 positions nicely,less thin tone,good stuff
Thanks for sharing! I better make another video!
12 bar blues is great to practice with and jam.
I’ve watched this three times and each time I get a different take away
Either I am slow or he is A genius
Thanks so much!! Please check my new Tomo Fujita USA WebSite
tomojustfunky.com
Just did this to my new Squire Bullet Strat and mannn. Sounds better than before. Thank you Tomo. Subbed.
So great to hear that!
This man is responsible for the absolute BEST made, and sounding affordable guitarsever made. The AZES Ibanez guitars. Absolutely love them and thank you for getting Ibanez to make them.
Thank you so much! So happy to hear that! The Ibanez 31 is a great guitar for that price point!
I have both versions HSS and SSS in two colors each. Play them everyday while 90% of my other guitars just sit there and look at me now.
You have to balance the volume between the pickups. The neck pickup will always be the loudest because that's where the string elipse is largest, so you have to dish it down. Middle needs to be a bit higher. Bridge should be highest of all as the string elipse is smallest.
Thank you!!
You play very well! You are on the right track! The low waves are longer and that is why they probably go down on pickups ... and for the high ones, on the contrary, they are shorter in length wave and therefore the strings must be closer to pickup ...
Thank you so much! Magnet pull.
Thank you for this! can you talk about truss rod adjustment? How to understand if it needs repair and for the right action
That's a bit hard to do. I do it by myself.
Assuming you have a stratocaster with a 9.5 radius fretboard...Get a feeler gauge. Then put a capo on the first fret. Press the 6th string where the neck joins the body (typically on the 17th fret on a strat). Slip a .010 feeler gauge in between the 8th fret and the string. The feeler gauge must slip right in just right with barely a touch on the bottom of that string and the fret. That should give you a proper bow.
Great tip Tomo, learned something new after years of playing. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Love the Dave Brubeck riffs .
There's also each pole piece height problem, specially the D / G string, inherent to the Fender pickups, solution probably efficient at a time of wound G string and strong radius, not sure today with flatter radius
Thank you!
This has been addressed by many on YT! It's all a case of vintage 'correctness'!
Subscribed. Real advice on set up from a real guitar player. Simple and straight forward. Going to do this to my Strat right now. Many thanks indeed my friend.
Thank you so much!!
I watched this video, I adjusted my pick ups similarly to where you had them here. My Strat sounds great thank you!
Great to hear!
Cool video!
Depending on what youre looking for in tone, the same is usually true for Bass guitar as well.
Pickup height a little lower on thicker strings helps balance the frequency a bit more =]
Thank you!
Tomosan Konichiwa, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! I just subscribed to your channel and I will be a subscriber for life! I am honored to be your student Master Tomosan!
Thanks so much!!
Something that also matters a lot is the location of the pickup in relation of how distant the bridge is from the fretboard. As mister Fujita mentioned, there is a treble area and low frequency area. This is something I mention of you're having a guitar build project. This is something very important to have in mind. Overall, experiment with the type of pickups and different ways to heighten them.
Thank you!
That my profilepicture Squier is vibe, price/quality is good.
Fit Lace Sensor pickups, you can have them closer to the strings without losing sustain as they don’t rely on a strong magnetic field, great sounding pickups too, ask James Burton
geespar1 and billy Corgan
It was a pleasure and a learning experience at the same time to watch your video!
Thanks so much!
I just tried this on my Nashville deluxe tele, and instantly noticed better sustain in the bass end! Thank you so much!!!
That's good news! I think a lot of people are having "not that great" set up and working hard to get better tone!! That's much harder to do! You're welcome!!
Where do you teach? Contact info for classes?
Lowering the pickups will give more sustain because the magnets don't interfere the vibration of the strings that much.
But It will lower the output which you can compensate with the amp or a boost pedal.
Even more sustain if you have guitar with just one pickup because their will be even less magnetic pull on the strings.
Allan Holdsworth for instance prefered guitars with just one pickup set very low.
Thanks so much!! You know about "good tone" by listening!!
Great info!!! Definitely gonna work in my Stratocaster!
Thank you!!
Great Job with this Demo and explanation. Fantastic tone-too. Enjoyed it. oNe LovE from NYC
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very useful tip arigato Tomo san
You're welcome!
Yo dawg - you make a squire sound a lot better than most peeps can make their Fender CS's ever hope too!
You have a very nice style to your playing. Effortless!
Thanks so much!!
You seem very knowledgeable.
You can obviously play very well too. I will watch more of your videos.
Thankyou.
Thank you very much! I love guitar so much so I needed to know! Thank you so much!
@@TomoFujitaMusic I also love playing guitar. I will do my set up today and adjust pickups. And will do a short video. If you ever come to New Zealand, we should jam!
Nice example. You can really hear the difference.
Thank you!!
Long time guitarist, and Strat player., I always had a tendency to raise the pickups on my Strats, to increase volume, sustaIn , I thought, never really ask any of my guitar techs,, they would lower them, I would get it home and raise them I guess, i will try lowering lower side, Thanks for the advice, I have seen a couple of your videos, and seems like you are THE MAN, so I will subscribe, even an old dog like me can learn some new tricks. Thanks!
We all done! Then learn something new!
And what about the distance from the strings to a humbucker on the bridge..specifally a 500T gibson on the bridge of a strato fender , i play metal and rock ...more classics
Thanks
First I adjust the front pickup for sweat tone, lower the lower string side a little bit more. Then I adjust the bridge pickup matching volume (not too loud) as the front pickup.
A lesson on that scale would be nice . The last lick you did before ending the video sounded so so nice
Thank you!
Nice playing. I heard Aeolian, like the progression, until the end, where I heard something like harmonic minor over the five (or phrygian dominant). I'd be curious to know if I missed something. Anyhow, nice video.
Playing by ear. The best. Thanks
Yes! Thank you!
Dude, that was amazing, thank you so much! My Jazz Bass has been sounding weird since I changed the pickups, especially the E string, which is really boomy and resonant, and the whole instrument sounds a bit odd and metallic. The new pickups are taller than the old so it might be that they're too close to the strings. I'm going to try this as soon as I get home from work! (only 5hrs to go...)
You're welcome! Once I set my pickups so high... (I though it's better that way!) then I have learned this by doing it, by sound. Thanks for watching my video!
Mine is also kind of fuzzing on E since I set it to higher. Will set it back to lower.
Funny, I've just lowered the pickup height on my Tokai Tele Thinline with flat wound stings, sound is much better. Very noticeable difference on your Squier Strat. Nice playing !
Thanks so much! So great to hear that! Good job!!
I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom!
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Wow, great tone. Sounds terrific.
Thanks!
New Tomo Fujita USA WebSite
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Tomo San!! Long time no see!! So glad to find your channel and subscribed. Will never forget your kindness in sending me lesson material and CDs. Hope all is well!!
Hey Roger from Texas!!! So great to hear from you!! How's hunting these days?
You're very welcome! You are a nice person!!
You are now my "Father" of the guitar. Please teach me more.
Thanks so much!
nice clean sound & great playing
Thanks!
It must be decreasing the magnetic pull which allows the string to vibrate longer before relaxing.
Thanks for sharing!
I tried 4mm, 3mm, 2mm on treble side, 3mm, 2mm, 1mm on bass side. (From bridge to neck) and i now need to get my damn amp fixed so i can really hear it, ableton is shit at modelling amps i think. So much fret buzz comes through it
I have a Squire Stratacaster and think to tone is great, thanks for the information on the pickup height
Awesome! You're welcome! Try it.
I will try on my strat. Thanks Fujita-San. BTW I subscribed to your channel and I am looking forward to seeing more. 😎
You're welcome! Thank you!!
I was expecting height adjustments on all three pickups and not just the neck pickup which sounds good by the way.
Thank you!
POS 4 for the win
You play really good. Nice video. Thanks.
Thank you!!
Also if you lift them as far as you can you will kinda feel the magnitism the tone is quite bright... lower them right down and you will feel like the strings are loosing tension try it ,it realy helps especialy on strats i use a squier affinity in practise, it realy helps if you are in a bedroom living with others as it takes slight touches of the string to get a good sound in fact some guitars it won't even look as if you're picking sometimes and it dampens the sound sometimes this is great especially when you're creativity shines in the later hours try it without a plectrum as you can get different textures I prefer lowering them
Thank you for sharing! Good job!
That is simmiler to my guitar i changed the pick guard and pickups to black yesterday thanks for your help
You're welcome!
It's all about tone, got it...
Thank you!!
Is this true with telecaster pickups.. Lower is better... the bridge pickup is what I'm concerned about.. Should that be lower for better sound...
Not just lower or higher... listen those sweet spot with a good sounding amp!
Less magnetic field makes more string vibration!
So nice to see a guitarist using proper technique, especially all four fingers and primarily one finger per fret. So many hackers use only three fingers. Very limiting.
Thank you!
Tell that to Micheal Shenkner who almost never uses his pinky.
I'm not sure if this would fit for this TFGD or not but I think it will be super awesome if you could share some guidelines on how to buy a new guitar!
Like something we should be aware of or should carefully check when trying it out before buying it!
Thank you so much for your awesome videos!
Thanks so much! Anything if I can do... I would try it!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Master Tomo Fujita. You have a new suscriber now. Keep it going!!
Greetings from Argentina! 🇦🇷
So nice to hear that! You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Cool! I turn the PUps down so I don‘t hit them with the plek 💪🎸
Nice to see you playing a Squier that sounds so good!
Thanks so much!
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arigato Tomo-sensei! I saw this video by occasion and thought it was very helpful! Btw I just put my kids on waitlist to learn Japanese next year.
So happy to hear that. Thank you!
You always have a bright crystal clear tone, how do you do it? I know a lot of it is probably touch, but how do you setup your amp for a clean tone?
Thank you so much! I love a great clean tone! I use very light touch on both hands! More volume than gain. More treble!
Nice video! I really enjoy your content, and playing! I enjoy your approach to teaching!! God Bless You! : )
Glad you enjoy it!
I've had a recording studio for years. Played a dudes guitar and it was fabulous. His first cut was at 10 am and last at 5, 6, 10, idk but a long long time later. ONE CUT!!! Take after take for that part, because of tone, he said. I got paid by the hour so .... but finally had enough. We ended up using the first take!!!! Screw "tone'" settings, I have sweetners, pedals and controls for tone. Set it up when you first get the instrument then invest your time in practice and playing.after the first few notes NO ONE CARES!!
Thank you for sharing! Awesome!