Jazzmaster pickup height?!

[gypsyseven]

Got a Classic 60‘s Lacquer Jazzmaster again and really love it. Somehow i‘m still messing around with the pickup height...
Any recommendations as a starting point?
Setting them „by ear“ doesn’t really work I guess...

[jorri]

If you have allum keys in a set you can stick 5/64 and 6/64 for treble or bass side. Or a ruler, but i use allum keys as the string frets on them and its easy to tell. That would be 2-2.4mm i think.
Usually probably further than that if anything, but i seem to remember its a good starting guide for strat/jag standard vintage style pickups. Adjust how you want from there but its always good to have a start point.

[jorri]

ok, well misread the title but hopefully dont seem too misinformed.

A JAZZMASTER would be 6/64 to 8/64 or 2.4-3.2mm. Seems a good height for me and generally what i do. Not too harsh but if you want a bit of that maybe set the bass side more like 2.8mm.

[gypsyseven]

ok, well misread the title but hopefully dont seem too misinformed.

A JAZZMASTER would be 6/64 to 8/64 or 2.4-3.2mm. Seems a good height for me and generally what i do. Not too harsh but if you want a bit of that maybe set the bass side more like 2.8mm.

Thanks, I´ll try that later. Do you set both pickups the same height?

[gypsyseven]

If you have allum keys in a set you can stick 5/64 and 6/64 for treble or bass side. Or a ruler, but i use allum keys as the string frets on them and its easy to tell. That would be 2-2.4mm i think.
Usually probably further than that if anything, but i seem to remember its a good starting guide for strat/jag standard vintage style pickups. Adjust how you want from there but its always good to have a start point.

Thanks, but that seems a little too close for me, or my ears...but I´ll try it again...

[timtam]

On a potential source of variation, mostly pickup height is specified when fretting the string at the last fret. But sometimes someone nominates distances without fretting. So always good to confirm fretting.

[andy_tchp]

Setting them „by ear“ doesn’t really work I guess...

Actually, it's basically the only way to do it.

Each guitar is different, as is every player, their right hand technique, amp, eq, effects chain, pair of ears, and desired outcome.

Set them where they sound best to you.

As far as relative heights, on a Jazzmaster I prefer the bridge pickup closer to the strings, basically as close as I can get it without interfering with string vibration, to keep the perceived output somewhat close to the neck pickup.

But note this is only my preference though, your ears may hear something better/worse and need to adjust accordingly.

[gypsyseven]

ok, well misread the title but hopefully dont seem too misinformed.

A JAZZMASTER would be 6/64 to 8/64 or 2.4-3.2mm. Seems a good height for me and generally what i do. Not too harsh but if you want a bit of that maybe set the bass side more like 2.8mm.

Sooo cool, thanks a lot! That's exactly what I was after! Tone heaven! Actually I was exactly one turn on the pickup screws too high...

[jorri]

ok, well misread the title but hopefully dont seem too misinformed.

A JAZZMASTER would be 6/64 to 8/64 or 2.4-3.2mm. Seems a good height for me and generally what i do. Not too harsh but if you want a bit of that maybe set the bass side more like 2.8mm.

Thanks, I´ll try that later. Do you set both pickups the same height?

Same height. But would you believe i missed even more important information.
The heights are to the string when the string is fretted at the last fret.
That way you get better balance with the bridge pickup being closer to the string.
Apologies, drunk posting after band practice at 3am not going well.

[jorri]

Setting them „by ear“ doesn’t really work I guess...

Actually, it's basically the only way to do it.

Each guitar is different, as is every player, their right hand technique, amp, eq, effects chain, pair of ears, and desired outcome.

Set them where they sound best to you.

As far as relative heights, on a Jazzmaster I prefer the bridge pickup closer to the strings, basically as close as I can get it without interfering with string vibration, to keep the perceived output somewhat close to the neck pickup.

But note this is only my preference though, your ears may hear something better/worse and need to adjust accordingly.

Yes, but its a starting point. get it in the ballpark then adjust. I guess for someone who has never set up a guitar, the notion is confusing, they could set the pickups below the pickguard, or a mm close to the string, so its just a guide. I tend to avoid winging it becuase i could fiddle with it for ages, or lose track of where the sweet spot is. It also means it takes about a minute during a guitar setup to re-set, then whilst playing if anything is that off maybe i could reach for a screwdriver.

yup all measurements are same distance from the string when the string is fretted at last fret.

[gypsyseven]

ok, well misread the title but hopefully dont seem too misinformed.

A JAZZMASTER would be 6/64 to 8/64 or 2.4-3.2mm. Seems a good height for me and generally what i do. Not too harsh but if you want a bit of that maybe set the bass side more like 2.8mm.

Thanks, I´ll try that later. Do you set both pickups the same height?

Same height. But would you believe i missed even more important information.
The heights are to the string when the string is fretted at the last fret.
That way you get better balance with the bridge pickup being closer to the string.
Apologies, drunk posting after band practice at 3am not going well.

Yeah, i measured it that way, as usually...
Thanks anyway!

[The Dead Ranch Hands]

For me I always set the JM bridge pickup height as high as possible. The neck is then set lower until they are equivalent in volume.