FORGOTTEN SECRET about Humbuckers | Guitar Tweakz

[@justinpaquette224]

More than once have I lost sleep over thinking about pickup height

[@joeys24]

LOL!!!

[@alelollipop1903]

I found the ol’ saying “don’t fix it if it ain’t broken” very useful, guitar wise.

[@mrherlando]

Yup

[@michaelinglis567]

Really glad im not the only one who cant sleep if not perfectly happy with the way my pickups and guitars are set up. Saying it out loud makes it sound insane but i truly do STRESS over these things smh lol?!?

[@elmaindps]

A everyone’s concerns

[@joshuadevries3459]

I have a guitar with p90s and thought it sounded pretty damn good. I brought it into a really great guitar tech for another issue. He ended up setting everything up for me including adjusting the pole pieces. I was literally blown away when I plugged it in. Its been two weeks and I still can't believe how great it sounds.

[@marcosticianelli4504]

Man you just saved me a few hundreds of dollars. I was about to trash my pickups and after those adjustments i've put them to a decent sound. Thanks a lot and keep posting those videos. Believe me it helps a lot an enthusiastic like me Cheers!

[@jessiesratrods1210]

Sometimes Rebuilding Cheap pickups and adjusting pole height makes a world of Difference. I know I really love using Epiphone Humbuckers if I swap the cheap Ceramic for a decent Alnico magnet, make a decent spacer and repot them in Parffin wax. I normally adjust the poles on the coil ahead of doing all this for my neck pickups and seal them in a full Brass Cover.

[@adambrown5172]

I’ve experimented with pole pieces a lot when I was younger. The amount of variation you can get is insane. You can have single pole pieces higher or lower and change the way your chords sound a lot, and it effects chugging too with distortion. It really is an art and a science You can make certain strings louder for some songs if you know there are notes in particular chords you want to highlight. that’s next level ocd but you can do it if you really care. I usually try to make all strings sound equal now for versatility but you if you had all the time in the world you could be really creative with making variations from string to string, really under utilized stuff

[@bthomson342]

I basically never picked up my Orville Les Paul Junior as it was just sounding flat and generic. Also the screws on the sides were maxed out in terms of pickup height so not much I could do there. I adjusted the pole pieces to bring them closer to the strings and the guitar immediately came to life. Completely different sound. This is a great tip.

[@dukesofhell]

I did exactly this after looking at film of Peter Green and Jimmy Page. Their pickups were sunk right into the bodies of their guitars so I figured, give that a go. The resultant volume drop made me adjust the pole pieces to get a little back. It seemed to me to change the tone and increase resonance.

[@BluegillGreg]

It would be interesting to compare Page's Tele setup from his recordings with the Paul setup he's used live.

[@davidbakerscuba]

Seeing that page was really a tele player at heart, he was probably trying to get that sound out of his Les Pauls. In this guys video, I didn’t like the bridge pickup after his height and screw change. It didn’t sound like a proper Les Paul anymore.

[@magnusberger6762]

@@davidbakerscuba I agree. On the other hand, the neck pickup sounded much better as it didn’t fart like a Les Paul anymore.

[@BobSperber]

I just can’t watch this whole video. I saw this comment early on and I don’t know if he addresses it, but you’ll kill sustain on the low strings if your pups/poles are too high.

[@maximiliangfrorer1039]

@@BobSperber Which is why he screwed the whole pickups down and then raised the pole pieces a little back up to compensate.

[@fatboysgarage7984]

I remember when I got my SE. I spent two days tweaking the pickup height and pole piece height. Now, it's exactly the tone I want. None of my other guitars come close so I use my SE for everything. It easily beats out anything else I own and most guitars I've played in music stores.

[@Exsomos]

This is F*CKING NUTS. That’s amazing, NEVER would have thought a difference like that, from a lowering and pole raise would sound that different and GOOD. Thanks Dude!!!!!

[@danmills8521]

So you like a raised pole?

[@jjcale2288]

Kris, you just made your hbuckers sound very similar to a single coil but preserving the humbucking of your pickups. Good job!

[@bushcry1]

A great share for us all by Kris!

[@egczfx]

I Bhutto buvbkbkkbbkbi ok iiibbthank k

[@davidkenneth3983]

Time to switçh up i was told this about p 90s too i never tried on buckers!

[@shredgd5]

You can (should, IMO) go even further: use your polepieces to fine-tune string balance. Set a clean tone in your amp, play adjacent strings repeatedly with the same pick strength and make tiny adjustments of the polepieces to balance volume. If you go through all strings right, you should end up with a slight modern stagger (check how the Velvet series of DiMarzio single coil are staggered to get an image). Your chords will ring with all strings at the same volume and you will love it!

[@DMSProduktions]

YES!!!

[@Thetheeht]

Would this have a lot of benefit with light overdrive?

[@shredgd5]

Juan, this is beneficial in any scenario!

[@necurrence1776]

True. The guitar tech from U2's Edge said in an interview that Edge has his guitars set like this. He also said that Edge is the most meticulous person ever when it comes to guitar setups.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@necurrence1776 He can AFFORD it!

[@alphatimca6656]

I bought a new EVH wolfgang and HATED the neck pickup. It was way to dark. Finally tried this method on my own and adjusted the pole pieces on the treb side of the bucker and boom. Phenomenal tone. It was like lifting the neck pickup out of the mud.

[@TheTimmerKimmer]

This one video has literally changed the way I view my guitars and opened up a whole gateway of customization for tones. It really let's you open up your pickups and explore all the ranges of the tone it can provide, but there are still limits. Nonetheless, I love the way my humbucker guitars sound now. You are a genius.

[@SidBonkers51]

WOW, Ive recently put some Kent Armstrong PAF style humbuckers into a Strat with a 9 1/2" neck radius, the pups actually have 12 screws/ no slugs and I set them all to follow the neck profile and it sounds amazing, it sounded OK before but now there is a huge difference, so THANKS............ Edit: I have the coils split and the split tones are so much fuller than before, really cant thank you enough.

[@dejadejayoutube]

Duane Allman was a 'sink the pick-up/raise the pole piece" experimenter. (As you mentioned- dont sink them down too much;could come loose/ for potted pickups wax will likely flake off the screws thread;no worries). btw thankyou terrible epi. alnico classics for driving me mad, and forcing me down a surprisingly interesting rabbit hole of tinkering. Another cool vid. man.

[@TheChadPad]

​@FalconerPhoto Dude, I bet he knows more about guitar than you do

[@TheChadPad]

That sounds so much better. This is a vital skill to know when playing guitar seriously, because it gives you control over your sound

[@idessaoutlaw]

🌴🎸🎶🥁🎶🎸🌴✌️😎👍🍺🤠👌

[@Arfonfree]

This isn't only true for screw type pole pieces. I have what might be the world's cheapest Fender HSS Strat that I made my project guitar. I set the slugs to match the curve of the fretboard and it made a huge difference to its voice!

[@TheTimmerKimmer]

How do you set the slugs? That is so cool!

[@shield400]

You don't always have to go "up" with the pole pieces. Sometimes going down on a string (looking at you B string) can drastically improve the sound.

[@Boogieplex]

EXACTLY!!!

[@johnktistis]

I change pole height mostly for loudness.. is that only me or this G strings is always too damn loud !

[@johnktistis]

@Abs quatulate sometimes we don't have push ourselves to try finding the best of the best sound quality. I will try stop searching for perfection and start playing..

[@leovfl]

@@johnktistis I don't notice it on humbuckers but on staggered single coils the G string is so loud hahaha

[@johnktistis]

@Abs quatulate in a not perfect world ill do my best and ill accept the 98% .. ;)

[@gersh1642]

The pickups have more air to breathe, it's about time someone brought this up. 1000 thanks.

[@paulemillevasseur7622]

Pickup height and pole piece height adjustments are crucial for sure. I discovered this years ago and I definitely take great care in how I set up my guitars. Awesome video!!

[@KrisBarocsi]

Cheers Paul, thanks! 😁

[@yoshi-808]

To put it short: "How to dial in the "Air" to your guitar" A careful adjustement makes a heck of a differnce to the sound! You can't turn a JB into a PAF but there is a lot of ground to cover without swapping the pickups. Gutes Video zum Thema, Kris. Servus.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

The only way I've ever enjoyed a JB is buy raising individual coils. Sounds so boring to me laying flat, at any height

[@michaeloberhofer7183]

I found a great way to get a better sound from my LP... I learned to play the fucker a bit better. So what’s the best thing to do for you guys? Spend 2 hours learning a new piece, lick, or technique? or spend 2 hours working on the sound from your equipment? I guess it depends what u feel more comfortable with. However, if you’re someone young, who wants to become the next Stone Gossard or Jeff Buckley, shouldn’t you be spending more time working on the aspects you’re not so great at?

[@BibleStorm]

@@michaeloberhofer7183 You think this will take 2 hours? You must have terrible dexterity if you can't even use a screwdriver. What business do you have lecturing people about practicing an instrument you absolutely lack the physical attribute to play? Jesus christ, way to miss the entire point of the video. Not once did he say anything to the tune of "changing your pickup height will make you a virtuoso.

[@Boogieplex]

My les paul neck position has always been too dark and round. After 15 yrs and dozens of pickup swaps trying to get the perfect sound…One day it just occurred to me….I lowered the 3 pole pieces on the E,A and D strings…..and BAM!

[@jdoblesentido]

I tried this last night, I have a Jem with PAF Pro pickups and I am accustomed to using my tele guitar. This tip is a game changer. Now I feel that I love my Jem again. Try it!!!

[@frantisca]

Liked the Neck pickup before and the bridge after… goes to show… ✌🏻🎸

[@RNDMID]

I have a entry-level Epiphone Les Paul that's been gathering dust for 10 years now, because I hated how dark and mushy it sounds. I was thinking about replacing the pickups, but might as well try this before investing in new pickups. Great video. Thanks!

[@Denkruis]

Thanks a million for this!! I was about to sell my PRS 594 as it was a dull guitar. But it once was my dream and I loved the playability and looks. With your tips it came to life and what a massive difference. I reduced the neck pickup (58/11lt) to the max and raised the individual screws to 3.5/4.5millimeter treble/base. Somewhat higher for the bridge. Now even the utterly useless coil split is fantastic and really close to the brightness of a strat. Very happy.

[@KrisBarocsi]

That’s so cool to hear man! Keep that beauty and enjoy it with the new setup. 🙌

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

I bet I use way lighter strings but I'm going to try exactly those measurements on my CE24

[@daviddiehl8523]

Shoot, I would've bought it😒 I'm a fan of PRS and glad your reunited with your 594.👍🏻🎸🍻

[@adamgreenhill110]

"Less top end, less bass end, less punch, less compression, less volume" *And Less Paul*

[@roni6135]

Les Paul technically became Less Paul when Les Paul died

[@joshmarkharris]

😂

[@jayfender4486]

And my axe!

[@guitarman6742]

@@roni6135 You're hilarious!

[@LuisEduardoBraschi]

I prefer mine with Moore Paul. Sorry. 😓

[@mattlincoln6845]

Sounds awesome. Another cool tip is they actually say at gibson is to adjust the pole pieces to match the neck radius. Stewmac makes a tool for it that has the proper 12 inch curve and you make pole pieces match the curve. Another cool thing you can try.

[@hussamjamil4980]

Damn, you learn something everyday, i never knew one can adjust the pole pieces on open Humbuckers, just the overall hight (the outside screws).....goodness, thank you for explaining.

[@jeffreyeagen4896]

I have a Les Paul special with burstbucker pickups. I wasn't very impressed with since I got it and was considering changing the pickups out. Not too long ago I saw a video about lowering the pups for better blues tones, which I did. It already sounds better! I was wondering about messing with the pole pieces too and then you post this video! I'm definitely gonna fiddle with them and try to get the tones I hoped it had when I bought it. Thanks for this very timely video and for saving me hundreds of dollars!!

[@BITESIZEJONES]

Try the 57 and 57 classic +

[@ernestochang1744]

This is why i love Dimarzio pickups they have the same thing but on both coils and instead of a flathead screwdriver they have a bit more grip with hex pole pieces adjusted by an allen key

[@mikesemie5028]

Just bought a LP Standard 60s today so this came at the right time, thanks!!!

[@wiseguy9202]

How are you liking it?

[@lukegalvan3093]

@@wiseguy9202 they are amazing. Ive sold all my other electrics

[@slashtrio]

@@lukegalvan3093 I think I’m going to try this. I recently got a LP slash November Burst and I find the neck to to be a bit too muddy for my liking. I have another LP standard with burstbucker pros and I do like the neck sound better on that one. A little more top end and compression.

[@rowbocaster]

I recently purchased a Gibson Slash Les Paul, 2022. I was on the brink of getting new pickups until I saw this video. I'm used to a more traditional PAF pickup. The Slashbuckers seemed too hot in my studio. They were shouting. I lowered the pups 2 turns down. Immediately I noticed more clarity and stratish tones in my studio. Thanks for saving me money!

[@rokinrandy]

Joe Walsh has a video where he explains how he likes to set up and tune and adjust his pick ups. And he has pretty good tone. I mean if you want to search for it. I used to read articles in the 80s about him and evh and Toni Iommi billy Gibson’s. all the little tweaking is just part of being a recording artist , so if they did it. Then damn it. We probably should try it too. Good video.

[@elmaindps]

My god, is SUCH A BIG difference in the neck hb, you change my life, I was struggling with my pickups, and thinking in spend in another expensive one, but now, is perfect. By the way, now I understand why neck one is most of the time covered, because the poles are too high and the pickup very deep, with the cover look perfec

[@hearpalhere]

I've not really messed with the pole piece adjustments but I have in the past worked on the pickup height and it makes a huge difference. A number of years ago, I owned a Gibson ES335 Studio and it had been upgraded with Gibson 57 Classic pickups. They sounded great to my ears and one time I got them back from a setup and fret level and my guitar guy had raised the pickups a lot. The guitar was a different animal - it screamed like my SG. At first I thought it was kind of cool but then I later realized that I missed the softer, woody sound I had before. Sure enough, moved the pickups back down a bit and I was happy. Really night and day difference from just a minute of effort. For what it's worth, I liked the change to the neck pickup too but I thought the bridge pickup sounded a little bit thin after the change. Great video showing what you can do!

[@vbros7]

One should also consider the impact of the magnetic pull on the strings when a p/u is set too high. This can definitely interfere with the natural vibration of the strings (bass strings especially).

[@vorpalblades]

Magnetic pull is a fallacy.

[@Lobberzillo]

Literally, you can make any humbucker guitar sound more acoustic. It is because the magnetic induction in the screws, this results in a electrical current reduction. It is a nice trick when you're not comfortable with the overdrive/distortion texture, even when you have tweaked your amp and pedals. After the mod, the sounds is little bit clear, acoustic.

[@rogerrussian9750]

LOL ! I was just about to go to the next clip & got the end bit where he played them loud ! That's what I wanted, humbuckers have to be played loud . Anyway, like the man said, with todays effects & amps available, you can almost get any sound you want, but if one owns both humbucker & single coil guitars, the sound of a humbucker is unmistakable

[@PintsofGuinness]

people think im crazy but i always put my pickups quite low. i feel like it gives me more clarity and dynamics.

[@notibutthespicegirls9372]

Dynamics is what sperates the guitar community, it's the fine line that has to be crossed to go from begginer to intermidiate. Advanced players can be obsessed with intonation and perfect tuning (Eric Johnson)

[@stanleyhenderson4482]

Ghhu

[@brycebergstrom5035]

Sustain improves as well

[@ApexLaneProductions]

You're giving your amp more room to breathe. People feel like they need to drive the hottest signal possible into their amp. Some people dig that sound, but I feel like that takes away all the definition and nuance of your playing. Low pups with raised pole pieces gives you a delicious dynamic range.

[@dingletun]

I hear ya

[@elbik95]

Man I'm here a week after seeing the video to thank you Kris, I've modified the heck out of my Les Paul Studio to make it sound more vintage: Swapped the bridge pickup for a 57' Classic, changed the entire wiring harness for a MojoTone 50's wiring, and this was the final touch i needed. The neck pickup still sounded a little bit muddy (490R I believe) so I was thinking about replacing it for something more PAFy, but I gave this a try and I FREAKING LOVE IT NOW! It sounds amazing, sweet airy tone, super touch responsive, since I lowered a little the middle position sounds AMAZING. Maaan this was super good advice, thank you so much!

[@KrisBarocsi]

Luis Coll So happy to hear that Luis, it’s funny how little things can make a huge difference sometimes, right? Cheers man!

[@elbik95]

@@KrisBarocsi Yes, absolutely! Can't believe how much it changed with a couple of turns on a few screws. Again, thank you so much Kris, huge fan of your videos.

[@brettdiaz]

I adjust the height and the pole pieces all the time. It’s a great way to clean up a muddy pickup. I’m sure many people have replaced pickups when they didn’t need to.

[@davidcarpenter9232]

Yeah ,,, Good one ... Thanks ... D ...

[@MrJonken70]

As a Tech -and a pick up builder; i would also like to suggest an 'arc', 'curve', 'radius' -adjustment -on PU poles. This is adjusting all the poles -to match the string radius on the guitar. Basicly this kind of adjustment puts the PU's both E-poles the lowest, -the G, D -poles highest and the B, A poles just in between. This makes the pick up react more optimal and even across all 6-strings. Note: This ONLY brings out the 'even-ness" on the pick up. How 'low' or 'high' over all You choose to adjust the PU poles or over all PU height: Is still fully open and up to You. You can use a modified (shortened on both sides) bridge saddle radius tool -or You can eye ball this. The best way to 'eye ball' this; is to try to create even 'stairs': E (lowest) > A (In between) > D (Highest). The same way on the high side: E (lowest) > B (in between) > G (highest). The difference in pole heights on the stairs does not differ much on a Gibson -style guitar with a flatter 12" fretboard. Recommened using good light -when eye balling this. Tip: Start Your whole pole adjustment process by setting the 'arc'. After that simply count Your turns on the poles as adjusting them higher -or lower (-whole, -half, -qouarter -turn and so on.) With Phlillips pole screws this is pretty easy to see (eye-ball). Alaways remeber to RE-check the 'arc' everytime You have made an height adjustment to all six poles. It's pretty easy fuck up the 'arc' as You go. Another good tip is to check how evenly a PU cover is mounted on the accual pick up (when possible). This can be seen by flipping the pick up -and looking/measureing the distance from bottom of PU baseplate up to the edge on a mounted PU cover. On a good fit; theese measurements should be approx even all around (longside -to longside and shortside to shortside). On uncovered pick ups this does not apply. The cover mounting on individual pickups accually differ some what. The best sound caracteristics from a covered pick up is achieved when the PU cover is mounted evenly on the PU baseplate -and positioned closest possible to the PU:s slugpoles. If the PU cover is mounted un evenly over the pick up creates additional 'muff', 'sag' and 'headroom' in the PU's tonal qualities -and it's nearly impossible to determen and adjust the PU poles optimally.

[@MrJonken70]

In this pandemic/qoarantine time: I thought it would be nice to take the extra time offer some extra insight in this subject; to Your christmas stockings: You probably already have watched some of the endless stream of theese "how to..." -on adjusting humbucker pick ups. Information is always good. Knowledge is never a heavy burden to carry around -as my father said. Today i would like to focus on one of theese important factors in setting up twin wound/humbucker pick ups: The way that is hardly mentioned at all: Pick up 'tilt' angle. The tilt of a pick up is the angleled position of a pick up mounted on to a guitar body, pick up ring -or scratchplate/pickguard. In order to get the full/optimal preformance from a humbucker pick up; the pick up should have the same tilt -as the angle of the strings passing over it. The orginal PAF-style humbucker pick up was orginally designed to work this way. Both individual coils are evenly wound -and purposely matched to work together. In more simple terms: Each coil should pick up the equal ammont from the strings. If this PU tilt is 'off': The bobbin located nearest the strings becomes automatically 'dominant'. This means that the 'dominat' bobbin picks up more string -compared to its neighboring bobbin. This innedialetly alters the 50/50 work arangement between the individual bobbins in the pick up. You can easily check this phenomenon by shifting the tilt angle of your pick up in Your guitar with Your finger. Angeling the PU changes the sound. Having an optimal tilt is one of theese majour, untold secrets in getting that orginal creamy and mellow PAF-tone. However: This is is also true for ALL humbucking ups. For a HB- pick up to function according to spec; both the bobbins need to be able to pick up the equal ammont from the strings. Trade secrets: To accieve the optimal tilt in a humbucker pick up; has to do with other things than adjustment possibilities in the accual pick up. This is accually pure custom work. This has to do with the pick up mounting in the guitar. The flat surface on top of the pick up ring -or the flat surface of the scratchplate/pickguard -usuaally gives the pick up its tilt/angle. Also: Depending on how high -or low You choose to adjust Your strings on a T-O-M bridge: Increases -or decreases Your string tilt angle to the guitar body. Therefor theere are no universal measurements for this. in other words: You personal preferences is the only true guide here. On a pick up ring this work is done by RE-shaping the bottom angle of the PU-ring. This to match the new desired tilt. With scratchplates/pick guards this gets a little more tricky: New wooden spacers needs to be custom manufactured for the deeper, recessed PU screw cavities on each side in PU pocket. Theese are usually and preferably made out of the same type of wood as the guitar body. (Other wood types will work too.) The shape of theese resessed PU-screw cavities -are usually an rectangular shaped -with well rounded edges. Specers of a fitting shape to RE-fill the bottom floor of theese cavityfloors -needs be manufactured. The thickness in each of theese wooden spacers needs only be enough to prevent the pick up height adjustment screws from clearing the bottom with a few (approx 2 to 3) millimeters. Theese spacers can simply be pushed in -if they are made snug. Adjusting the tilt/angle -with spacers: When all needed spacers are mounted into the PU cavities; it's time to get started on the correct tilt -angels for the pick ups. This is done by taking off both the mounting springs around the PU mountingscrews -and RE-mounting and height adjusting the HB pickup to Your PU-ring -or PU-guard without the springs on to the body. If done correcty; the HB mounting screws should bottom out -against the spacers (stick up approx 2 - 3 millimeters) from the surface of the PU-ring -or PU-guard surface. Short: They're loose; but they're in there. Next thing is to tune up both the outher E-strings on the guitar. This provides the correct tilt angle for the pick ups. Now it's just about tilting/angeling the loose pick ups correctly agianst the strings. When done take take the pick up height adjusting screwdriver. Place it on the groove of the PU height screw; and genty tap the screwdriver with a smaller hammer. This should leave a mark on the spacers inside the PU cavities. Final step -and fitting the pick ups with the new, optimal tilt angle: Off with the E-strings; and off with pick ups. You should clearly see the marlkings made on the specers from the tapping You have done. Mark theese out and drill matching holes for the PU-height adjustment screws. Using an Dremel -type multi tool with a longer drill bit is smart. IMPORTANT BEFORE YOU DRILL: - Make sure Your taps are well marked out; so that the drill will not wander as You drill. - Set drill for slower rotation. - Mark/tape out You drill bit for ONLY the nessesary depth needed here; approx 3 mm. - Remember Your new PU tilt angle. Position the drill approx in the PU's desired tilt angle. When done just find the new drilled holes in the spacers with the pick ups height adjusment screws as You RE-mount Your scratchplate/pickguard. The tilt angle should be now be the same as You measured before tapping. The sound -when pluggin' in should be pretty sweet too... The absolutely biggest difference from this kind of custom spacer modification Yuo'll get from all Gibson guitars with scratchplate mounted pick up design. Like the V's and the SG's. All theese have a majour manufactoring flaw with their pick up tilt angeles. Almost all Gibson Guitars with scratchplate mounted pick ups have this flaw. By RE-tilting the pick ups right in theese instruments makes 'em sound really delicious!

[@lokelosk]

I knew it! Ever since I discovered you can adjust the height of the poles on MFD pickups from G&L, I started to wonder if it's possible to do the same with other pickups that have "screw slits". Well, now I know, thanks! Awesome video!

[@rasmusolesen5307]

Great video. People who don't like neck humbuckers are almost always looking for a p90 without knowing it :) If you don't mind the look, reversing the neck humbucker is also an option. Moving the raised pole pieces closer to the bridge brings out a bit more clarity. You can also remove the pole pieces completely for a stacked single-coil'ish type of sound.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Very very cool video. The differences before and after adjusting are subtle, but definitely noticeable. A lot of times, just those little subtle changes makes all the difference. I remember watching a Mr.Big live video in the 90’s and they showed Paul Gilbert’s guitar very close up when he was playing his solo and I noticed he really adjusted his pole pieces up, especially on the neck pickup. I wondered what that was all about and tried it myself. I no longer wanted to get different pickups.

[@KrisBarocsi]

TheAxe4Ever Thanks a lot! Sometimes subtle differences can drive you mad or make you really happy, right? It’s also really interesting how subtle differences can feel huge when you’re playing and not just listening. I guess it’s all about the feel. :) cheers

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Kris Barocsi Exactly! As cliché as it may sound, you know when you’ve hit upon the perfect tone when you feel it more than hear it. Us guitarists are a peculiar bunch. LOL!

[@robertdenis3106]

That was a great summary on the flexibility of Humbuckers. Thanks dude

[@kennywaynebearhead]

Middle road is the way to go on this one. Your volume control is the “magical” element here. You’re going to naturally go easier with your picking style and your left hand at lower volume because a mellow is what you’re going for. More volume? You’ll dig in harder with your picking hand and you’ll find your vibrato and your bends to become RAW and, obviously, more aggressive.

[@Steven_SK]

I agree with trying the tweaks before you replace. There are always some options and you nailed one here that does make a difference. I have always been more for brighter than darker and clarity over muddiness person and on your LP it shined IMHO. I'll have to try this myself. I have never messed with the pickup heights beyond just getting them a certain distance and leaving during a setup and I am happy with mine 99.89999999. This may be a subtle tweak that polishes things off. Thanks! Be well!

[@leeholbrook5278]

I've been doing this for years on all HB pickup based guitars. There are many variations you can get without changing out Pickups. Excellent Video, my Friend!

[@Pauld62]

I tend to like my pickups to be very low on all guitars, the only exception being a bridge pickup on a tele which i generally have pretty close to strings.

[@jvin248]

Pickup height also changes distortion response -- dropping more bass by lowering the pickup allows the rest of the pickup signal to be boosted and less compression happens.

[@markush.573]

Okay man this is awesome! My neck pickup now has the clarity that i always wanted! Many Thanks

[@KrisBarocsi]

So cool man, happy to hear that! Cheers

[@clarkbabin9799]

I've been experimenting with pickup height and noticed that lowering incrementally I derived a little more clarity from having less ambient noise that is heard having the pickups almost lined up with fretboard height. Also didn't lose as much volume as slamming them to a much further point from the strings. As you said also if you want volume that can be accessed by gain .

[@jpalberthoward9]

Gibson used to tell people about this back in ancient times. It was mentioned in the little hang tag booklet that came tied to the tuners on a piece of string. It said to adjust the screws so that they follow the radius of the fretboard, and then set the height to some number that I forgot ages ago. But for some reason, people just quit doing this. I show them this trick all the time, and they think I'm some kind of master engineer with magic powers. No, it's physics 101, and a little common sense. It sounds to me like it works best with Tweed style amps, and lower powered things like Valco products, (Silvertone, Airline, etc.) ,and also if you're not using a lot of pedals, it's more noticeable. It seems to be something that works best when you're trying to ride the saturation curve between clean and moderately dirty. The touch sensitivity improves dramatically.

[@jpalberthoward9]

@G P It was probably that, and the popularity of massive distortion all the time, with no clean at all...ever. When you medicate the signal chain with pedals it also doesn't matter much any more. It's all about the pedals because it's hard to tell one guitar or amp from another any way. It's probably why most people these days are happy with the cheap stuff.

[@PhilipJoyceMusician]

The middle position on the HB fusion sounded way more like a tele after you adjusted the pole pieces. Surprisingly big difference

[@jvin248]

When faced with a 'bad sounding guitar': Adjust pickups, pickup poles, measure and swap pots 'n caps, then last swap pickups. Too many players start with trying to find $200/guess pickups to match $20 of control parts or free pickup height adjustments.

[@FowlkesFamilyReunion]

I did this to my Epiphone LP Deluxe and really noticed improved clarity, along with a noticeable increase in compression (in a good way). Thanks for the tip!

[@windsurfmaui8239]

I like the before better. Seemed better more rounded tone. Also not as harsh to my ears. But good video.

[@jayfender4486]

If you were playing live with others in a typical rock band, you'd want the after sound to help you punch through the mix

[@sesa1076]

I liked it better too.

[@builderphill1361]

I have two different humbucking guitars, a LP set up with them a little harsher then a hollowbody that is more well rounded, so what I'm saying, just buy more guitars 😉

[@jayfender4486]

@@builderphill1361 Nope: imgur.com/gallery/8dBaYG6

[@builderphill1361]

@@jayfender4486 I don't like how much eqs sound 🤷‍♀️

[@austincarpenter6360]

Damn you can really hear the difference on the neck pickup of the LP once you use some overdrive, sounds so clear!

[@OneMomentFromForever]

I could be wrong, but one other trick I’ve tried to get more clarity out of the neck is to counter sink the pole pieces below the pick up cover just a little bit, and to raise up the coil, that way you’ll get more of the slug pieces interacting with the string which is closer to the bridge. It’s worth a try anyway

[@guitmeister]

I experimented with this idea from a suggestion from a music store dude in 1975- I was 14yrs old & doing a lot of tweeking (on everything) still doing it now (not always) pickups are much better now...

[@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252]

Thanks for a watchable and coherent video. You can also tilt the p/ups. You can also change string gauge and use the stoptail height to adjust the string tension ("feel") on Les Paul-type set ups but whatever you do, it's easy to dial it back so...experimenting is no cost, no risk and it doesn't even take ten minutes. When all is said and done and you're happy, try a quality compressor stomp box. These do lots of stuff but one thing they do is great when playing clean at low volume when the compressor is set at very low level compression - p/ups, even the finest ones, are primitive and they have foibles, irregularities and imbalances no matter how you set them up. It's the limit of their technology. A good compressor removes that without compromising anything at all. Some look down on this as some sort of cheat but.........all pro guitarists and studios use them, regardless of how expensive etc your guitar and amp are.....all the time. It improves every aspect. Before you change p/ups, try a decent compressor and consider your hard-won dollars. So much better! Nice video, thank you.

[@jibicusmaximus4827]

I been playing thirty five years and can say iright of the bat, that's some tasty playing..

[@KrisBarocsi]

Thank you man!! 🙌

[@bassface5874]

@@KrisBarocsi 00

[@grimeyhonkyracing3938]

Watching these videos I've come to realize I know even less about my guitar than I thought. My tremolo is tilted back, my intonation is all over the place and my humbuckers are flatlining. I do make good use of the volume/gain knobs and all 120 watts of this old amp though! 🤘🎸

[@madgeniusmusic]

Loved it, thanks Kris. I just adjusted my Strat pickups for the first time, the difference was like night and day, I might just start twiddling with my humbuckers.

[@cpamiseso]

I was lucky I had enough bucks to spend back then. I dont remember how many pickups I tried and settings I went through. It’s all about taste, trial and error, and style really.

[@stephansochaul5256]

Got a Firefly which came with that kind of raised pole pieces, and sounded just great, really clear and airy. The Epiphone les paul special was muddy, after raising the pole pieces - what a difference! Sounds awesome now. Thanks for the insight

[@adamterry6383]

Jeez that neck pup sounds incredible.

[@AndrewNuttall]

Wow. I've changed the height on pickups often, but never changed the pole pieces on a humbucker. Kinda wish I had known about this and tried it before selling my Les Paul as I had dropped the pickups all the way down to try and get less honk and compression. It worked some but also made it a bit muddy and I never could get it to sound how I wanted, putting the pole pieces up may have done the trick.

[@samuraisorrow9916]

I adjusted mind to fit the tone I was after on the bridge pickup I still don't use the neck pickup hardly ever but I'm more into mental tones .its still at the end of the day it's up to the player and whatever they enjoy I still never seen 2 guitarist exactly alike . I do guitar repairs and I have general settings to factory standards but the real players all have something different going on . .side note all players are real I'm talking about my 5 year and up guys the ones who made it passed the humble hump

[@Xithz]

Gonna have to try this out! One trick I’ve been using on my humbuckers is setting the bass side lower than the treble side, not by a lot, just a little. Has a similar effect!

[@KrisBarocsi]

That’s great too of course. Balancing out the amount of bass and treble by tilting the pickups is as powerful as what I showed in this vid. Cheers William!

[@kevinmcguinness1113]

Been doing this for years 👍

[@jimo1294]

I bought an ES-335 style guitar a while back with the SH2 Jazz in the neck. I was excited to try that pickup because I had heard it on videos and it sounded super clear and articulate. The guitar shows up, but I was quickly disappointed at how muddy it was in the neck. I opened those pole screws and adjusted height to personal taste and it just bloomed! Every used guitar I get has the screws cranked down tight. So "forgotten secret" for sure!

[@richardronan7184]

I feel like you can achieve the same tones with a standard EQ Pedal. My boss ge-7 gives me the same tonal differences... Make a strat sound like a Tele same way . You can duplicate/ replicate pickups with an eq adjustment

[@bryanjosuemiranda7522]

I did it because I saw my strats alnico, and the positions of each screw is different, I applied in my flying V with humbuckers and it gets more colors in the sound, 100% recommended.

[@azt3ca]

Great video, one question: after lowering the pickups, did you rise the pole pieces so they would have the same distance from the strings? Thanks!

[@bushcry1]

Same or different height should be clarified...

[@m.e.c.j.5125]

Using Seymour Duncan A4 Saturday Night Specials, I set the overall pickup height to 3mm. I keep all pole pieces flush with bobbin. Provides a very natural, organic, yet articulate and punchy tone. Though this method has been working for me for about 37 years, i may experiment with adjusting the pole pieces to the fretboard radius.

[@irf888]

Hi. Super interesting and thanks for making this video. I am getting the screw driver out! Regards.

[@KrisBarocsi]

irf888 Haha! Yessir, way to go! Cheers

[@irf888]

@@KrisBarocsi Guess what? I've just transformed one of my guitars! I took it one step further and adjusted the pole pieces to follow the curvature of the strings/frets. Like a new guitar again.

[@KrisBarocsi]

irf888 That’s so good to hear man! My impressions were the same.

[@irf888]

@@KrisBarocsi Thanks again for this fantastic idea!

[@spottedsaint957]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro with the Probucker pickups and I was planning to swap them out but after Iowered the height of both pickups to where they were flush with the pickup rings and raised the poles as far as I could without removing them, I quickly changed my mind! Thanks for sharing this information!

[@mariushebnes5951]

Is there a problem if the screwdriver head is magnetic? I adjusted two of my screwd in the neck. And boom. No sound from the pickup

[@yeeaahBUDDY]

No, that shouldn't affect anything. Maybe a wire came loose while you were adjusting?

[@tubeaddicted485]

I've done this to all my guitars that have vintage-vibed humbuckers. That makes a hughe difference. For the high output pickups it's more important to find the sweetspot for the pickup hight.

[@KrisBarocsi]

Thanks for sharing that! Yeah, great observation, morgen higher output pickups often react differently. 👍

[@tubeaddicted485]

Yeah,it was most noticable on my Schecter Apocalypse. Turning the polepieces for only a half or full turn made the sound, and especially the palm mutes, horrible. Also lass ich da die Finger weg 😀

[@usernameinvalid2675]

Fact 💥

[@TimB335]

I preferred the before sound, after the adjustment it sounded too thin, I find too much air just kills all the dynamics and bass and makes the pickup sound a bit flat, it’s hard to find the sweet spot! Great video though! 👍

[@paulcowart3174]

I agree but also lowering the pickup then raising the pole pieces is not changing anything drastic Sounded smoother before but it's so subjective ☺️

[@Xaltar_]

Better note separation, clarity and dynamics with lower set pickups and adjusted pole pieces. More than just that, because you only have one set of adjustable poll pieces on each pickup you can really play with the tonal properties, in a way simulating uneven wound pickup variations. This is why those adjustable pole pieces are there to begin with. Take a look at any vintage Les Paul from the 60s and earlier, almost every last one of them has polls adjusted to the preferences of one or another of it's previous owners. Simply adjusting to follow the radius of the neck will even out your tone and address string volume discrepancies. Great vid Kris, something every guitar player should play with, many single coils also have adjustable poll pieces.

[@sjirk]

i cant believe how good that harley benton sounds actually wow!

[@nickshaw6085]

Finally getting around to messing with pole pieces (neck and middle) on my HB DC 600 VI and WOW! I'm gonna hit the bridge pole pieces and see what happens. Thanks for this video, man!

[@jeff1586er]

Remove the screws altogether and they still buck the hum but sound like single coils.

[@m7alan7johnson7]

I've never heard of this. Thanks.

[@ResoBridge]

@@m7alan7johnson7 Yup, its true. The screw less coil acts somewhat like the bottom coil in a 'noiseless' single coil pickup, except that it is to one side, instead of underneath. Most of the signal from the strings is picked up by the slug coil.

[@m7alan7johnson7]

@@ResoBridge 👍 ill have to try this.

[@TVoltG]

All my neck pickups have non magnetic stainless steel screws in them which is this idea.

[@Danny-lm9xk]

With gretsch pickups with 2 rows of screws per pickup (one set for each coil) you can play around soooo much! Maybe take the top screws of the pickup on the top 3 strings, and bottom screws of bottom 3 strings, to shape tone

[@recordman555]

So happy to see another guitarist playing electric with fingers only.

[@277southtombob]

The PAFs from the 50’s are known for their clarity and I think it comes from the coils being hand wound so one always ends up a little stronger than the other and I believe that’s why raising the pole pieces and lowering the pickups on more modern humbuckers makes them clearer and more articulate. I do nearly all my PAF style humbuckers like this and it really does improve the tone.

[@KrisBarocsi]

Exactly! That’s the reason why I started adjusting the pole pieces on humbuckers. They really open up if you make the coils a bit more unbalanced. 👍

[@Billywagner22]

I believe vintage PAF's were machine wound.

[@277southtombob]

@@Billywagner22 they did use a winding machine but then again the boutique “hand wound” pickup builders do as well but they’re not like the more modern ones that produce identical numbers of perfect wraps. The operator made a lot of difference in how they were, no two vintage pickups will be exactly the same resistance or be perfectly wound on the bobbin.

[@TomTurbo-wh6op]

Hi Kris, once again a great tutorial, especially as it is confirmed by "Atze" from Rockinger Guitars Hannover, that he proclaimed in the mid 1980's. So the first thing I did to my DiMarzio Super Distortions (then called "dual sound"), before I covered and potted them, was to raise the pickup screws about 3mm (I am German, so it is millimeter :-) ), three on each coil, and then re-attatched them. Still working fine and the articulation is way better than it was before the mod. I also like, that you do the top wrap. I did it on my Custom shop '58 VOS ultralight reissue, I bought from you. In hindsight it was my buddy Uwe, who bought it and he later sold it to me. What a guitar ! Telecaster on steroids. My plaintop has all I want in a guitar, esp. in that price range... The top wrap brought some even better playability, better overtones and a bit more string separation. I have been playing .009 strings for years now and even tuned down to E flat, there is no wobbeling of the strings. In fact I get a tighter bass response and for sure, a longer sustain, as the interference between magnets and string (mass) is less ... So, my current setup with her AlNiCo3 Custombuckers is: coils around 5-6mm under the strings, polepieces raised about 3-4mm. Keep on spreading knowledge, please. Cheers from Ludwigshafen. Tom

[@danielleohallisey4218]

I’ve always wondered why nobody seems to talk about this! Thanks for bringing new clarity to our thoughts about this topic.

[@najmihakimkhairi1210]

Because screw pole pieces humbucker are not designed to be adjustable but many moderm one like bare Knuckle and invader can

[@boomerbassmeme]

Love these tips! I definitely will apply this, especially on my Ibanez semi hollow as I almost always play it clean. ( Ok sometimes with a little chorus, but still pretty clean, LOL)

[@moskitoh2651]

For some neck HBs, this might be a good choice... for the bridge HB that was not a single cut tone for me.

[@keeponthemic]

Appreciate you always sharing crucial information and reminders we all need as players 🙏🏼💯

[@moontheloon1969]

Thank you Kris, you learn something everyday.... my tokai sg always sounded woolly... great fix

[@daviddiehl8523]

Count me inspired. Thanks for an informative and concise video that is also important!!

[@GhostriderPossum]

I tried this after watching your Video and i can confirm it makes a huge Difference i will do it on all my Les Pauls now :) Thx Kris i love your Chanel one of my Favs :)

[@benjaminbaggins7590]

huge thanks for this. i always looked at those pickup screw heads and wondered if they were ever meant to be adjusted. the difference is pretty amazing.

[@nisarad2793]

There is a great interview with Seth Lover on the web. He was the inventor of the PAF pickups in the 1950s. When asked specifically about the polepieces, he said that they have basically no effect but were included in the design of the pickup because the marketing department insisted upon it.

[@KrisBarocsi]

Nisara D Hey, I’ve read that interview. He also told that the nickel cover doesn’t change the sound of the paf. It should sound the same with it as without. There is a clear difference in sound as a matter of fact. 🤷‍♂️ That’s why I don’t have the cover on my bridge pickup and have it on the neck pu. I think I should make a video where I show the difference. What do you think?

[@nisarad2793]

@@KrisBarocsi That's right, with the proviso that the covers are German silver containing the right blend of constituent metals. He said that gold covers, for instance, change the situation. I'm always supportive of experiments to test hypotheses. The important thing is to design experiments in such a way as to control only for the parameter that you are trying to measure.

[@jobimboy]

i adjusted my pick up height of my hss strat, coz humbucker pick ups are more louder and have bite than single coil pickups, after i adjusted the height it sounds better and more balance now. i did that with the volume meter and EQ to see the frequency range in my DAW.

[@Glicksman1]

Essentially, the closer you can get a Gibson Humbucker to sound like a Gretsch Filtertron, the better off you'll be.

[@277southtombob]

I have a Les Paul Deluxe (and a couple of other guitars I’ve converted) with mini humbuckers that are a great in between. Minis are really underrated in my opinion, you get clarity from the top and bottom like a Filter’tron with some PAF mids added in.

[@Glicksman1]

@@277southtombob Yes, the minis are great. Firebird pickups go another step in that direction and along with underwound PAFs and P-90s are my favourie Gibson pickups.

[@stewartcohen7683]

@@277southtombob Minis are just the goldilocks tone. Clarity, beef and chime, no hum. You can get some good bristle and grind out them too, just not the real heavy tone from PAFs, but yes, the mid-range clarity. Bill Frisell has some tele's with mini's in the neck that are drop dead gorgeous sounding--well, fingers help...

[@jimmyx4599]

Pick up height is so important it really makes a difference it means you do not have to buy expensive pick ups at all. You find out the pick ups are as excellent as can be with height adjustment. and are an awesome design any way. Nuff said!!.