Peter Green's VERY VERY Important Pickup Height

I feel this is so important when going after Peter's Tone & Playing Style.
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[@greenmanalishi6963]

This is so good Dave, 5th time watching this. I hope the KZbin algorithm blesses you. Thanks Time stamp 4:35 High wall pick up rings/ pickup height 8:27 sink EAD side of bass pickup to below pickup ring (u can see under ring) (half’s the output in EAD brought output up on GBE) 9:35 picture of Greeny 12:15 examples of helps play dynamic 16:55 out of phase aswell 20:40 greens jtm45 settings in blues breakers picture 21:07 word of warning One question, how far in millimeters are ur strings from both neck and bass pickup? And should I mess with pole piece screws in pick up aswell or simply just ring cover screws Thanks !

[@MichaelTeichgraber-ro7mc]

I‘m fascinated how Dave deep dives not only into the playing part, but also the whole setup thing. That‘s passion.👍🏻

[@jogmas12]

That’s why I subscribe to his channel, I sensed his passion for the instrument and for playing.

[@indifferentuniverse3991]

You cannot make enough Peter videos Dave. Beautiful playing as usual. You nail it and inspire so many other tone chasers!!

[@tabriff3832]

Emotional stuff Dave. Your playing, your thoughts. The love is palpable. Thankyou so much for sharing.

[@mikemurdock7234]

Thank you so much for this video. It's almost a coincidence you posted them after I learned a VERY valuable lesson on pickup height, but with a different guitar (Telecaster). There are some other photos with Peter in the late 60s where I've noticed this with his guitars, but never caught on to the angle like this. What I recently learned was that pickup height is a HUGE, HUGE deal with the voicing of the pickup. With my Tele, I lowered the neck pickup and it gave it more clarity. The further away the pickups are from the strings, it gives it more clarity and can take away, or even add brightness depending on how it's leveled. For pickups that are higher output (ceramics especially), I imagine pickup height is a major thing. I wish I had known this about Strats years ago. I would've lowered my pickup height further from the strings to take some of the brittle and harshness out of them.

[@denbodg9311]

Dave that sounds dead right, you’re very observant, I’ve never seen anything relating to the pole pieces on Greeny, but I knew about the ring thickness. Brilliant.

[@Hunter-xw9pl]

Thank you so so much for making this video, and for making my Les Paul sound so much better! You’re awesome

[@Fastlane05]

You play Peter Green so amazing. I will be looking for your lessons. Love Peter Green's music.

[@mikepj1025]

Your videos and your style of video and the content you speak about is absolutely priceless.

[@gorehamster9172]

I did meet him and got his autograph..He had this peaceful presence thing going on..He gave me a big grin,which freaked me out a bit,which freaked him out..No words were exchanged,just thank you Peter..Live this was I think 1996,he was a bit short on lead playing..Then he played the Stumble and really went for it..Rocking back and forward with this cheeky grin on his face,,really enjoying it..The fist thing that struck me as I went into the Venue was..What a voice..By the time I found out he was playing,I got there as fast as possible..I never caught the whole gig..His voice though..His guitar overshadowed it..What a singing voice..Also his Harmonica Playing..I met Cozy Powell afterwards too..That guy just again exuded calmness..What a lovely guy he was..Peter though when playing,,the atmosphere was something special,almost spiritual,,peaceful..It was like he had something very special without the guitar skills..I knew what he had been through,so obviously wasn't pushy and I stood at the back of the Queue to try and stop people crowding him in..I can't find my Autograph now sadly..He signed it Peter Greenbaum,not Peter Green...I was obsessed at one point..After seeing him play Live,,I realised that what I thought could never happen could..I never thought he would have played live again at that point because of what he had been through..I had been through a difficult time by that point,,I always felt this kinship with him because of that.. Apart from that..I have been slanting my Les Paul neck pickup for a while,,if not I find you get this runaway bass bloom that overpowers chords..I wasn't thinking of Peter,just going by ear..Mot slanting as much as he did..I also adjust the polepiece screws..Starting out with the zig zag technique to match the fingerboard camber..Then adjusting by ear.. Also if you slant a Telecaster Neck Pickup,,it makes both pickups balance better..It becomes much more usable.. With Strats the magnet staggers are so different and the pickups vary so much..335 types I do the same with slanting,but find at volume the bridge pickup can get runaway bass too..I don't have a Gibson,but the Eastman 386..I don't want for a Gibson..If you ever get the chance to try one..I've tried the pricier ones..I think the 386 is nicer..The Pin Striping on the binding etc..The attention to detail..Stunning guitar.. I find your videos inspiring..When I get burnt out,your enthusiasm for the guitar rekindles mine.. Thanks. Kev.S.

[@garethwonham]

What makes Green even more remarkable is that he not only took the mantle from Clapton at his peak, but was around for such a short time. Listening to his his record with Fleetwood Mac, it does make you wonder what could have been if the three guitarists had never encountered any problems. For me he’s not the greatest player, but the one guitarist I can listen to over and over again and that cannot be said about Clapton, Beck, Hendrix or anyone else.

[@bluesrocker91]

I don't normally get upset hearing about celebrity deaths. But I really felt it when Peter died... Not just because of how much I've loved and admired his playing and his music, but knowing the struggles he faced in his life, how his talents were practically stolen from him, in his prime. Me and a friend managed to get tickets for the tribute concert Mick Fleetwood put on at the London Paladium, just prior to lockdown. We had hoped Peter would show up for it, and at one point we thought we saw him in the Royal box, but it turned out to be his older brother. I don't remember where I read it, but I'm sure Peter said for a time in the Bluesbreakers he actually removed the neck pickup of his Les Paul completely. Something about trying to imitate Eric Clapton at the time, who was apparently getting all these tones out of a single pickup guitar (I'm guessing maybe the Firebird he used with Cream for a time). I think I have seen one photo of Peter playing that Les Paul with the neck pickup removed, from the Bluesbreakers period. Maybe that's when the infamous magnet flip occurred, but perhaps he also put it back in at a weird angle that sounded cool.

[@pjhunton]

Sounds mint Dave, love your Peter Green tones and playing.

[@5150show]

HOLY MOLY!!!!! I just did it !!!! I did that to my Bethnal Green neck pick up !!!! It bloody works - you are incredible Dave !!!

[@nieko3038]

You can sand the pickup rings to match the carve by putting some sandpaper on the top and gently move the ring over it. Even new rings will break if the don’t fit properly and tighten the screw too much. Interesting video Dave. Happy I have discovered your channel.

[@AIainMConnachie]

Just catching up to this… Great video as always, sir! Just wanted to mention that - as I’m sure you’re aware - heavily slanting the pups like that is something that Strat players have also long been doing to improve the sound. That and adjusting the pole pieces is one of the first things I will do with any Strat

[@dasrockzimmer755]

Dein Beitrag ist mal wieder sehr informativ. Und Tatsächlich ist in der Live Performanz "Oh Well", Live@ Music Mash 1969 die Pickuphöhe deutlich erkennbar. Wenn ich mal eine Epiphone LP hab werde ich das mal ausprobieren. Danke Dave 🙂

[@timemerich]

awesome! i recently remodeled my American Strat with two Mini Retrotron pickups and flipped the neck pickup's magnet around, wired the neck pickup to a latching killswitch button in place of the tone pot then wired both neck and bridge to the one volume. it's what i want; bridge or out of phase ON with the click of a button. now watching this, i'll raise the pickup height. my first visit here to your channel and scrolling through your videos, it looks like i'm going to have a lot of fun being here! thank you Dave! Cheers, Tim in California.

[@indifferentuniverse3991]

Thanks!

[@thedavesimpson]

Thank you. :)

[@jackdolphy8965]

Still deep diving into Greenie! Dive ever on, Dave!! As a fellow Peter Green diver, I Thank You for sharing your awesome gift of sleuthing and gumshoe-ing into the Art and Science of 'The Great One'. The -- was it a 10 part! -- series you did once upon a time ago and the other visits you have had with Greenie, really all of your Peter Green stuff should be in the Nobel Prize hall of musical fame. 😎 Thank you soo much Dave 🙏🏼

[@joebolick112]

Dave’s got the tone dialed in today! Nice and smooth with a hint of bite! 🤘

[@markwright9352]

Absolutely spot-on. We’ve talked about this and shared photos over the years, Also another great video on KZbin to see close-ups of Peters 59 is world keep on turning the live one, Peter does an impromptu when Danny breaks a string, the cameraman zooms in to the guitar a lot and Peter doesn’t seem to touch his volume control much but the volume is up and down, great video as always buddy 👍🏼

[@mortonwilson795]

Thanks for this, really helpful! I am planning on putting Monty's Bethnal Greens into my Epi Cantrell Wino' so good practical advice.

[@robertcapewell2788]

Beautiful playing Dave, Great Tone,the Lemon drop is Beautiful.

[@johnnorth9355]

Been suffering with chronic joint pain in my hands and wrists so have struggled to pick up a guitar for more than five minutes at a time but the inspiration Dave gives means I will plow on and see where I get to. Greeny's sound is the one I have always aspired to and this makes me determined to keep on trying (spoiler alert - I have a lot less talent than Dave despite decades more practice !). If all else fails I can still listen to the masters - Peter and Dave.

[@Mr75044]

John that happened to Me . Over the last 12 months been doing grip exercises and can play again.. Built up the muscles I My forearm... Get a piece of plastic drain pipe a piece of rope and loop it around any thing heavy..go up to 20k Just hold the pipe standing up straight. To failure..3 times. Every other day.. Aim to increase time held... The pain will decrease. Ps I've broken my left wrist twice.. It's my fretting hand.. It's a mess but still playing..mate. Got the guitar angled like bill wyman.. Think sas don't give up Bro good luck.

[@ibaneze6666]

i suffered joint pain alot untill i changed my diet and cut down on carbs and sugar

[@jimmusselwhite9290]

If anyone suffers from arthritis, adding some boron to your diet seems to completely cure it, and the easiest source is by adding an eighth of a teaspoon of Borax to your drinking water…. For me it also cured tendinitis I had been battling for 20 years in my index fretting finger…. Been on it for a couple of years now…. Look up Borax conspiracy and read up on the value of adding it to your water…..( very corrosive, so have to add it to a large water)….

[@charlesharper7292]

Hello Dave! Good gravy, I missed catching this video somehow! YT shenanigans... Saving this one.

[@jsnowdendavies]

Dave your playing is so beautiful, and it's not just for show. Kind of like "I learned from Peter Green...but so I could express myself (and here's how you can too)". Thanks for sharing as always.

[@Mr666roger666]

I just wanted to thank you for this. 20 Minutes with my Les Paul Studio and I have finally found the sound I had been seeking for nearly 60 years (when the single of Black Magic Woman was released, with Stop Messing Around on the B side!). The genius of simplicity / simplicity of genius, it's so obvious when I think about it, I can't imagine why I had never tried setting the pickups and an extreme angle.

[@ElJuanSolo]

Great playing !!! Nice Devin Townsend hoodie in the intro :)

[@proton45]

Another interesting video. Thanks man. I too am touched by Mr Greens guitar playing. He brought a level of emotional expression to the instrument, that many people, didn't think was possible. He opened up a avenue of expression, that many players are unable to walk. I believe that Gilmore saw the "on ramp" (and did his thing)... but not many others have. You hear a lot of guitar players who include tragedy or sadness in there music...BUT its usually in a "showtune" arraignment. It is rare to hear an unfiltered expression of relatable sorrow. PS Dave, you are on the right path. :)

[@SirVicc]

All my humbucker guitar pickuos are at bass 3/32" 2.4mm and treble 1/16" 1.6mm with the string fretted at the last fret. Found that in a Premium guitar article years back and it really works with every humbucker.

[@LanceJean02]

Dave, thank you so much for all that information on the Peter Green guitar set-up! Love you vast knowledge of guitars and their set-up. Bless your heart David...

[@scottjerard1293]

My two cent Dave Your picking dynamics are 90% of the tone I understand pick up height has a big effect but it’d sound shrill and over saturated if your pick feeling wasnt up to parr You have a great ability ti find your center and feel the notes to the point you make it look easy Took me years to understand my dynamics to the point of emotional control and feel Always love your excitement and enthusiasm for those notes that make you find your happy place Keep up the good work we all appreciate it greatly

[@samrobinson141]

Insane how good you are! Even when you’re sat down talking your tone and licks have so much feeling. Magic

[@TheBlackDog64]

Thanks, Dave. Extremely useful. I've spent ages trying to hunt down Peter's sublime tone. I have seen stuff mentioning pickup height, but they just tell you to screw them down low, because of "tone versus output".

[@robk7091]

Missing your grandpa's blue n yellow Trident on the wall. He'd be proud to see up there.

[@NERDOFUNK]

Man this tone is like one of the "ive got a good mind to give up living" live versions, great one Dave!

[@mohany134]

First of all I salute you and total respect for all the effort you have done exploring such a detail in Peter Greens remarkable tone, few things to consider : 1- vintage plastics they shrink and twist a bit so vintage pickup rings might be wonky a bit or lift from one side or concave . 2- strings Guage the affected the output and from period players where they mixed sono strings and fender strings so let’s say average Guage 10 or 11 with heavy bottom which means louder output you need to compensate with lowering the bass side . 3- the way guitar volumes works when it’s out of phase and how you can balance them in that position. 4- strings action let’s say medium height blues player big bends and vibrato 1.8 or 2mm high E. Thank you for the effort and sharing your knowledge and playing 👏

[@glenrappold5393]

Your new Gibson is very pretty, but I still think that Lemon Drop has the best tone of all your LP's. Great vid!

[@davidszobota4428]

It's always a pleasure watching you play.

[@marquisdecarabas1312]

I wish my epi paula would sound any like that 😂...thanks for this informative clip dave 👍

[@Rem1Gnova]

Thank you Dave, it's so good to learn the secrets to the magic of Peter's playing.

[@mrbigdaveyb]

Perfect accompaniment to your how to play like Peter Green series Dave 👌

[@gavinsolomon2711]

Nailed it, Mr Dave! Really epic playing, fascinating content.

[@stevegroves]

Just love your playing Mr Dave awesome. Stacks of passion and feel like the great man himself.

[@hank6429]

Hello dave great playing 👍 I have that same amplifier 😁✌️

[@petergedd9330]

All the good guitarists (The Greats) made sure they had a good tone, Moore, Clapton, Green, its so so important, all this stuff about its in the fingers is a bit of a wives tale, if you have a good tone it works for you, the guitar has to sing. Anyway great playing as usual Dave, always nice to come to your channel and see your candid style, I love it!!!

[@davewilkins9981]

Beautiful sounds ! really enjoying your channel thanks !

[@edwardbristow9331]

Great video as ever. I recently put alnico 8 mags in a vintage v100afd and love the output boost but it made the neck just a bit too much. This tip helped balance it and now it sounds amazing. If I may make one suggestion though, you are every bit the great guitarist, and while you may not consider yourself in the same leagues as those you admire, to a total amateur like myself you are definitely in their leagues. You're a truly great guitarist, and a constant inspiration.

[@clive3100]

Yes Dave, the "Oh Well" Alan Price Show video shows an almost 'strat like' angle of Peter Green's neck pickup at the time. I hadn't seen that pic of the angle when he had set like that earlier-on when with John Myall's Bluesbreakers though. Thanks for your video together with your insight into this. ... 🙂

[@deanoguitarguy2171]

I do this to even out the volume across the pick ups. Never occurred to me that PG was doing it and a bit more. Nice one Dave👍🏻😎

[@ronnie5129]

Dave, Great Information here, Thanks Man, Cousin Figel

[@paullaughton6016]

Thanks Dave! Great, informative and entertaining 😁.

[@tom.guitar22]

amazing video dave ❤. watched this as i restrung my LP

[@YaGottaLaugh]

good video dave, i have to admit in my ignorance i often overlook my pickup height, im gonna crack out my tiny screwdrivers post haste 👍

[@rattleshakti]

Wow, so that's how it's done! You definitely cracked it there Dave, well done.....hmm, now where's that Philips screw driver.......

[@jonathanclayton3600]

Beautiful sound there sir...your an excellent player

[@gerrygreen1]

Awesome work Dave, love your PG stuff and this is really potentially useful. Thanks ❤

[@gregmock6808]

Brilliant Dave! just brilliant!

[@stesharr]

Yet more fantastic,knowledgeable content from dave.

[@coffeerocker1429]

Absolutely loved this! Well done.

[@drayve8590]

I’m feelin’ ya about the allergies, bro! They’re hittin me pretty good this time of year too!

[@anthonypeterjackson1588]

Thank you very much for your wonderful knowledge, I will be doing this to my Vintage Greeny...

[@philibowey4809]

Awsome sound bud .....Peter Green was a hell of a player 🤘 Can u do a deep dive on paul kossoff of free ....... a don't no weather it was he's pickup configuration or the les paul he played itself but he's guitar sounded lethal

[@coreyrini550]

I really appreciate your channel,..., love your amps (little jelly tbh), and those be some beautiful blues leads you're playing in the first couple mins.!!

[@bluessumlin...7067]

Sounds awesome thanks for sharing Mr S!🙂🎸

[@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye]

Ooh that might help too with the pickup working against you killing your sustain! You get the closeness where you’re constantly moving, but when you bend and hold a note now you’re positioned farther away from the high end of the pickup….

[@waynebridger4998]

This is why I consider you to be a genius. Like myself, you deep dive into the DNA of the sound, not just this guitar or that guitar or amp etc

[@JP.s_Underdog_Guitar_Repair]

Yeah! DTP brother! Love Devin’s work.

[@Dad-Gad]

Absolutely stunning playing as ever 👍

[@malcolmbenn1051]

Man I am so glad I found this, fantastic.

[@johnwaynecarlson5391]

There was only one Peter Green, thankfully there's a Dave Simpson too. Great stuff.

[@mojobag01]

It's a bit spooky how close you get to him at times.

[@calogeroavanzato398]

Great stuff as usual carry on the Peter Green videos

[@lukesteverything627]

Sublime. Keep shining Dave.

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

Peter was THE man. Thank goodness and my admiration for his sublime playing, I saw him live in 1969 (Vancouver BC).

[@LeifGrahamsson]

Incredible video, not seen anything near the quality of research here - be it KZbin or TV documentaries. I wonder if Kirk Hammet has tried the pickup angling yet.

[@darrellminx5459]

That is definitely an important trick. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@GuitarBillCurran]

Wow! That pickup angle thing, I never realized that was even a thing to do. I have high wall rings, and the neck pickup is actually sunken in on both sides, so I might try raising the treble side up and see if I can get more bite. I've been playing Teles and super Strats in rock and country bands now, but I recently got back together with my old "Les Paul band" and have noticed how muddy my low end is compared to the other guitars I've been playing lately. I'm gonna drop the bass side of the bridge pickup down and see if I can tighten it up a bit. Thanks so much man!

[@TC-FSU]

Awesome video needed that today your palying sooths the soul. Playing is beyond phenomenal. Keep up the aewsome work. Are those the factory pickups you are running in the vintage?

[@thedavesimpson]

They are yep.

[@mikerhd89]

FINALY someone talks about Greeny's pickup height! You're the man Dave. THANKS!

[@RoadhouseMike]

Amazing video. I love videos like this.

[@JanLawicki]

Such a cool video Dave. Can we have more of those kind of vid please. Gary Moore next?? Pretty please:) You’re such an inspiration Dave. Love every vid you make!!!

[@GROCK619]

Very interesting..cheers mate !!!!

[@nicholasguitars5527]

the original Bursts where flat between the pickups and the pickup surround bases where flat. Now the carve is curved all the way to the center (and I'm guessing lower than the 58-60's), so the newer pickup rings have a curve on the bottom, and the ends are lower than the center thus showing more of the pickup.

[@chzzyg2698]

Awesome tip! I put a Green Magic in my blues guitar and was wondering how to get that kind of sound out of it. RE: Ya, I'm getting a lot more responsiveness and emotive feels out of the tone now. I'm gonna do this to half my guitars now. Thanks!

[@grahamscholes2159]

Peter Green, the blues king of dynamics. This explains his mega loud/soft sound. Those top strings really bite! 👍

[@BazzyPredPop]

Hi Dave, I found this really fascinating. right up to the point where I tried it on my own Guitar. I’ve got a TM with a set of Alan dingwall Peter greens in (I love you to have a go on it one day 👍) I couldn’t get the drop-off in volume in quite the same way that you did on the neck pick up which I really loved. It certainly woke up the top strings although I might be strung a bit light. I’m also not sure whether the Guitar you’re playing has the same neck angle of 59 ? But really fascinating I’m certainly gonna try and experiment a bit more. I really like the fact that playing rhythm on the bridge now doesn’t overpower the top strings. Really loved it anyway, thanks Man

[@denspi1971]

Hi Dave,congratulations on your beautiful channel,a reference for guitar fans and great guitarists.Personally I miss for Peter Green.I am a mainly guitarist who would like some suggestions to be able to get a greeny sound from my Vintage V100 PG and my Roland Cube amplifier.As much as possible the guitar settings and the effects from the amplifier. Being able to have a greeny sound like in I've got a mind give up living would be wonderful. Thank you for what you do for PG fans and other brilliant guitarists. Luigi

[@3rdtonefromthesun]

The lowered neck pickup achieves the middle position magic. On guitars where the pickups are more balanced you can get close by rolling back the volume on the neck, but with the treble side raised in brings out the upper-midrange loveliness.

[@vibetone355]

Awesome Dave But! I’m still tripping after that machine gun video 🎸🎸🎸❤️❤️❤️

[@EvLoutonian]

Very cool. I also find sometimes switching the neck pickup pot/s to 1 Meg can help even out the bass frequencies (or even up the higher end frequencies to match)

[@frank1672]

You hit the nail on the head when you said to play like him (PG) but GM and KH are not trying to sound like him they have there own style food for thought! I am lucky to own a Larry Corsa and will check the pick up hights. Thanks.

[@over-there]

Thanks Dave, great stuff to know

[@dobiqwolf]

Thank you Dave for this video, I love your knowledge and enthusiasm for Peter Green playing style. If you ever decide to revisit some of the Peter Green videos with the new guitar, me and many others will be watching avidly. About the bridge pickup noise, was it because it was not wax potted?

[@markroylance1584]

Have you done Green Manal ishi? If not please do it Dave! Your channel is one of the bestest!!

[@markroylance1584]

Remember Huw Davis talking about a Burst that belonged to a famous roadie...was it the lockburst? The pickup covers were lower than the pickup rings whilst the screws were UP...Looks daft tbh but i did the same on my Gold Top true historic about 5 years ago and i never went back to normal setup..Sound great to my ears!

[@lockharthorsburgh8601]

Very interesting, Dave; thanks. Obviously not related to Les Pauls, but my "fancy" bass came with the pickups noticably closer to the D and G strings than the lower ones. On my cheaper bass, the distance was pretty consistent and I find it quite "low-end dominant" (whether or not that's a good thing on a bass probably depends on what it's being used for); I've tweaked it slightly, to make the higher strings more audible.

[@joesmith908]

Loved the Intro Jam!!

[@darrellminx5459]

Thank you for doing this video because you have a soul like Peter's