Setting pickup placement for MAXIMUM PEDAL STEEL TONE How to

If you’ve never installed a pickup or if you’ve never considered where you pickup should be sitting give this a watch. The idea is simple - we want the pickup even across the 10 strings and of uniform distance from them. Getting the pickup into this position can be a little tricky though! Join me as I install a pickup into my Rittenberry pedal steel. I’ll show you what to watch out for when screwing in the pickup and setting it’s height to get the best tone from the strings.
Patreon.com/pedalsteel

[@datkinson31]

Good stuff, Johnny. Hope you’re enjoying the Ritt. I’ve never thought to adjust the height of my Trutone but might tinker with it now. What amps do you favour? Apols if this is in an older video!

[@johnnyupok]

It worth at least taking a look!

[@johnnyupok]

I have a Peavey Nashville 400 ken fox intense mod at home and ‘70 fender twin with Whitey.

[@larrydering1598]

Nice job. At least your steel is adjustable so a minor tweak is possible afterwards. What pickup was in there before and how do you like the 705 in comparison. I'm changing my GFI Ultra SD10 4X5 from the stock III pickup to a Lawrence 705, in hopes it will tame the shrill highs. Waiting for next string change to swap out.

[@larrydering1598]

Ok I did put tye 705 on my GFI and it did smooth out the highs and improved the tone from the GFI III pickup it had. The GFI has no adjustment so it was just low enough to not overdrive the input of the amp.

[@derbyd10]

Too close and the sustain and tone get choked by the magnets. Somewhere are 3.5mm seems to work well.

[@derbyd10]

@@nevercottagecheese indefinitely believe blade pickups have a different magnetic field and affect strings differently but any magnet will choke off sustain if they are too close

[@steellab-jamesshelton-impr5781]

LOL 2000 YRS LATER...

[@Melvvynfirmager]

Well now Johnny you are obviously endeavouring to be helpful, and yet...... You don't know how thick a quarter is, so how do those of us across the world know what height to set the pickup at? We don't have quarters! Also, no mention of the magnetic drag which can reduce sustain and effect intonation if too close. So, whilst you have good intentions, this is not very helpful. So sorry. Appreciate your willingness to be so.

[@johnnyupok]

A quarter is 1.75mm

[@Melvvynfirmager]

​@@johnnyupok Thanks Johnny that makes 3.5mm with two quarters, which is close to another recommendation elsewhere of approximately 4mm. Mine is set at 2mm, but to change that would required taking out the changer mechanism, as the pickup is held from underneath with reconstituted foam between. So, as can be imagined, i don't want to tamper with that until I have to.(one day I want to add more knee levers, so it will be then). I have pushed down on the pickup to 4mm and don't hear any increase in sustain, by counting. But, very very subtly - almost imperceptible - there is an intonational change. So I have wondered if your reference to tone, is really to do with intonation (pitch), or indeed, both maybe. I couldn't detect a difference in tone, as I was holding down the pickup with one hand and picking strings with the other, and compensating volume with the pedal - er, not conducive to detecting tone changes!! This maybe of interest to your followers. Once again thanks for your time.

[@Melvvynfirmager]

Incidently, I built my own steel, as left handed, and lack the funds. That was about 47 years ago, played in band and did some recording work. then stopped playing for 44 years (long story), but now back playing again, loosening up 78 year old fingers, and enjoying. Built a twin neck but never got to build the C6 neck mechanism, yet still have the aspiration to do so.

[@allensells5654]

If you don't have a quarter use two dimes and a nickel 😂. We're running out of quarters too due to inflation. A little UpBeat humor.

[@Melvvynfirmager]

Huh, well Allen, somewhere from my many trips to the states as an artist woodturner, i guess i must have some quarters, just thought of... We used to have farthings - quarter pennies, and hapnies - half pennies, but we suffer the same inflation!! Love the sillies., so thanks for that!!! On a more serious note I discovered that pickups should be 4mm at least from the strings to stop magnetic drag. Mine are 2mm. So, given my pickup is is suspended on dense foam, i pressed down on the pickup to measure the difference in sustain, but found no difference at all, after repeated tests on each string. This raises another point. I suspended the pickup to reduce extranious noises from the mechanics of the steel - pedal operation etc. But, as no one else does this, have i done the right thing, I wonder!!? Good talking with you and the fun. @@allensells5654 ☺