Ed's Frankentstrat - Pickup Height

[allenc5150]

this is about the same as i set my SH5 custom

While that photo is a great reference for early Frankie pickup height, the retina-scarring 70s rock star bulge is a high price to pay for the information.

[rgorke]

Here is a picture of how a replica Franky has the pickup set. This is the guitar at the Smithsonian.

[Ted B]

Makes sense to me. The rewound PAF with small ceramic or A2 gets set very close to the strings to maximize output and sharpen attack. I set all my PAF guitars this way.

The earlier pickup(s) with large ceramic magnet got backed off, ostensibly to get a clear signal and reduce string pull. I have to say though, I am not impressed with a DSD set at 0.25" (10mm) from the strings. I'm not really getting a louder signal at that distance than my PAF guitars with pickup set to 0.125" (4-5mm), nor am I getting a much thicker or ballsier sound when set at that distance. I presume others are positioning it differently.

[YMI5150?]

i've got my DSD .10" from my strings and have actually considered bringing them closer for the VH1 chainsaw buzz i"m looking for.

[allenc5150]

I have a Stew Mac Golden Age (Alnico V) in my Frankie and it's as close to the strings as you can get without touching. Conjures up a Fair Warning vibe to my ears.

[mapat]

Ive always set my pickups close to the strings for the Van halen sound..To set them far away from the strings never made much sents to me.

Do you do this even with ceramic pickups like the SH-5 or the Super D?

What do you guys think, is the commonly-cited fear that the pull of the powerful ceramic magnets will cause you
to lost sustain overblown?

[Marshall SL12301]

What do you guys think, is the commonly-cited fear that the pull of the powerful ceramic magnets will cause you
to lost sustain overblown?

Depends on the pup in question? What i go by is i take a piece of metal and test how strong the magnetic pull is, even though the dimarzio DSD's have that larger ceramic mag they also use those hex poles which focus the magnetic field different than screws/slugs do.
sustain is caused by the vibrating strings and magnetism is a factor to how long the string will vibrate.
I generally dont set mine too close no matter what because the tone becomes cloudy/fuzzier when the pu's is set too high,use your own ears