Topmusicanswers
In guitars with pickup rings, the humbucker is suspended from this ring via these screws. To raise the pickup, turn the screws clockwise. To lower it, go counterclockwise. For humbuckers that are mounted directly into the body, the process is similar, but clockwise lowers the pickup and counterclockwise raises it.
What happens if pickups are too high?
Setting your pickup height too high will cause your magnets to push and pull your strings out of tune. Here's a quick way to tell if this is happening to you: play the Low E string at a high fret (15th fret is a good one to start at). You might hear a “warbling” sound. That sound is your magnet fighting your string.
Does pickup height affect tone?
Yes, more output! Closer pickups will deliver a higher output with a more pronounced and defined high end. But you will not necessarily maximize your sound by just setting the pickups as high as they'll go. In fact, a higher setting can diminish an otherwise outstanding guitar tone in a few different ways.
