Does the hight of the mounting rings matter?
Does the hight of the mounting rings matter?
Arched rings are for arched tops. The height may not matter, it depends on your guitar. Taller rings let you set the pickups higher, action permitting. Low rings are good for strats and other guitars with minimal distance between the body and strings. Slant rings work well on Les Pauls and others like it because the bridges are so tall and the neck angle is fairly steep.
This is good info. The bridge bucker ring on my M-II custom is angled like it's a Les Paul, even though the strings are almost perfectly parallel to the body top. So one coil is a little closer to the strings than the other. I'd been considering trying to find a flat ring with exactly the same screw hole layout, but it doesn't sound like it's that much of a big deal.
This is good info. The bridge bucker ring on my M-II custom is angled like it's a Les Paul, even though the strings are almost perfectly parallel to the body top. So one coil is a little closer to the strings than the other. I'd been considering trying to find a flat ring with exactly the same screw hole layout, but it doesn't sound like it's that much of a big deal.
Shouldn't be too hard to find.
I'm not sure I like the hight difference (aesthetically) of the front and rear rings when actually on the guitar.. Might go for a shorter bridge ring.
PICKUP ADJUSTMENT
All magnetic pickups used in ESP guitars are adjustable. Raising or lowering a pickup will increase or
decrease the amount of output from your guitar for that pickup. Pickup heights should be adjusted so that
both pickups are at about the same volume level compared to each other (this is how we adjust the pickups
from the factory). However, you may want to change the height of the pickups in order to achieve a different
output level for each pickup. Since the pickups are magnetic it is important not to adjust them too close to
the strings. If a pickup is too close to the strings, it will affect the vibration of the strings and could result
in oscillating or wavering notes, extra fret buzzing, and distortion. If you notice these problems, lower the
pickup until the notes ring true. Use a small screwdriver to adjust the pickup height (there will usually be 2
height adjustment screws for each pickup - one on the bass side and the other on the treble side).
Note: Some instruments have pickups with adjustable pole pieces that allow you to adjust the individual
output levels of each string.
The following are maximum bridge pickup heights as set at the ESP factory. Pickup height is measured
from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string while holding down the strings to the fretboard
at the last fret. Keep in mind that pickup heights are not meant to be at an exact level or specification
for correct operation of your instrument. Each player can set their own pickup heights according to their
desired output levels.
Maximum Bridge Pickup Heights
------Bass Side--------Treble Side
Guitars 2.5 mm (3/32”) 1.5 mm (1/16”)
Bass 3.5 mm (9/64”) 2.5 mm (3/32”)
Note: Active pickups have less magnetic pull and may be adjusted closer to the strings than passive pickups.
I looked for replacements for my M-1000 for a while and couldn't find plastic ones that were not tapered. Finally came across these metal ones and they are perfect and look real good too.
STEWMAC Metal Pickup Rings
Additionally you shouldn't use tapered rings on a flat body because then your pickups will be angled and it messes up the whole magnetic polarity and can cause phasing.
Additionally you shouldn't use tapered rings on a flat body because then your pickups will be angled and it messes up the whole magnetic polarity and can cause phasing.
What? 0]
You use angled rings in cases where there is a angle between the body and the neck. Most tune-o-matic guitars have neck angles, and most all ESPs have them. It allows the guitar to hold even string height across the entire neck without having the fretboard rise 1/2" off the body of the guitar.
Magnetic polarity and phasing? :rolleyes: :lol
Thank you .. I stopped by my local guitar center to ask the other day also cause it's been bugging me so much I found a pair of thin flat rings with skulls that look absolutely sick especially if I get the matching pick guard... as for the curve I don't think it has one like most arch tops... it's a very subtle curve and the pickup rings look flat on the bottom
Not sure if height matters.
And they're probably slanted for archtop bodies.